alan_k Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 20 hours ago, richjones said: ....slowed the wing down the flared last moment and for the first time landed on my feet so easy and felt so natural after all that fuss! Just dropped on my feet without even a step forward, turned and brought the wing down. Makes smiles when you do it right Fabulous when it all comes together perfectly. Well done. I love it when it turns out like that, but you do have to put up with less than perfect as well ......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 I’m happy to accept the bad with the good but the good feels so much better Flight number 6 looks like it’s going to be a cross country on Sunday. Planning 22 miles each way as the xc and navigation part of my training. Exciting times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted May 13, 2019 Author Share Posted May 13, 2019 What a fantastic day yesterday! cross country Sunday. Up at 6, out at 7. Off to sheepy magna to fly xc from a farmers field to Clive’s field at east farndon. Direct about 22.5 miles. In reality we did about 25-26 take off at 9am and had to circle for 20 mins or so as Paul had problems. first fully nil wind take off. With packed lunch, layers of clothes and 10L of fuel it was a hard run but got up ok. As we’d taken off about half an hour later than planned and the weather was hotter than expected it was the bumpiest flight I’ve had. Oh well I had 20 odd miles to get used to it. We flew past Hinckley towards market harborough with some great views. Above the clouds at 3000ft, past Croft quarry (massive!!) over bruntingthorpe airfield and before long we could see Marston airfield and I knew the way to the other field from there. Took about 90 minutes. Both our phones lost gps so didn’t get a tracked log, but we were navigating by map and planned route anyhow. Had a hot hot day in the field and ended up waiting until 7pm for calm air to fly home. Homeward journey was about an hour, gentle and calm, a lovely flight. I could see the Wrekin and Malvern hills it was so clear. With a short flight in the afternoon I’ve now notched up flights 6,7 & 8 my landings are still a bit dodgy but not terrible. Oh except my big mistake of final landing downwind.... I’d flown over the purple windsock and could have sworn I got the direction but I got it wrong. Fortunately next to no wind so it was just a very fast landing. On my arse more learning on getting wind direction needed, and initial navigation was harder than I thought even though I’d studied the route. Loving this sport 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share Posted May 29, 2019 It’s been 16 days since my xc flight and not had a chance to get to the field. Seeing others getting flights on several evenings doesn’t help the frustration !! last night I got my chance. Flight 9 done met clive at the field for a quick set up and go being cautious as it had rained an hour before. Yet another forward launch, up first go without a problem. Not much to say about this one, 40 minutes, bumpy down low but smooth as anything at 2500ft. Most of the flight off the brakes just relaxing and weight shifting until my hands got cold, enjoying the setting sun and the views. I am finding I feel the cold when flying, maybe more than a lot of other people. Landing was simple but on my arse again. Foot slipped a bit on the damp grass, no big deal not a hard landing, still frustrating. Waiting for the next one, thinking about trying out the trimmers still loving it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted June 8, 2019 Author Share Posted June 8, 2019 Got in flight number 10 on Thursday 6th. Evening ride to market harborough and met a few of the club in the field. It was blustery but forecast to drop about 8pm. Forecast was pretty much bang on. I set up and Clive arrived then I found I had left my headset switched on and was flat. Clive offered to lend me one but I chose to do my first non-radio flight if Clive could just give me thumbs up at take off. Great forward launch and a smooth flight but it was too windy aloft to make any forward progress into wind. So I tootled about backwards and forwards across wind at about 2.5k ft for 40 mins until the sun was setting. Clive had given me a pep talk on landing no radio and I just followed his instruction. Came in high and brought myself down across the far end of the field backwards and forwards on tickover until I was low enough. Came into the field ok, engine off and landed perfectly on my feet. A few steps and turned to bring the wing down. Makes a change from landing on my arse!! Bloody annoying when everyone else is just over the brow of the hill and can’t see my landing. I’m sure they expect me to just land on my arse every time now 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Great progress, well done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 Rich each flight just makes it more exciting and hopefully we get better and better, well done hopefully the rain will stop soon so we can do it all over again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 How long since my last flight???! Bloody weather! got in flight 11 this evening. Flying from Marston airfield my first totally unassisted takeoff, flight and landing. Up until now I’ve at least had a thumbs up to take off. A lovely if somewhat hazy flight totally off the brakes for 90 minutes. A bit of Facebook live, a quick video call to my granddaughter and a circuit around Rothwell where a mate came out of his house to take a photo Today’s lesson - don’t take off with one of your trimmers fully out it makes a hard run and a confusing couple of minutes working out why I’m going in circles ! And as I hadn’t used the trimmers yet it was a challenge getting it right again. In zero wind I landed forwards onto my knees but not heavily have to check my tuning as I used 9 litres of fuel! I was changing my altitude a lot because I got a new altimeter so I now know what I’m doing so maybe that’s a bit of it but the plug is quite black too. loving this sport... not loving weather watching and waiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 3, 2019 Author Share Posted July 3, 2019 Flight 12 & 13 done last night went to the field with s few others and hoped for the gusts to be less than forecast. It was breezy and looked good for my first reverse but by the time I was set up it had died and although the tall windsocks showed wind the low one showed hardly anything at field level. Tried for reverse but it wasn’t happening so another forward. Considering my arse dragging beginning I’ve only had 2 failed launches so far I think I’m still hopping into my seat a little early but not silly early. Did a 55 min flight, not bumpy at all considering the forecast said gusts of 16mph. Followed a couple of others over foxton locks and bumbled about for a bit. Big progress was letting my trimmers out for the first time got up to a safe 1500ft and gently let out my left trim, weight shifting to compensate for the turn then fiddled about sorting the right one with my throttle hand. Just practice I’m sure. What a difference tip steering is! So much more responsive and I’ve done tighter turns than ever , I think because I’m not putting so much effort into pulling the brake. Anyway came down nicely, wind had dropped and I landed on my arse squeezed in another flight at about 9.25pm just a 15 min one to see the sunset and try and land better. Trims out again, don’t know what I was worried about came in fast and went forward onto my knees. Loving the flying and trying to do something new each time but I wish I could nail those landings!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 Good times, you will nail them eventually. When coming in to land prepare yourself mentally to run a few steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 3, 2019 Author Share Posted July 3, 2019 7 hours ago, alan_k said: Good times, you will nail them eventually. When coming in to land prepare yourself mentally to run a few steps. Yeah I seem to just forget to lean forward and run. I either sit down or lean and fall on my knees. I’ve done two good landings on my feet and felt like it couldn’t be easier but not that simple. My landings aren’t heavy just not on my feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 16 hours ago, richjones said: Yeah I seem to just forget to lean forward and run. I either sit down or lean and fall on my knees. I’ve done two good landings on my feet and felt like it couldn’t be easier but not that simple. My landings aren’t heavy just not on my feet. I had that same problem for at least the first 20 flights. It was about 50:50 whether I would land on my feet. Last month I landed on my knees, after 140 flights! Yesterday I did a perfect landing in zero wind, but gusting thermals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share Posted July 4, 2019 Flight 14 in the bag went to Tamworth with a fellow student of Clive’s to fly, grabbing a weather opening. One failed launch because I was too lazy to reset the wing after it fell forward. Easy second launch and felt a bit bumpy so I got myself up to about 2000 ft to settle in. Get my trimmers out and we had a slow flight into wind around the north east of Tamworth tot he school where Paul works. That took about an hour, then a fast flight back in 20 mins. It was a great flight, pretty smooth hands off unless I wanted to turn quick. Got my first wave from someone in a beer garden, tempted to join them! came back in and over corrected my direction on landing approach, slowed too early and flared to late. landed on my arse I think im going to end all of my posts with ‘landed on my arse’ best flight I’ve had so far because my confidence and comfort are improving, I’m getting happier in the turns and with the movement of the wing. 14 flights and a total of 11hours 20 mins flying. Still loving it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 'Still loving it'. That goes without saying, I am still loving it after 526 flights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Jackson Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 On 05/07/2019 at 07:18, alan_k said: 'Still loving it'. That goes without saying, I am still loving it after 526 flights Very good Alan, I've logged mine too and have a slightly different combo of the same numbers... 256 flights (212.5 hours). It may not seem logical to low hour pilots... but definitely still learning (and making mistakes). Rich, the landing will just suddenly click, its just a matter of timing and technique. Just enjoy yourself, don't put yourself under any pressure and fly safe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidG4 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 25 minutes ago, Lee Jackson said: Very good Alan, I've logged mine too and have a slightly different combo of the same numbers... 256 flights (212.5 hours). It may not seem logical to low hour pilots... but definitely still learning (and making mistakes). Rich, the landing will just suddenly click, its just a matter of timing and technique. Just enjoy yourself, don't put yourself under any pressure and fly safe. After a lifetime of commercial and private aviation I have worked out why we are always learning. Basically, a pilot needs to know three things - how to take off, how to cruise and how to land. Simple. The trouble is pilots are a bit dim really (the only other animal I know who spends all day just looking out the window is a cat, not known for being bright sparks) so they can only ever retain TWO of the three things they need to know. Some days I can fly well and land well but my take offs are "whoa!!! what's happening??". Other days it's a creamy smooth take off and a good flight ending with a smackdown and some days its the bit in the middle that confuses me. Consequently, on every flight I learn one new thing (bringing the total back to three) but by the time I go flying next time I have forgotten one of the other two things because the new thing has pushed it out. So every day is a learning day!!!! Just kidding of course... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 On Monday 8th I did some ground handling but didn’t fly as it was quite gusty. On Tuesday 9th I did another xc flight. From east farndon down to pitsford water near sywell aerodrome, fly around and back again. Not the longest flight but racked up a total of 28 miles. Took off in the field with no instructor present and nobody to give me any guidance, just one spectator so this is the first time I’ve had no real backup available at take off. Zero wind needed a hard run but it was fine and off I went, trimmers out, headed southeast until I could see the a14/a508 junction after which I could see the lake in the distance. Google says 9.5 miles as the crow flies but I’m obviously not as direct as the crow! lovely flight with total cloud cover so smooth and warm. Got rained on a little halfway back so was prepared to land if it got heavy, was in touch with Clive all the time. I headed back to the field and had a little fly about before coming in to land. Came in fast with no wind and lifted my feet to land nicely on my arse One day I’ll get this landing stuff sorted! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 landed on my feet Twice!!!! flight 15 - 1hr 25min from east farndon past Kettering and around Corby and back. Great flight with John and Martin from Clive’s club. Came in almost no wind, did everything as I hoped I would and nicely onto my feet, turned and brought the wing down. Had another short flight 20 mins. One failed lunch when o held the A’s too long. got the sunset and came in from 1400 on tickover to practice my engine out test which is coming soon. Same again, lovely landing with turn and wing gently down. I knew I’d get it eventually! Chuffed 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 Well done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Jackson Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 Progress indeed, well done Rich! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 18, 2019 Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 Busy week. Tuesday got another two flights in so I’m now up to 19 short flights about half hour each. First one was engine off at 2000 feet - part of my training. Came in a bit high and it didn’t seem to want to drop so I lifted my feet over the hedge and overshot the field to land perfectly on my feet yet again. Just in the wrong field. All good though I want to do it again for my own satisfaction. Second flight was with a few others just local to the field nice but I got nervous when I needed eyes everywhere and I felt too close to other motors so I moved away . Nice little flight but I came down short this time and had to blip throttle to get into the field. Then everything happened too fast, no wind so it was fast anyhow, and you guessed it I came down on my arse!! oh well I did three foot landings in a row so I’m getting there back to Clive’s tonight for first part of meteorology lessons. A lot to take in but as I want to do cross country I’m interested and keen to be safe. I don’t get back from Clive’s until 11.30 so 3 late ones this week, making the most of the light nights, it’ll soon close in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Lots of learning! Coming in short and blipping the throttle is actually quite difficult to do without compromising your landing. The blip accelerates you forward, under the wing. Then coming off the throttle causes you to swing backwards. Next, of course, you swing forward again.....and this often happens to be just at the point you want your feet on the ground....but now of course you are travelling faster! You should train yourself never to blip the throttle below about 100 feet to start with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 8 hours ago, AndyB said: Lots of learning! Coming in short and blipping the throttle is actually quite difficult to do without compromising your landing. The blip accelerates you forward, under the wing. Then coming off the throttle causes you to swing backwards. Next, of course, you swing forward again.....and this often happens to be just at the point you want your feet on the ground....but now of course you are travelling faster! You should train yourself never to blip the throttle below about 100 feet to start with. You know when you have those moments you’re trying to remember everything ?... it was one of those. Mid come in too low to I either had to abort or blip the throttle to get into the field. I chose the latter. No particular reason I just felt ok at that point but obviously affected me. Not something I normally do I just seemed to be misjudging my approach that evening. No damage and my pride is waaaayyyy past being bothered or embarrassed it’s all learning i do appreciate feedback on here and try to take it into account when flying too. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richjones Posted July 27, 2019 Author Share Posted July 27, 2019 Ten days with no flights! got out to the field last night. I was first there so I just set up and went. First time I’ve taken off with absolutely nobody else around. I did a 15 min flight in my shorts and tee shirt which was also a first. Lovely and warm down low but not so higher up. Not cold though. I came in to change and try my landing. On approach I saw the wind had changed 180 degrees from take off - what wind there was. As I flew around the field I watched the windsock change another 90 degrees so I approached from there.All ok but a little twitchy as I came down and landed on my arse. Consistent anyway As I flared it felt lopsided, as if one side brake was harder to pull. Maybe I wasn’t quite downwind not sure, but I think just the wind changing direction so quick threw me. Anyhow Clive arrived and we went back up, had a fly past the land rover show at Kelmarsh hall and went to say hello to the virgin hot air balloon flying low nearby. A brief 35 min flight and I used 4 litres fuel. Service time! Engine is at about 80 hours now. i was going up again but it steered to rain and my wing got too damp to lift properly so called it a night. Always worth the drive when I get to fly thats 21 flights. 2 on my knees, 5 on my feet and 13 arse landings. Only 5 failed launches. All forward not had wind for a reverse launch yet. Total 17 hours flying so far. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzy Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Have enjoyed reading your adventure. Can't wait untill I can finally do it myself! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.