Leaning to Fly – Hour 44 & 45 Cross Country
As some of you know I have been awaiting the blessing of the weather god to allow me to fly, and last week was fantastic, went solo, went on a mini cross-country to south mimms, and on Saturday, I planned and executed a dual cross-country to Holmbeck Farm airfield. This was around 40nm round trip.
All had gone swimmingly until I got airborne and failed to climb into the overhead and get my bearings. It wasn’t long though, because 3nm into the first leg I realised what I had done, instead of being over Bovingdon, I was over Leavesden.. “ Where I we GT, enquired Rob, eeeer Bovingdon, err I think, Check your map, ….errr…… Rob, I should be over there pointing to my right, Tossa, replied Rob, head back to the airfield, get into over head, and get your bearing and start again, OK I replied”, now feeling a bit of a wassack, I limped back to Plaistow’s.
Once in the over head it was simple to lock on to my heading of 270, and away we fly. However, it wasn’t long before Rob, scorned my flying ability once again, and this time it was financial. I had flown over his new house, and into his airspace. This meant I was left of my True Hdg, and therefore off track, so he charged me pound for flying into his airspace.
Just after Bovingdon I picked up the m40 and headed north ish on a hdg of 330. Whilst flying along I was picking up waypoints that I had circled on my map and again the flight was going well. Soon I was passing over Cheddington and passing over the old disused railway that use to run from Dunstable to Aylesbury. Soon it was time to look out for Holmbeck farm.
Like a beacon shining brightly in the distance, there it was (Phew). Holmbeck is a lovely strip just outside Tring, and is very well kept, the owners are gems and the landing fees are a flat £3.00 what ever you fly.
Over head we flew, the wind was right down the centre on RW11, so over the pylons and descending down to 800ft. I took a wide circuit to allow for a position for long finals. Once over the pylons, once again and lined up, in we fly, keeping a light touch on the bar and a small amount of power, we breezed into Holmbeck.
The touch down was “Really Nice”, said Rob, we taxied off and parked up on a grassed apron, for around 15 minuets or so, and then as there was no one around I deposited £3.00 on a chair in a open hangar (later that night when I got home I rang the owner and left a message on his phone explaining who we were, the reason will become clearer as you read on).
We taxied off and lined up on the threshold of 11, and as we climbed out we saw a figure in a red tea shirt waving up at us, we waved back. As I had been there before, I knew that this was the owner of the strip, so I thought, when I get home later I will give him a bell and explain who we were, and tell him were the dow was left for the landing fee.
The trip back was uneventful clear smooth evening flight, the landing back at Plaistow’s was also of a good standard too.
Once shut down, Rob said that I had done very well, even though I had buggered up the start of the exercise, but I did sort it out, and top marks for doing that. He also said that being that I had passed the Navigation exam, I could start to go further a field, and possibly when I return from Germany, if the weather is good, could do a few small cross-countries too… Fantastic news I replied.
To conclude, what did I learn today? Well it is always best to go into the overhead at Plaistow’s if you are heading left or right out of the strip. If you are flying along the runway compass heading then, there is no need. It is also wise to study the route too, especially in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome so you can get your bearings and head in the right direction, it help to make a good impression to your instructor to at least let him think you have things in hand and you know what the feck you are doing lol ~:- )
Well that’s about it until the 4th October, as I will be screaming around the Nurberg Ring for as many laps as I can.
Take care and Happy Landings
GT & Gunny
