Lesson 15, More Glide Approaches

I don't have long to write this report so I will keep it shorter than usual. Had an excellent lesson this morning, the sky was cloudless and zero wind although visibility was poor with heavy heat haze.

The aim today was to polish off approaches/glide approaches/precision landings, we soon got in the air and did some circuits although this time as we were alone in the circuit we practiced a much tighter circuit, on downwind keeping the runway under the middle of the left wing. This is good practice for smaller airfields. We started with flapless approaches, this was made slightly more difficult because of having no wind to slow the aircraft down. Initially was not perfect, I was getting the approach correct and the nose on the centre line but flaring too late and missing the numbers. I resolved to touch the numbers from now on! and the next few landings were perfect, right on centre line and right on the numbers. Antonio was very pleased and kept saying "omg, perfect!, do it again!". I then switched to a full flap landing to remind myself of the difference, before carrying out two glide approaches. Antonio told me to pull the power on downwind leg when I thought I could make it to land on the runway, I was just passing the runway threshold and thought hmm perhaps a little early but I will try it here. I did a wide sweeping turn through base and final at constant 70knts descent (from 800AGL) and just made a landing just short of the numbers. It was close but I made it.

These glide approaches are not part of the formal sylabus however it certainly has given me a much greater appreciation for the aircraft and also the perspective on the approach, all in all practicing these has made my approaches much easier to judge.

We again carried out some emergency procedures and all went well before finally returning to land.

Some wierd things happened recently..

Firstly, last night the police arrived in a chopper escorting a piper warrior to land. This turned out to be a student pilot on his first solo cross country (from another flying school) his radio failed so he squawked 7600 and flew straight into Heathrow controlled airspace, incoming and departing flights had to be stopped. He was intercepted and brought back to Blackbushe, I can't help feeling sorry for him and his instructor, who is now in a heap of trouble.

Lastly this morning after returning from the lesson we were in the office completing my log book when another aircraft outside collided with a parked Comanche. The aircraft responsible was being taxied for run-up by it's owner and somehow he managed to hit the front of the Comanche with his starboard wing. Some damage occurred to both planes and the owner of the Commanche soon showed up with his wife planning to fly this morning. As you can imagine, he was not overly happy.

I had another lesson booked in for tomorrow morning, however we decided it would be better for me to spend the time sitting the Air Law exam and then solo probably over the weekend (if a slot opens up) otherwise on Monday.