What awful flying weather of late. Not terribly surprising with all the cyclonic Spring-type systems around. However, I have managed to get "up" twice in the past 2 weeks having co-ordinated my booking by some twist of providence to acceptable weather "holes".
Thursday 1st October - my second flight in the Arrow.
A cloudy and breezy morning but certainly flyable so I turned up at the Club for my second outing in the Arrow. Instructor Ash was busy and told me to go over to the hangar, start getting the aircraft out and preflight. After all the rain the ground around the hangars on the western apron was pretty boggy so I slowly dragged the plane out as far as I dared solo and preflighted. Once Ash turned up we dragged DQV onto a less boggy looking patch, jumped in and started off.
I don't remember forgetting anything on the prestart, engine run-up and pre- take- off checks. So far, so good and off we went, cleared into the circuit without any delay. Too breezy for the CTC "boys" (and "girls", of course), perhaps??!!
There was a bit of a cross wind (about 4-5 knots at the start) which was something to extra think about on this new (to me) type but the first two circuits went pretty well. Ash was encouraging me to aim to touch down on the runway threshold markers, no doubt trying to prepare me for the day when I take this plane to a short(ish) field. I was landing OK but a little high at the threshold for a true precision touchdown but hadn't done anything seriously wrong yet. That was to change!
On the third approach we were given a clearance to overshoot on the "grass" as there was an AirNZ Link flight lining up on the seal - good practice for the day, very soon, when 18R/36L is operational. The Link flight got away without delay and we were recleared to stop and go on 18L (wake turbulence). Ash asked for a go around, was cleared for that and told me to go around at about 5 feet above the runway. Well, that part went well, full flap, correct approach speed and went around just at the threshold. Flaps up in stages, maintaining a climb to get above any turbulence, landing light and fuel pump off, climbing power and pitch.... and what have I forgotten?
You guessed it, I'm sure. As I turned onto downwind I noticed out of the corner of my eye that those three little green lights were shining at me. Yep, I had left the gear down! So that was why it wasn't climbing as well as before! Ash hadn't said a thing - just a little smirk on his face when I realised what I had(n't) done! Hopefully I will not forget again. A good lesson.
The wind was shifting around to the North-West now and I had the experience of trying to precision land in a cross tailwind. Did that with few problems, my crosswind technique was getting tidier and then we were told to do a 180º on down wind to switch to 36R. A couple more circuits with the wind increasing now to 8-10 knots cross and it was all over. I think the wind put paid to being allowed to go solo and we hadn't done a flapless or glide approach. Next time, maybe? All good fun, though, and a great way to clock up 250 hours total time.
Thursday 8th October - to Tauranga in WIT
My youngest daughter (16) quite enjoys flying and has had a trial lesson and an aerobatic flight previously. So, with the school holidays upon us it was a good opportunity to take her up. I had booked WIT for the previous Monday but the weather was poor but managed to rebook UFS for today and it was off to Tauranga with my daughter and one of her friends.
Much to my delight when we arrived at the club WIT's booking had been cancelled and I was able to switch planes. Conditions were by no means perfect, though. Cloud wasn't a problem but there was a bit of wind from the West at ground level and about 25 knots or so at 2000'. Instructor, Marie, checked me out and warned me that there was likely to be a fair bit of turbulence on the North-East (lee) side of the Kaimai ranges and made sure I took some "comfort bags" for the girls!
We took off on 18L without much delay and headed out to the North-East over Scotsman Valley climbing first to 2500' and then to 3500' once clear of the zone and controlled space. It was actually much smooter than I thought and the girls were enjoying the views over to the bay of Plenty. We came over the hills, having got a Racecourse arrival into Tauranga's control zone, and I warned the "ladies" it was about to get rather bumpy. Well, much to my pleasant surprise, it didn't. It was a little shaky as we started our descent but the girls were not at all bothered by it and we were cleared onto a left hand downwind for grass 25, the wind 280 at 10 gusting 15. Given the gusty wind I kept the flaps at 25º on finals and it was a pretty smooth landing and short landing roll thanks to the headwind.
We had a 10 minute legstretch while the girls took some photos of each other and I did a brief walkround of the plane and we were off back to Hamilton. This took a little longer as we were into a pretty stiff breeze but it was even less bumpy than the outward leg. I got the ATIS for Hamilton which informed me of a 10-12 knot cross wind from the West on 18 and I told the girls that the landing wouldn't be too pretty. There was a bit of a delay getting back into the zone because of traffic so we stayed clear tracking towards Cambridge and were duly given a South arrival. I was expecting to join downwind and was heading for Mystery Creek when I was instructed to head straight for a left base and descend to circuit height. We were cleared to approach number three behind a twin on final and an Alpha approaching 25 - lucky him, getting the headwind!! Once again it was 25º flap only on final and crabbed in nicely, kicked straight with the rudder in the flare, but not quite enough, and by the time I corrected I was few metres off the centreline. Still managed to get the upwind wheel down first with barely a bump and was straight at last. I then got a call from the back, "Hey, nice landing, Dad". Had to smile - at least one person was happy with the landing!!! I wasn't that unhappy to be honest, as I have done considerably worse crosswind landings than that one!!
A good afternoon out and home in time for tea.
UPDATE: Sunday 18th October - weather gods not been kind and haven't been up again since. Next booking on the 29th for another go in the Arrow. No rain dances please!!!
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