What's in a name?

Everything apparently when your trying to buy luxury goods.  With the flight school's headsets making my ears bleed after every session, and I mean my ear canals would still be hurting days after the lesson, while sometimes not even fully recovering by the next lesson, I decided it was high time I bought my own headset.  Of course having no idea and wanting a good decent and comfortable pair which would protect my ears at a reasonable price, otherwise there really wouldn't be a point buying my own, how do I choose? 

David Clark

1st stop Internet.  And of course my flight instructor too.  One name that kept popping up as old reliable was David Clark, the you can't miss I stand out a mile away green headsets.  At nearly £200 for the cheapest pair I wasn't sure, and it was a big(gish) purchase for someone you're not sure.  I say biggish as alone the headsets seem expensive, but in comparison with the whole learning to fly shenanigans, the cost really isn't that expensive.  So I did the next best thing without too much compromise, eBay.  Surely enough there were quite a lot of second hand sellers online.  After several more weeks of deliberation I did it, put in a bid for a better model but obviously several years old secondhand headset.  Having had a very bad experience of fraud with auctions before I was extremely hesitant with this buy!  Of course I am talking about a fraud that took place over 10 years ago, and I know myself programs and processes have moved on, a lot!  Hello I use mobile banking apps, like that was even conceived of 10 years ago.  But that negative image remains.  So after deciding to just go for it, with a little help from the dangerously convenient eBay app, and a frantic last 5 seconds bid to win the headset, I received my new(ish) headsets by the end of the week.  Too convenient, no wonder my friend is a shopaholic! It's been around 8 weeks now and I'm still absolutely 100% satisfied with my purchase.  The headset is like new, if there's scratches on them I really don't see any.  The headset itself are so comfortable, it's easily adjustable, the headset helps to protect my ears, not so much white noise, there's a clip for the wires which doesn't sound all that exciting but it's quite important as I've caught the wires on so many occasions cause they're dare I say, a little too long.  The ear and mic covers are brand new, the headset is clean and to complete it there's a bag thrown in to help store the headsets.  What more can a girl ask for?    

As for the brand itself, be it on the news, tv programs, even down to the film I saw last night, I keep spotting those very unique green coloured headsets.  Something I definitely wouldn't have even noted a few months ago!    

Lesson 16 - Blowing in the wind

What can only be described as a leaf blowing in the gale, I experienced just what it's like to be flying in strong wind!

Having missed 3 weeks of lessons already as the unrelenting weather keeps teasing me, there was a glimpse of let up and out I went this morning for my weekly lesson. When I say let up, today the wind speed was around 13 mph compared to last week's nearly 30! I felt confident but nonetheless nervous as a windy day would mean a shaky plane. And from the take off it was evident as I was about 1-200 f

t in the air the plane just suddenly dipped 10 ft like a roller coaster ride plummeting from it's peak, it was clear I was all over the place and my instructor quickly takes control of the situation and continues to correct and fly us to safety. Phew ~~ Or so I thought!

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Rookie mistake was soon evident as I had pushed my seat too far forward and I was having trouble stepping on foot pedals. There are 2 foot pedals, one for each foot. Each foot pedal is separated into 2 parts, the top and the bottom part. The top parts are perhaps only a 1/3 of the entire pedal and these are the brakes. The bottom parts are what controls the rudder, which shifts the nose of the plane (if you like) from left to right. Even with my heel firmly planted on the floor my feet where pressing squarely on the brakes. So rookie-doh moment, when taking off where I'm suppose to be at full throttle and my foot slightly on the right rudder, my foot is on the brakes. Fail.

Rudders corrects 'yaw' (left to right) movements, last picture on the right

Rookie-doh moment number 2 happens as soon as the plane is around 3-400ft and has been recovered from the earlier roller coaster dip, my side plane door pops open. Fail again. Let me first ease the dear reader's mind in that, like the car, there are seat belts so I was strapped in with no danger of falling out. And though the door is popped open its not gaping open, just off the hooks, so this was quickly slammed shut again. This aircraft's doors are not like a car in that after you close it you can lock the door, there are no locks. The second is that the doors are really stiff, so even when you think you've shut the door you actually haven't done it properly. I have to say that this is the first time it's happened to me, even though I have seen the passenger side door pop open a couple times cause the instructor didn't close theirs properly. I'm going to blame my small personal training (gym) classes I go to, I normally don't go on a Saturday but yesterday I went to class and my arms were killing me at the end of it. I really felt how tired my arms were today fighting to control the aircraft against the gale force winds! And be more aware and careful next time!

Proud moment one – I actually remembered to do all my radio chat today, usually a bit daunting because I'm trying to remember what to say while still remembering how to fly the plane! Followed by proud moments two – able to go round the circuit much more accurately, and three – land the plane both with flaps and without.

Going round in the circuit – you'd think flying in a rectangle, where the final side (one of the longer sides) is the final line that makes the rectangle is the runway, was simple enough. And it is if it was 2-dimensional and on a calm clear day. But not today as I was thrown about like a lonely leaf being dragged along by the gale force winds alternately drifting and pushing me between heights and directions. Luckily for me I have a few more instruments to allow me to guide where and how high I end up flying about in.

My first landing was with the flaps, that's the little bits that come down adjacent to the wings to help slow down the plane by creating drag. You will see these also on commercial planes, that's the point where the plane is about to land and you hear the noise of machinery moving; the flaps and landing gear (i.e. the front wheel) is coming down. Although thinking I was too high I actually wasn't and landed the plane 1/6 down the runway. You're suppose to land the plane right at the beginning where you see the numbers by the way in case you didn't read my last post! Ok, definitely room for improvement, especially as I was still battling to step on the rudder parts of pedals! Definitely important to keep the plane flying straight, without them it's like having you hands off the steering wheel while still hurtling at speed!

The next few landing were without flaps. The reason for this I was told was because with it being so windy you do not need the extra drag to slow the plane down on landing, and because you can control the power better without them in these conditions. Imagine your in a car on a long straight track with a parachute attached to the back of the car. With the parachute the car is able to stop in much less time than without one. But imagine you need to sudden not stop but apply some speed (i.e. power), inevitably the parachute then becomes a hindrance. Kinda like what the flaps were today if I required to add power (full throttle) the plane. In theory this all makes sense, now if only I could still remember I need power to land!

So improvement but also points to remember today, don't over trim the plane, watch for the wind pushing you off (directional) course and keep an eye on the airspeed! By the time I left the plane I was feeling a little dizzy and thankfully only a small hint of nauseousness, only helped by the fact I was actually flying the plane. In the instance where my instructor took over in the last few minutes I felt what he had been feeling for the last hour, the full blown dizziness of the whole plane ride! I wasn't looking forward to the hour's long journey home but it went super quick as my head just kept me zombified and next thing I know I was home!

So more next week!      

Lesson 15 - Still Circuiting

People are wondering if I'm still flying because I hadn't written a new post in a while.  Well yes I most certainly am, and the reason for me not having written in a while is because all I'm doing at the moment is circuit training - i.e. prepping for landing and actually landing the aircraft.

Last year flying was taken at a very leisurely pace as it competed against me training for my cycling and obstacle race events, trips abroad and weekend ones, socialising and every other obstruction in the way.  Oh I forgot about one major obstruction, especially at the moment as Britain is completely battered by heavy rains and winds, the wonderful  Scottish weather.  Having only one lesson per week (if it goes ahead) also doesn't help with the progress status.  

Weather does not look good

With my big Dec South East Asia gone for nearly a month trip now firmly in the past, I can now focus my attention on my PPL.  Except of course the damn weather.  When it does decide to let me fly I have been practising my circuits.  Despite this I am happy to report that I am making progress which is actually noticeable, like a light bulb just went off in my head and it just clicked!

Upon approaching the runway and descending to touch down onto the tarmac I would sway as if I was trapped in a sandstorm.  Yes I was my very own Pirate ship amusement park ride!  Upon final where wheels are touching the tarmac moment, the aircraft would still be crooked and the aircraft itself would be no where near the middle of the runway.  When landing your aircraft is supposed to be lined up and on top of the dashed white lines in the middle of the runway, I was no where near.  I'm suppose to also be starting to land just where the numbers are at the start of the runway.  Again a slight problem for me.  In fact 2 months ago I was lucky to even line the aircraft up straight never mind on the line and near the numbers!  Now though I'm still off centre from the white line there's progress in at least when I'm coming in to land I'm able to align the aircraft a lot better, though still a little shaky at times.  I'm now also able to judge whether upon approach to the runway my aircraft is to high or too low to land.  This helps with knowing whether the aircraft will start to land near the numbers.  And hey just to throw in a third element, I'm also able to call into ATC (air traffic control) advising them of my whereabouts/landing status, all while still flying the aircraft.  I did mention flying was also about being able to multitask, and there is so much you have to remember!  Though my instructor agrees with me that my knowledge is there,  I know what to do, practising it is a constant vast oceans of a difference with me!

To remember and study. What are these dials again?

In mid Jan, after not flying for a month and a nervous return to lessons the week prior, in mid Jan the second lesson of the year I actually managed to land on my own without the instructor correcting me.  A huge achievement I'm telling you!  I knew I landed unaided because I landed with an almighty thud as the tire hit (and I mean hit!) the tarmac!  Kinda reminded me of that Ryanair flight I took where the pilot also landed with a huge thud and instantly put the engines in reverse causing an extreme pull first forward then backwards again.  If he can pass as a commercial pilot damn it I can do this!  After all it's only a 2 seater plane in comparison!  Despite my landing, I couldn't help but laugh at my horrifying attempt and at the same time be happy at the progress.  It's a funny thing that.

And so now, if only the rain would go away and maybe even take the wind with you, I would be up in the air right now having my lesson instead of pondering about getting out of bed and studying my flight manuals.  Plus side, I did update this blog.