[Flightgear-devel] Re: OT: First Solo
David Megginson wrote: I'm curious -- your airport is a very short grass strip, but it has a control tower? Yes, but is still a Radio only airfield with no ATC. The tower is a small affair that I'm sure isn't capable of observing the entire circuit since it's 800ft AAL and downwind extends behind all manner of buildings - I'll ask to have a look in the tower next time I'm there to confirm this. It's manned occasionally during busy periods and when there are lots of students and non-radio microlights etc in the circuit and although they shouldn't, the tower does occasionally tell pilots to hold outside the circuit or expedite departures etc. for safety's sake. It sounds like you did fine. Were there any post-solo rituals? Not really. I offered to buy people beer (I had to buy lots of beer when I did my first freefall 8 years ago!) but they were all working and settled for Orange juice instead. One cool thing did happen: as I was discussing the flight and future stuff with my instructor the Red Arrows passed in formation about just north of the ATZ and turned on white smoke until they cleared the area. I see them quite a lot as we aren't that far from their base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. Superb! If you have my luck, you'll have nothing but clear weather when you decide to start instrument training. I'm planning on doing the IMC and Night ratings at some point. I'll never do a full IFR - the price to get and keep one here is astronomical. For me, the first solo cross-country was the best part of training. First solo was an important moment, of course, but it wasn't until I left the familiar airspace behind and started actually flying to a different city that I felt like a pilot. I'm sure I'll be the same. Since I'm used to very laid back procedures with movements and radio I'm going to intentionally do some cross countries well into and past the busy airspace around London once I'm confident with shorter local flights. My club is very supportive and has an active 'hard core' of home builders which I may also get involved with (two guys just flew from Netherthorpe to Oshkosh and back in a KIS!). Cheers, Matt. ___ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
[Flightgear-devel] Re: OT: First Solo
Alex Perry wrote: Congratulations. What are you training in ? Thanks! Mostly 152's but I've done a couple hours in a 150 too. From: David Megginson [EMAIL PROTECTED] For me, the first solo cross-country was the best part of training. First solo was an important moment, of course, but it wasn't until I left the familiar airspace behind and started actually flying to a different city that I felt like a pilot. Yep; meeting new pilots, and (once) having to hold short of the runway for a harrier jump jet that was doing touch-n-goes in the pattern ... Wow! Cheers, Matt. ___ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
[Flightgear-devel] RE: OT: First solo!
Congratulations! I'm sure the rest of the training will be over in no time and it's good to hear that FG is proving helpful. I'm intending on investing in a yoke and pedals over winter when the weather robs me of some regular training and I've already noticed the realism of the flight models in flightgear over other flight sims. Especially when adjusting final with throttle etc. Unlike you, my last lesson I'd rather forget - second attempt at circuits and first time on runway 18 at EGNF. With a TORA of 382 metres it is apparently the UK's shortest licensed and also feels like the UK's bumpiest too! Oh, and a 30 deg crosswind for good measure!!! I bounced in every time and almost took the far fence with me on one of the touch and go's. I've got a long way to go yet... :-( Hopefully, the short and soft field location will make me a better pilot. My instructor (in a futile attempt to stop me getting downhearted) mentioned that students and low time PPLs from larger airfields often have trouble landing on 18 and that I'd get it eventually. Perhaps I'll be a 100 hour PPL graduate! Cheers, Matt. ___ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
Re: [Flightgear-devel] RE: OT: First solo!
Matthew Law wrote: Congratulations! Thank you! I'm sure the rest of the training will be over in no time and it's good to hear that FG is proving helpful. I'm intending on investing in a yoke and pedals over winter when the weather robs me of some regular training and I've already noticed the realism of the flight models in flightgear over other flight sims. Especially when adjusting final with throttle etc. Unlike you, my last lesson I'd rather forget - second attempt at circuits and first time on runway 18 at EGNF. With a TORA of 382 metres it is apparently the UK's shortest licensed and also feels like the UK's bumpiest too! Oh, and a 30 deg crosswind for good measure!!! Don't give up. Everything that I've heard says that training in more difficult enviroments does generate better skills. (Ever see a western US skier come to ski in New England? I thought not... They learn in powder, and can't adjust to the sheet of ice we call a slope.) I'm not familiar with the term TORA, but I'll assume thats a runway length of about 1250 ft, if my I'm doing the math in my head correctly... I have the luxury of two runways to chose from of 7000' and 5000'. And they're in great condition. KORH had commercial airline traffic until very recently. If I want to work on crosswind landings, I can always request the other runway. I wonder how I'll do at a short runway... Actually, I won't find out anytime soon. The rental agreement says a minimum of 2500'. Keep at it, and mirror your real flights on Flightgear. Set yourself up on long final, reduce to 1500 RPM, drop in your flaps, and hold 65 KIAS. Adjust pitch to control your airspeed, and adjust power to keep that threshold steady on the windshield. When you know you've got the threshold made, drop out power to idle, and lift the nose slightly to counter act the power drop, and slowly level it off. Odds are, if you're bouncing consistantly, that you're flaring too high, but at the right speed. (I'm assuming you're not ballooning... If you are, and that's why your bouncing, you're not burning off enough speed before the flare.) Cross wind landings are tough without rudder pedals. Sideslips can certainly be done with the mouse, but it's a hard thing to juggle. For that, the best thing is to just experiment on long final, and see how the aircraft reacts with crossed controls. Have your instructor run the length of the runway 10' in the air, and slew the aircraft from side to side simply by adjusting the bank angle. It's a really enlightening experience. I bounced in every time and almost took the far fence with me on one of the touch and go's. I've got a long way to go yet... :-( Hopefully, the short and soft field location will make me a better pilot. My instructor (in a futile attempt to stop me getting downhearted) mentioned that students and low time PPLs from larger airfields often have trouble landing on 18 and that I'd get it eventually. Perhaps I'll be a 100 hour PPL graduate! You'll get there. Who cares what the number is. Can't expect to do it in minimums in such a harsh environment. Good luck, Matt F. Cheers, Matt. ___ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel ___ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
