Great weather!

After four months of dire weather I got to fly on Saturday. Not ex.12 as expected on circuits though. Apparently there are folk out there who don't fly(!) and actually make complaints(!). In a spirit of compromise circuits will take place at a negotiated time for the happiness of all.
 
Andy got me on ex.16a - forced landings after an engine failure. Great lesson and I even managed to get a slight boll&*king for not concentrating late in the lesson. Sorry Andy. Early in the lesson I was a disgrace. How bad was my basic control after 4 months off! Any height you want, except the one required. Airspeed? All over the shop! Andy's patience during this stage was monumental. Class.
 
The search for a suitable field ensued. We had ramblers, parked cars and aeromodellers beneath. A couple of trips out and about soon found us a suitable venue and Andy set about positioning us so as to demonstrate what he'd briefed me about. Starting with the constant aspect method we set up at 2000' and positioned ourselves for a 45 degree aspect with the centre of the field. Commencing the crosswind leg we descended, having throttled right back, though the downwind leg to 1000'. Turning onto base leg first stage of flap went in. Onto finals and second stage flap. Third stage, maintain airspeed at 60 and it all looked good for landing. Off we went, re-positioned and Andy tells me "now I want you to replicate that!". I'd had one eye on lookout, one eye on the centre of the field and one eye on the airspeed, and that was with Andy doing the work! Now I was expected to do this all myself! After my poor start I must admit to a few nerves. If I hadn't had that break confidence would have been fine, but with the need for precision I felt the pressure this time.
 
Once in position Andy passed control to me and throttled right back. About 2500rpm. I put the nose down. By now I'm at 75 - 80 and concentrating on the cente of the field. Not used to looking down so much - a bit like looking left approaching a roundabout in a car - I kept looking out and about. First boll&%king! Concentrate on the centre of the field. Speed 70, nose up slightly. Too much. Too slow. Nose down. Centre of the field. Watch that distance. Too close. I let the downwind leg take us out and away from the field. Nose down, too slow again. Let it rest at 60. Turned onto base, first stage of flap. Watch that speed! Onto finals. Second flap. Suddenly it didn't seem too bad. Third stage flap. Now just re-focusing my aiming point and maintaining speed. 500'. We were gonna make it. My mouth was dry as a bone as I throttled-up and made my way back to 2000'.
 
The search for another field where we could practice the beats and turns method commenced. Located and demonstrated. Once again the nuts piece of flying for me to aspire to. Once re-positioned I had no idea how strong the crosswind was. With so much to concentrate on I had neglected my drift angle. Once sorted I was at the point of needing to turn. This was shabby to say the least. We had plenty of airspeed and I was messing about when we should have been turning. Turning tight to regain the previous track. I got it eventually. I metaphoric kick up my own backside sorted that. And where was my rudder control?! To cut a long story short the turn onto final went well, we'd lost the requisite amount of height and with third stage flap up we were ready to find terra firma. Then I was boll^%ked for the second time...airspeed down to 55 on the approach. What was I looking at? It certainly wasn't the ASI. It was ok, still way over the stall speed of tango alpha and I'll be on my guard next time. Just concentrate Carlos. Shabby.
 
Back to Plaistows. 1900' and 80 mph airspeed. At last. I had sorted my basics....although I did lose some height near Kings Langley. Damn it!
 
One thing this lesson has taught me, or reminded me, is that I need to fly more often. Those basics should be second nature now. But, no self induced pressure. Honestly. Momentary frustration perhaps. I'll wait until Andy thinks I'm good enough. I'll try to make sure he doesn't have too hard a job though. A great lesson and actually looking forward to practising this one again and again.
 
I'd also like to thank GT for his moral support after my last entry. Looking forward to meeting you. We clearly have shared experiences to gas about...including, if I remember rightly, the boll&^kings!
 
Good luck and safe flying.
 
Carlos