Learning to Fly – Hour 43 Circuits - 19th Sept 2008

Today I was let loose on the circuit after a check flight. I completed 3 circuits with Rob, and then it was off for my 3.
 
My first approach looked good to runway 33. Rob had instructed me to fly slightly high over the trees due too the turbs, however, once I was past the trees my approach was high, so I called “going around”.
 
My 2nd approach to RW33, went much better, even though I bounced up and down a little, not too much but enough to make me feel that I had screwed up the hold off.
 
My 3rd Approach, was much much better, and the landing was worthy of a qualified pilot (so I am told).
 
After this, Rob instructed me to head off around the M25 to south mimms, and return the same route. On the way to the waypoint I had trimmed the GT450 up to fly at 65mph, and all was going very well, when the engine just went to idle, in fact I thought it had cut out, “feck, feck, oh shit”, then I realized I had knocked the hand throttle off, phew!
 
The trip back to Plaistow’s was un-eventful. I had called in to say that that I was inbound from the east, and joining over head for RW 33, descending the dead side, my height at this was 2000ft.
 
When all of a sudden I saw a light aircraft at the same height heading towards me from the 9 O’clock, the radio sprang into life, G-GT, aircraft at 9 O’clock, by this time I was already diving underneath it. Bloody idiot I thought, was I in the wrong. However the subject aircraft flew over the airfield and didn’t even try to avoid me.
 
Nevertheless, I I dropped down to 800ft and crossed the up wind threshold and joined downwind for 33. The approach was again good, and the landing not bad.
 
To conclude, I that near miss, as taught me to look around more, and be much more vigilant, even though I was in the right. Being in the right and possible dead, makes no difference, and if it means I have to move out of the way for some other tossa who is not looking where they are going so be it, and I will hopefully live to fly another day.
 
Also, need to hold off more and try and make every landing as smooth as silk.
 
Happy Landings
 
GT & Gunny