On the Go...

Following a few months of horrible weather with little of the breaks we are used to seeing here in Calgary, we had a day where it wasn't cold, windy, or snowing. The sun was shining and the skies were blue. It was a great day to fly.

Apparently I was not the only person who thought this - the airport was super busy. Determined not to be frazzled in the circuit again, I spent a lot of time reviewing how I planned to fly the aircraft during each of the phases. I went over it in my head dozens of times and even made mock radio calls to the tower. I was as ready as I had ever been for a flight.

We were #5 for the runway when we called ground and I asked I5 if we could try for the intersection departure again. This time ATC denied the request and told us to taxi full length. During the runup we were treated to a great view of a WWII vintage US Navy aircraft. I have no idea what it as, but it was super cool with one of those circular engines. Pretty cool stuff.

I5 asked if I wanted him to demonstrate the first spin and I asked if I could do the first one myself. He complied and the tone was set for the rest of the flight. The circuit was busy and the radio was non stop. I hit all of my speeds, altitudes, checkpoints, and radio calls. Before I knew it we were on final for runway 34.

I5 told me about a "triangle" he used when on final to keep his focus on what was important. Look at the numbers to make sure they weren't moving, look at the windsock to verify the winds, look at the airspeed to make sure it was where you wanted it. Numbers, Windsock, Airspeed. Numbers, Windsock, Airspeed. Numbers, Windsock, Airspeed. This really helped me produce a stable approach.

On the go I noticed how much time was available to reconfigure for takeoff, how quickly we reached rotation speed, and how much right rudder was required to compensate (same old story for me).

As we climbed out, I5 asked me if I enjoyed that. I told him it was awesome and he suggested that I relax my grip on the stick. I had the death grip going.. for the rest of the flight I tried to remind my self to use my fingers as much as possible for corrections.

We practiced extended downwinds, upwinds, crosswinds, different approach speeds, configurations, touchdown points, and even an overshoot (planned). Due to the amount of traffic in the circuit we were actually treated to most of this by the tower who was doing his best to keep everything and everyone in order. I experienced people turning when they weren't supposed to, people joining the circuit straight in, from the left, from the right, and even a downwind "flip flop" where we were turned base same time as the skyhawk ahead of us (making us #1). There was also a nice mix of aircraft up there aside from the standard Eclipse and Skyhawks. Spotted a Seneca and a Malibu at one point which for one reason or another was very exciting.

Flying the circuit was great. It was far more exciting than hitting the practice area. I especially enjoyed listening to what was happening on the frequency and visualizing all of it. I had little trouble keeping my situational awareness where it needed to be and was aware of everyone else in the pattern at all times. I owe thanks for this to my flight simming time, specifically on the Vatsim network. I can not for the life of me imagine what that would have been like for me if I had never learned virtual situational awareness and radio etiquette.

When we landed I5 noted the awareness and I tried explaining to him again how valuable a LiveATC feed would be for post evaluation of training flights. It's been over 6 months since the club told me they were going to set it up. Perhaps it's time for me to start pushing them for it again.

The end tally was 8 touch and go's, an overshoot (go around for my American friends), and a full stop. Except for one, the landings were all good. I don't know if I5 was yanking my chain, but he did tell me that I land like someone with 300-400 hours under their belt. I managed to tell him I have about 6000 on my simulator. I honestly think that having the opportunity to land 9 times in just over an hour was probably what did it. I have a much better understanding ground effect, how to hold off the aircraft in the flare, and how to keep that nose wheel light.

There is still a lot of material to cover before I complete my circuit training, but this was a major milestone for me. I can't wait to hit the skies again!

15.7 Hours and counting...