Well, it was certainly an absolutely wonderful day, weather-wise, with a variable 5Kt wind on the ground, visibility 40Km and "NSC" (No Significant Cloud), as you can see from the photo below:
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| "JGP" basks in the morning sun awaiting a trip South |
JGP had almost full fuel on board and there were no issues at preflight so I started up and, after receiving the ATIS called the tower. Here was the first lesson. I asked for departure "On track to Taumarunui" and the tower duly cleared me for an East Departure and taxi "Echo 1" for runway 18. Roger reckoned I could do better than that. The grass at the airfield is really dry, dusty and a bit stony thanks to the drought-like conditions of late and the best place to do run-ups for 18 is at "Golf1" across the two grass 07/25 runways where the grass is much greener. Also, I should have asked for an East departure via the Swamp Sector as it is rare these days to get a direct clearance. More assertiveness needed on those radio calls - ask for the best option for you (they can only say no but it will usually be yes).
After all that we did the run-ups and pre take-off checks and Roger got me to do a maximum performance takeoff, rotating well before my nominated point at E1. We were cleared 2500' or below not long after and, once south of Otorohanga levelled off. Shortly after that we were over the valley about 5 miles west of Bennydale where we started to discuss forced landings and gliding distances. Roger asked if we would be able to glide to Bennydale, I reckoned we could, whereupon Roger closed the throttle and I slowed to best glide speed (60-65Kt) trading speed for height as you are supposed to and remembered to trip appropriately. Well, it was an easy glide. We were at least 500' above ground level over Bennydale where we went around and back on course to Taumaruni.
At Taumarunui we joined overhead at followed a Katana into the right hand (standard) circuit for 01 for some circuits. Well, the first one was pretty poor. I was way too high on both base and final and ended up landing really long with not much of a flare!! Not good at all. The next three touch and goes were much better and by the third (second to last) I was rolling the mains onto the grass at my nominated point abeam the hangar which is about 50 metres (at most) from the threshold.
After the last "go" I set course for Hamilton which takes you over the hills just north of the airfield - OK in these calm conditions but not, as Roger pointed out to me, in a 20Kt or so headwind with likely downdraughts, etc., so would have been better airmanship to turn right as if going into the circuit to head up the valley to the north-east a wee way to give more time to gain height before turning onto the Hamilton track.
So, on track to Hamilton. On instruction from Roger I levelled off at 2500', trimmed, and settled in for the ride. It was smooth flying and we were having a good chat about stuff other than flying and admiring the scenery on this lovely day. What could go wrong? Well, anything can happen at any time. Just after passing Te Kuiti I spotted another 172 on our "10.30" 5 miles or so away, about 500' higher than us. I am not sure who saw it first but when I pointed it out to Roger he said, "Good". I guess he had already seen it and was pleased I had spotted it too. He/she was just about on an interception course and appeared to be descending and, maybe, didn't see us. Roger nudged the column to the left and I took the hint and turned to direct us away from any possible conflict and by the time the other plane had passed us and was on our 2 o'clock it appeared to be level with us.
Now for a bit more fun. "There's a farm strip just down there", says Roger, "Can you see it?". As we turned to the right I said I could and then Roger said I should do a touch-and-go on the strip in the direction we were heading so I descended and got myself set up on a downwind leg and, putting into practice what we had done at Taumarunui, set up for a precision touch and go nominating a point to touch down abeam a barn by the side of the strip. This worked out quite nicely in the end. On the base leg I was somewhat high so went to full flap and on short final when still high, Roger encouraged me to gently side slip which was just enough to get me on target for the lip of a dip containing a creek at the threshold. With a trickle of power to lift us a tad the mains touched on the grass pretty close to my point. Power on and go with plenty of room to get airborne again. Touch and go on a farm strip - a first for me.
Then it was back to Hamilton. We called the tower just South of Kihikihi and made a Mystery Creek arrival and straight onto a left-hand downwind for 18. A fantastic flight with a lot of learning points which really came down to fine-tuning of the basics, for example: attitude, particularly the old "airspeed for height equation; approach good - landing good (and the reverse!!); trim, trim, trim, "then you are in control of the aeroplane rather than it controlling you"!!. Thanks, Rog for a great morning.
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