Tuesday 26th July
It may have become cold with the icy blast from the Antarctic sweeping up the country but I had a warm glow inside after today's flights. Yes, I said flights - plural!
After the awful weather for VFR flying over the past week or so I had my fingers crossed pretty tightly for today as I had plans to take C172 "WAM" from Hamilton to Tauranga, go up with Classic Flyers instructor Pete in either the Super Cub or the Stearman and then fly WAM back to Hamilton. As it turned out, things went pretty much to plan.
The weather forecast for today had looked somewhat dodgy up until last night's 6 o'clock news which gave a good forecast for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas, but (isn't there always a but) with the clearing skies the night was to be cold and at 0730 this morning I logged onto IFIS and saw this ATIS for Hamilton:
HAMILTON (NZHN): ATIS NZHN C 1921 APCH: EXPECT VISUAL APPROACH RWY: 18L SFC COND: DRY WIND: VRB02 VIS: 50KM CLD: NSC TEMPERATURE: M03 DEW POINT: M04 QNH: 1019 2000FT WIND: FORECAST 220/20=
I shall translate for non aviation types: Automatic Terminal Information Service for Hamilton "Charlie" issued at 1921 UTC (7.21 am): Duty runway 18 left with conditions suitable for a visual approach, dry surface, variable wind at 2 knots, 50km visibility, no significant cloud (could see that looking out the upstairs windows at home), temperature -3C, dew point -4C; pressure 1019 hectopascals (or 30.09" mercury if you prefer) 2000' Wind 220º magnetic at 20 knots
So, it was cold (for Hamilton) but atmospheric pressure had risen considerably with the high moving over us during the night and it would be a quick flight outbound with the 20 knot wind more or less behind me. And so it was. I took my time preflighting, checking surfaces for frost or ice and then went back in to file a flight plan (and thaw out was Roger's comment). I started up at about 0935 and was holding for 18 at 0950, cleared immediate take-off and was into the Tauranga circuit about 20 minutes later (estimated ground speed of around 135 knots). It was smooth as silk at 3500' but as soon as I started to descend on the Northeast (lee) side of the Kaimais there was a fair amount of turbulence (as expected with the brisk Southwester). WAM and I rode it out pretty well but I think any passengers would have been feeling a bit queasy!! The turbulence was worse on the way back but smoothed out as soon as I was able to get above 3000'.
I parked up and stolled round to Classic Flyers to find instructor, Pete. I noticed the Stearman had its oil tank heater plugged in and there was no sign of the Super Cub so was not too surprised when Pete announced we would be going up in the biplane as the cub was still in maintenance. 7ºC in an open cockpit - BRRR! I donned a flight suit over my other two layers, did the usual walk around and once Pete was happy about the oil we got in and started up. The radial started up at the second attempt after an extra prime and we taxied on idle round to hold for Grass 25. There was a 10 minute pause while the oil temperature gauge slowly crept up from 15 to 40ºC then engine run-up and pre take-off checks and onto the runway and off to operate over Matakana Island.
The first take-off was good and much easier than I recalled from my previous flights. Maybe all that work in the Cub had paid off. Once over Matakana Pete got me to do some medium and then steep turns which were all in the acceptable to good range so we headed back into the circuit.
It had been pretty cold at 1500' and was not any warmer down at circuit height (1000'). My thumbs were getting a little numb but the rest of me was fine. We were cleared for a right hand downwind for 25 grass and, with a little coaching from the back I did a very nice approach and touch and go keeping straight with rudder and only a slight drift into the minor left to right cross wind on climb out.
Four left hand circuits followed with pretty good approaches, crabbing a little to the left into the wind on final giving an excellent (if a bit draughty) view of the runway and all my landings were three-pointers and only one slight bounce. There was a bit of a cough and splutter from the engine when I was a touch enthusiastic with the throttle on one touch and go (must remember that radials are very sensitive and need careful handling!). After the last we taxied back to the hangar for a warm up and coffee (plus lunch for me) at the Avgas cafe.
Pete's immediate comment was that it was all pretty good. My rudder control on landing and takeoff was fine and no real negatives at all. Nice warm glow inside for me - finally feel I am becoming competent on taildraggers. Have booked for an action replay in two weeks.
And now a few photos...
I parked up and stolled round to Classic Flyers to find instructor, Pete. I noticed the Stearman had its oil tank heater plugged in and there was no sign of the Super Cub so was not too surprised when Pete announced we would be going up in the biplane as the cub was still in maintenance. 7ºC in an open cockpit - BRRR! I donned a flight suit over my other two layers, did the usual walk around and once Pete was happy about the oil we got in and started up. The radial started up at the second attempt after an extra prime and we taxied on idle round to hold for Grass 25. There was a 10 minute pause while the oil temperature gauge slowly crept up from 15 to 40ºC then engine run-up and pre take-off checks and onto the runway and off to operate over Matakana Island.
The first take-off was good and much easier than I recalled from my previous flights. Maybe all that work in the Cub had paid off. Once over Matakana Pete got me to do some medium and then steep turns which were all in the acceptable to good range so we headed back into the circuit.
It had been pretty cold at 1500' and was not any warmer down at circuit height (1000'). My thumbs were getting a little numb but the rest of me was fine. We were cleared for a right hand downwind for 25 grass and, with a little coaching from the back I did a very nice approach and touch and go keeping straight with rudder and only a slight drift into the minor left to right cross wind on climb out.
Four left hand circuits followed with pretty good approaches, crabbing a little to the left into the wind on final giving an excellent (if a bit draughty) view of the runway and all my landings were three-pointers and only one slight bounce. There was a bit of a cough and splutter from the engine when I was a touch enthusiastic with the throttle on one touch and go (must remember that radials are very sensitive and need careful handling!). After the last we taxied back to the hangar for a warm up and coffee (plus lunch for me) at the Avgas cafe.
Pete's immediate comment was that it was all pretty good. My rudder control on landing and takeoff was fine and no real negatives at all. Nice warm glow inside for me - finally feel I am becoming competent on taildraggers. Have booked for an action replay in two weeks.
And now a few photos...
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| Sun off the sea and glinting off the prop bottom right |
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| Beautiful day at Tauranga Airport |
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| That radial that needs a lot of "babying" |
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| ZK-SAQ - parked outside Classic Flyers and described by Pete as a "Scary-looking microlight" Actually a Fly Synthesis Storch S registered to Sport Aviation Corp, Hamilton. |
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| Air Nelson Dash-8 ZK-NFA about to roll the wheels onto the concrete - note the cross-wind technique with the left (right as we look) wing and mainwheel down |
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