JULY - not the best month for flying you would reckon, being mid-winter (think: only foggy when it's not raining!!), but this last month has been one of the best for my flying for some while.
Not that I have been anywhere in particular, just circuits in the Stearman at Tauranga and circuits here in Hamilton in C-172, WAM, but my logbook shows 5.5 hours for the month, the most since April last year which was inflated somewhat by the club trip down to Queenstown for Warbirds over Wanaka.
It was good to be up in the air and the weather on my flying days has been remarkably benign. The strongest wind was about 12 knots but straight down runway 18 at Hamilton and one of my two sessions in the Stearman was with a 5-6 knot crosswind (enough to keep you honest in a taildragger). All other times the weather was calm.
Talking of the Stearman, after its long period in maintenance it now flies much better - a little faster when straight and level and general handling a lot better. My landings seemed to have improved as a result but Pete was telling off a little for doing "wheelers" rather than 3-pointers for the first few circuits.
WAM is also a bit of a revelation after its period at the "menders". Handles like a dream and performance significantly better. I went up today (August 10th) and was climbing out at 80-85 Knots and 1200fpm rate of climb! Try a maximum performance takeoff as I did a couple of weeks ago and the VSI goes off the scale (1500fpm+)!
I have put my name down for the club competitions next month, gentleman's circuits, senior landings, non-instrument circuits and bombing. Will be my first time as I am not overseas, on-call, at a conference, or otherwise engaged on the scheduled weekend for a change. Looking forward (a little nervously) to the challenge.
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