I haven’t managed to get a single lesson in so far this month as the weather has been prett horrible, either too windy, wet or combinations of both. This morning I turned up at the airfield and went out to check out a different aircraft, still a C152, but this is one of the ones that was made under license in France by Reims Aviation. Technically it’s an F152, but pretty much the same.
As I hadn’t been up for a while I was expecting to be pretty rusty. For the pre-flight checks I stuck rigidly to the checklist to make sure nothing was missed, but everything seemed fine so we got in and went up to the fuel bay. The airfield was pretty quiet, a couple of helicopters moving around but not much fixed wing traffic. Taxied out to the runway (28), power checks and took off into the circuit.
The first circuit was getting used to it again, amazingly I hadn’t forgotten much and was quickly back into the busy rhythm of taking the aircraft round the circuit. We did three more circuits, including a fanstop after takeoff and another downwind with a landing on runway 34, then another circuit with a go around before landing.
After landing, I taxiied back to the parking area and was told to stop just as we entered the tarmac area. The instructor announced that as it was such a nice day, that he was going to send me for my first solo. My landings couldn’t have been that bad after all! I didn’t know what to think, was a mix between excitement and nervousness. He gave me some brief tips, then climbed out to watch from in the tower.
I took the aircraft round to the runway holding point, did my power checks as I had done an hour before, then was told to report lining up behind an aircraft that was on short final. After he had passed, I pulled onto the runway and got myself ready. Shortly after, I was told I could takeoff and slowly advanced the throttle to full power. As warned, it was a bit more keen to get airborne without the extra person on board, in fact I was at 1000 feet as I turned crosswind. Downwind was pretty uneventful with a quick call to announce my intentions and pre-landing checks. I turned nicely onto base leg and made a shallow turn onto final to notice the windsock was showing light wind pretty much straight down the runway. I called final and continued to land. Full flaps, carb heat hot at 300 feet, followed by a nice flare and the smoothest touchdown of the day (possibly ever?). I got on the brakes and pulled off the runway at the grass exit, only to notice the fire truck sitting waiting for me. I thought nothing of it and continued to my parking spot.
Amazing experience, only to be had once and never forgotten.
Total Flying Time
Dual: 11 hours 55 mins
In Command: 15 mins
Here’s some videos taken from the tower (thanks to George).
