After trying since the turn of the year I finally managed hour building: Blackbushe to Kemble (Cotswold) Airport.
So earlier this week it looked like we would have a perfect weekend weather wise, however after being disappointed 90% of the time i have tried to fly this year I was apprehensive.
However, when I woke up the skies were clear so I decided to take advantage. I had a three hour slot in the plane and decided to go to Kemble and back. It wouldn’t leave much time on the ground but you got to take these opportunities when you can.
After checking out the plane I knew time would be limited so I got airborne and set off. There was some haze en route but apart from that it really was a great day to fly.
I talked to Farnborough and Brize Radar en route. This was my first experience of talking to Farnborough and you have to be quick to get your message in! I think it took a good 5 minutes before I was able to get my message across. There was a lot of people inadvertently talking over each other and the controller defiantly had their work out.
At Kemble they asked for a standard overhead join which I had not done since my PPL but it went perfectly with no issues. I must say just the simple circuit direction on Skydemon made this process so much easier.
Kemble is a really cool airport with lots of old jets around ready for scrapping. Also the landing fee is only £8 which is pretty good especially when you consider it costs £30 to land at Shoreham!
With such a small time window there was just enough time to eat before getting back in the air for the return leg to Blackbushe.
It was uneventful and I spoke to London Centre before switching to Farnborough and back to Blackbushe.
All in all was a great day and I was grateful to get my first land away done since my cross-country qualifier almost a year ago! I look forward to exploring the UK some more this year while building my hours.
Another 1.9 hours in the log book 🙂
Here is a short video from the flight.
Well Done Matey! I just did my first Solo a couple of weeks ago… exciting times ahead:-)
Well done mate! How was it? Nervous?
Haha yeah it was kind of like the moment your driving examiner tells you that you’ve passed and your driving home by yourself. My instructor was nice enough to video the experience so I have that as a nice memory.I was feeling quite chilled on the downwind leg thinking, yeah this is cool, until I remembered I probably best do a fredat check and get ready to report base! I’m just revising for my Nav & Met exams and I’m finding the subjects challenging. How did you go on with the revision, any tips? Where is your next cross country going to be?
Awesome mate! You won’t forget it that’s for sure.
Haha yeah downwind is the easy part. It climbs so much quicker without your instructor doesn’t it!
Do you use PPL Cruiser? Check that out and the Phill croucher EASA pilot studies was good also.
Good question I am thinking connington maybe.
Yeah I have PPL tutor which is good to be fair. I have been using pooleys books but having to read them at least twice to encourage a better understanding. I have heard Phill crouchers name being mentioned before. Was his literature your first choice? I have noticed that whilst flying, allot of the theory Is making much more sense in practice. I’m half way there now and looking forward to taking trips across the country like you are doing- it takes allot of courage to get yourself out there matey and I admire you for making it happen! I’m based up around Barton and fly from city airport. Have you been up north yet? I’m going to have a look at connington…is this area quite local for you?
Awesome sounds like you are well on your way.
Well I actually was asking for advice on a forum and he replied and pointed me to his book. It is really in depth and I have also heard great things about his professional pilot studies book too, I may buy it to supplement the Bristol notes.
That’s it, I say leave flight planning and Nav to the end for those very reasons, it’s easier when you have some practice.
You too! It sounds like you are progressing pretty well on the course so I have no doubts you will be at your skills test before you know it. How often are you flying?
Well I actually learned to fly at Cranfield which is close to Milton Keynes / Bedford but I now fly from Blackbushe which is down towards Farnborough / Basingstoke.
Connington is over towards Cambridge which is close to my old stomping ground of Cranfield. I just want to visit different airfields and build hours at the moment. When I get to about 120 hours I will book a few hours with my former instructor and practice what I need to do for the CPL course for the last 30 or so.
I only have 66 ish hours at the moment so lots of exploring and pleasure flying still to be done 🙂