Learning to Fly – Hour 58 the Mock GST

It’s been nearly two weeks since I had been airborne, and I new I had my work cut out too, I wanted to impress, I wanted to show Rob I have what it takes to be a pilot.
 
With an early start under my belt, Gunny fully rigged, and me waiting for Rob to arrive, I was ready to rock and roll.
 
Morning GT, morning Rob, Mock Test today mate, yep Rob, I am ready mate.  I then gave him the Nats report, the 214 & 215. What’s the weather going to be like, said Rob. Well the wind is going to get up this afternoon, with a bit of rain, and the cloud coming in from the west. OK, what about this morning, oh, er, well there’s  not much wind, but there are patches of cloud, but its going to be ok for the Mock GST. OK said Rob, the mock test, I want you to take responsibility for the flight and that starts now.
 
We walked over to Gunny, the windsock was still like a limp dick, and I was planning my departure. OK Rob, we are going to take off from runway 30, and we are going to climb around the circuit and head off over to south mims. Sounds like a good plan to me GT, and subsequently strapped himself in the back seat.
 
Now, to back track for minute or two, for the past 8 weeks or so Rob as increased the pressure on both me and Alex Craven another Rookie who is near to the GST, to the point that the bollockings were coming thick and fast. Checks were not good enough, general flying could be better, and I still was coming it to land, too bloody fast.
 
I read somewhere once, that the pressure a pilot is under is somewhat like a bucket that is full of water, when you start learning the amount of info (ie water) is being poured into the bucket, and at times it over flowed (ie input overload, things get stressful). This was often the case when I first started, the input Rob was handing out, was at times very hard to take in, but hey, I can do this, I’m ex RAF, I’m made of stronger stuff, this will be a walk in the park (lol). 
 
So, as I strapped myself into my seat, my bucket had a preverbal dribble of water in it. With the checks done and taxing for take off, the bucket was still quite empty, as we took off and gained height around the circuit, I was very relaxed and chatting away. Soon the first task, OK GT, at 2000ft, I want straight and level at 80mph, rogerwilco! All went well, even when I had to slow down to 55mph. Then it was 30 degree turns, then came the 45 & 60 degree turns, all went sort of well, on some of the turns I increased the power a little too early before the manoeuvre. Then came the stalls, perfect I thought. Things were going well (lol). 
 
OK GT, lets do  a few potentially dangerous attitudes, oh god I thought, last time I did this I was as sick as a dog. Well the outcome was good, I sorted out the problems and then we did a few other stalls and finally a few joins and landings.
 
As we taxied to the grassed apron I really thought I had done well, in fact the best I had done in ages.  I shut down Gunny, and we made our way to the office. OK GT lets have do the debrief, do you mind if Alex listens in on this one, of course, no worries I replied.
 
How do you think you did GT, I think I did really well boss, Why maked you say that said Rob, well, I’ve mastered speeding up, slowing down and not loosing height, turns are good, apart from the one I did when the power came on a little too early. The stalls were ok too, no I think I did well.
 
Did you, said Rob, in a quite voice, there was a bit of a pause, he looked at me with his beady eye and he then said, yes you did really well.  However, there is always an however, and off went Rob on the areas that could have been better. Nevertheless, at the end he said, it was a good effort, and this afternoon you are taking the GST,…. Chin hits deck! GST, …. This afternoon…. Yes after Alex’s lesson, so be ready for a 1st class pre-flight aircraft inspection, everything perfect, and then when we have completed the practical, we will do an aural, and hopefully you will have done well enough to pass…
 
Still stunned, Rob and Alex left the office, with me still sat down, and the old chin still on deck, oh boy, the day is here.
 
Read the next Blog to see how I did, if you dare!
 
Happy Landings
 
GT & Gunny Flexwing