Second Solo

After enduring a week of cancelled flights, I finally got up and flew my sortie 111. I thought after a week of non-flying, this is it, I would be rusty like hell and sure make all sorts of attitude errors and probably end up nose-diving into the ground or something.

Ironically, this could be the best sortie I ever flew here in JDK! My first 3 circuits with him were flawless apart from losing 50 ft during turns and overturning/underturning slightly from reference points. The landings were squeaky clean! On my final circuit, he took over the radio calls and requested for options to send cadet on solo (i.e. me). Approval was given and we made a full stop, dropped him off at the engine run-up bay and I got going!

112 was for 2 touch-and-gos and 1 full-stop. My first circuit was done following a Grobe; he was just right in front of me upon upwind (takeoff). I had to make a longer upwind to gain separation from him and on downwind, I had to drop to 85 knots else I would be catching up with him. The bastard did such a slow finals that I was on mid finals when he touched and still the bastard kept rolling and not vacating the runway (it was a full-stop for him). Finally he turned off and tower cleared me for touch-and-go. Exciting stuff!

The other 2 circuits were uneventful and I even had time to enjoy the scenery and time up in the air. I practiced my trimming - trim, then hands off and watched if the aircraft gained or lost height but it was good, able to maintain about plus-minus 50 feet. Trimming skills have improved! The finals were into the headwind so it wasn't a problem keeping the nose on the centre-line. Squeaky clean landings as well!

I am now much more confident with the aircraft; afterall its a machine that has to be tamed and brought under control. I am positive that with a few more sorties, my control will continue to improve and I will have more time for my sightseeing up there in the air :)

*********************************************************

Date: 29 April 2009
Name: Flyboy Johnny
Aircraft: Victor Hotel - Lima Tango Juliet
Time: 1200 to 1300 hrs

Fuel: 160 litres
Endurance: 274 minutes
Oil: 7 quarts
Hours remaining: 42.2 to phase 2
MR: Nil (Noted slight bald patch on starboard tyre)
Noted suction not in the green

ATIS

Code: D
Rwy: 24
Wind: 260-360/10
X-wind: M10 with MDW 03
Vis: 10km
Cloud: Cavok
Temp: 24
QNH: 1020

METAR YPJT 290230Z Auto 36007KT 9999 NDV // NCD 23/08 Q1020 RMK RF 00.0/000.0

TAF YPJT 282218Z 2900/2918 06010KT CAVOK FM290600 20012KT CAVOK FM291400 14010KT CAVOK RMK T 17 25 26 23 Q 1020 1020 1018 1019

1200 to 1240, 0040 minutes, 0.4 tacho, 3+1L
1240 to 1310, 0030 minutes, 0.4 tacho, 2+1L