HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Well, I haven't posted for a while (three months and a day to be exact) so this is a bit of an update for anyone who might be interested.
The previously ongoing and now complete BFR saga:
Saturday 16 November; a great day for flying and was able to do about four circuits with instructor, Peter getting in a glide approach (which ended up flapless, too), an engine failure after takeoff and a precision landing before the tower called up to say circuits were suspended until further notice due IFR traffic so we had to call it a day there. Anyway, Peter was happy with what I had done but there was one small snag. You see, it was a "great day for flying"; that is, hardly any wind so no good for a crosswind sign off, sigh!!
Tuesday 19th November; I had made a booking early afternoon but was phoned at lunchtime to say the wind was very light but might pick up later in the day. I was free so asked instructor, Russell, to give me a call if the wind became right. Well, the wind did pick up when, wait for it, a group of CBs (cumulo-nimbus thunder clouds) was approaching the airport so no-go again. The storm hit about half an hour after I would have started flying so that was a good call.
Tuesday 26th November; finally, good to go for crosswind circuits. A gusty 8-10 knot crosswind on runway 36 was deemed sufficient for instructor, Russell to "sort me out". The conditions overall with an increasing wind were about on my personal maximum so it was a bit of a challenge. However, after a couple of circuits (with one go-around from about 20' above the tarmac) I was getting the hang of it and, although the landings were not what you would call smooth, Russell was satisfied I had the technique OK and was happy to report to B-Cat, Peter to sign me off for my BFR. Hoo - flippin' - ray!!!!!
Getting/staying Current:
I had a couple of short local flights and circuits in C-172, JGP, after the above and the next step was to get current again on the Cherokee Archers (WIT and UFS) which I had not flown since the Ardmore club jaunt way back in September 2012.
Saturday 14th December;
Up for a currency check with B-Cat instructor, Peter in WIT. We did 5 circuits in pretty near perfect conditions (like, calm) and I was back into it quite quickly and Peter was satisfied I was current again (as a B-Cat he can pass me as current without my having to do the 3 take-offs and landings solo).
The rest of December;
A local flight in WIT and some circuits in JGP over the few days before Christmas. No chance to fly the Stearman as it has been "In Maintenance" (again).
An Interlude:
A family bereavement meant an "emergency" trip back to the "Old Country" for much of January so no more flying (except as a passenger) until....
Today -
Waitangi Day - 6th February 2014
A fine morning with few cloud at 3500' only and I had WIT booked for a few circuits. It was a tad windy, though, 120º at 10 knots to kick off with so about 8 knots of left-to-right on 18.
Instructor Andrew signed me off to go but not before asking me what I would do if conditions changed. My answers were to stop, or, if there was too much crosswind, leave the circuit and return to land on 07 (nice to have those cross runways here at Hamilton).
So, keeping current and some crosswind technique. The first circuit was all good. I chose to have just 10º of flap, 75-80 Kt on base, 75 Kt on final and about 70 Kt "over the tyres" and that worked well (only me aboard and half fuel) and that worked well landing in the correct attitude, upwind main down first and only a couple of feet off the centre line. That was very pleasing and the second touch-and-go was also fine but not quite as tidy as the first (a bit more of a forceful 2nd - downwind - main wheel down giving a bit of a bumpy feel).
The wind was getting up with the tower calling the changed conditions; 100º at 12 gusting 14 Kt, at if not above my "maximum", so this one to land requesting the long and wide 18L for that. I had my crosswind technique sorted OK kicking straight with aileron into wind from about 50' up and held it nicely pretty much along the centre until just above the runway when the aircraft seemed to drift a bit (?wind change) before touching down a bit heavily once I had run out of flying speed. Given the conditions, though, and having had a bit of a think about it, not too bad.
So, back into the swing after a six week lay-off and pretty pleased. Up in JGP on Saturday, weather permitting.
