BACK IN THE LEFT HAND SEAT

Well, it's been a while (> 3 months), as they say, but it's time, long overdue, for another post.  I had been away (UK and Canada) for a month, mid-May to mid-June and, thanks to some truly awful weather had four bookings cancelled since getting back.

Tuesday 15th July

Finally, a fine dawn with no rain, fog, adverse wind or low cloud and an available aircraft and instructor.  It had been pretty cold overnight but just above zero so there was no frost or ice on the wings of Archer, WIT and instructor, Russell and I were off into the circuit 3 months to the day when I last flew the type.

WIT awaits in the early morning sun

The first circuit went really well with a good landing and all I forgot was the fuel pump switch to on at pre-takeoff (tut, tut!!).  The next was OK, too and Russell said he would hop out and let me go around on my own if the next landing was good (no pressure, eh?!).
Well, it was fine, Russell got out, and I was off for three circuits on my own with no real dramas (lost flying speed about 10cm above the runway on the last trying for a real precision landing on 18R but it was only a gentle bump) and current again on Archers.
Next step, current on 172s.......

Monday 21st July (today)

After a lot of rain overnight (although not as bad as Auckland which was awful driving back to Hamilton last night) I didn't have great hopes of getting up but, there was no wind to speak of, few cloud at 5,500' and all good to go up in "WAM" (my first flight since "WAM"'s recent spell in maintenance) with instructor, Chris for a reprise of last week in a different type.
No dramas on pre-flight, run-ups, etc., and into the circuit.  First approach was good and stable but drifted a bit along 18R and landed a bit longer than intended. The next on the big 18L was precisely on the designated spot but a bit late on the flare.  Floated a bit on the third and Chris made the comment that we should be a little slower (55Kt) on short final) as the plane was very light (just enough fuel + reserve for the exercise).  Got it nailed just fine on the fourth and Chris hopped out, having complimented me on good, stable approaches (which was nice) and I was off on four of my own.
Chris had set the timer on the GPS for the fuel (-reserve) available and that zeroed on very short final for 18R to land on the last lap, taxiing off the runway with about +45 seconds into the reserve.
So, all good, current again on both Archers and 172s and looking forward to a bit more flying in the coming weeks.