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30/07/2006

Permalink 18:00:00, by admin, 307 words   English (ZA)
Categories: student, twin astir, motor falke, stalls & steep turns, take offs & landings

Five enjoyable short winter flights with instructor F(2). The first two were from 08R in very calm conditions, so we flew very long shallow approaches. Felt a little odd, as I am more used to the higher steeper approaches when the wind is blowing.

We then moved to 26L when the wind changed more westerly and increased in strength. My take offs were good and this time I was ready with hard right rudder when the plane started to weather cock into the 30 odd degree cross wind. My instructor was impressed and so was I. Only thing was that my climbs were a little steep, mainly because the winch was pulling like crazy and I was trying to keep the speed below 120 km/h. With the last launch I exceeded my record when I released at 1325 feet.

Stall DiagramDuring these last three flights we also practised some stalls, nice shallow gentle ones; went very well.

AirsickThe instructor also demonstrated some steep stalls. Feel the G’s man. He first stalled at about 35° degrees, so the nose goes down steeply, so he builds up speed, pulls hard out of the bottom of the dive and climbs into a 45° climb. When the plan stalls, it's like into an instant 60° plus dive from which he recovers it. All very enjoyable, the G forces were nasty though and he tells me later that it was only about 2Gs

Nasty, but also very enjoyable!

Landings went off well enough, especially the last one were he tells me he didn't touch anything. So I'm happy, but still a long way to go. So that's five short ones totalling 220.00ZAR.

Oh yes, day started with a free 18 minute pax flight in the Motor Falke. Was also at the controls for a short while, doing so straight and level flying with some gentle turns. Very lekker.

23/07/2006

Permalink 16:36:45, by admin, 313 words   English (ZA)
Categories: student, dimona, cross-country

So I arrive at 9:15 am. Not a sole in sight. Moments later another member arrives and he gives me a quick 20 minute pax flight in his Lambada motor glider. Awesome aeroplane. Climbs like a demon. At about 5500 ft, just above cloud level, he turns back and heads for home.

As we land another member arrives, and the instructor just a little later. After almost an hour none of the other duty crew has pitched. So the three of us, plus another guy flying a C152, decide on a "race" to Paradise Beach. I fly pax in a Dimona motor glider, then there's a Lambada and the Cessna C152.

Routing back from Paradise BeachWe take off first, being the slowest plane, and orbit for about eight minutes climbing to about 1500 feet. Then the C152 (one up) takes off, followed shortly by the Lambada with a pax. We all head out, us climbing to about 2000 feet. I do most of this flying over Lady's Slipper and to Gamtoos River Mouth. This is pretty much where the other two aircraft catch up, they routed more coastwise, and now PIC takes over. We then watch as the C152 heads low level for a very long approach, from the south, to land at Paradise Beach, while the Lambada at 2000 feet turns in from the North to reach the airfield first.

Soon there after a L39 jet arrives and performs a low level fly past over the runway, the Lambada follows, then us. As we route back to FAUH, the L39 buzzes the runway one more time. I resume control and head us back. We land. From taxi to taxi the flight was 1 hour 08 minutes, very very enjoyable.

This was my first cross-country flight in a motor glider. I learnt a little about air space, radio frequencies and some visual navigation tips. All at the best price; free.

Click here to view photos.

16/07/2006

Permalink 19:32:38, by admin, 186 words   English (ZA)
Categories: student, twin astir, take offs & landings

Day started off wet, rainy and cold, but I needed to be at the airfield for a committee meeting at 9:00 am. By the time the meeting had ended the sun was out and there was a very slight south-easterly blowing so it was Go for flying.

At 12:30pm we started winch launching from 08L with instructor F(5). I had four very short flights, 6, 3, 2 and 3 minutes. As there was a very slight wind and a new winch driver I got an average of 750 feet on the launches; not much you can do with that! My launches and landings got progressively better and the last two landings I almost completed 100% by myself. What I found made it a lot easier was the absent of any rough air and the minimal effect a light cross wind.

Hangar

My ground handing was much better on the landings, but still a little yechy on take offs. I was also not holding off long enough on landings, which caused some bounces. A busy day with one other student and some paxes; with four winch launches and 14 minutes flying for a total of 165,20ZAR.

09/07/2006

Permalink 09:34:25, by admin, 33 words   English (ZA)
Categories: student, no fly day

Lovely weather outside this morning, they are talking about 24°C, but I need to attend to some things at home today. :'( So here I sit, waiting for trouble to arrive, late as usual.

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