Flying Training
Lesson 26: Solo circuits
Saturday 27 May 2006, 7.00am with Niall Higgins in Citabria VH-RRW
Weather: Clear. Little wind at ground level, but noticeable from the SW at circuit height.
Arrived 6.20am. Jason arrived at 6.40, then Niall and Rob Marshall. Took RRW round for refuelling again and did the preflight there. Niall chose runway 10, which was also selected by one of Airborne Aviation's Tiger Moths (which departed after take off). Three circuits with Niall, then he got out and I flew 4 or 5 solo.
During the first circuit I discovered there was a substantial wind blowing
me away from the runway on downwind, and towards the threshold on base. On
the first couple of circuits, with Niall, I didn't correct sufficiently for
this drift, which meant I had to add power on base. This is frowned on because
(a) it meant I had less chance of reaching the airfield in a glide if the engine
failed, (b) it inflicts more engine noise on the good citizens below and (c)
it's simply bad airmanship. However, by the time I was on my solo circuits I
had the drift correction all worked out, and the circuits were tidy with smooth
landings (as confirmed by Niall and Neil from the ground).
In fact I was able to spare some brain power to look around and enjoy the view. There wasn't much traffic, just the Airborne Aviation Tiger Moth returning from the training area and joining the circuit mid-crosswind, and then WKM lining up on 06 as I came in for my last landing. There were two hot air balloons - one based at Parramatta over near Prospect Reservoir, and the other owned by Balloons Aloft drifting in from Camden (another cue to the wind direction and strength).
I checked the AWS history later, and found that the wind was recorded at only 1 knot at ground level, so there must have been a reasonable wind gradient for the drift to be so noticeable 1000 feet up.
That's the end of the circuits for now. The next two lessons are dual again: Practice Forced Landings and Advanced Turns. The next milestone will be my first area solo. I'll shift the lessons into the middle of the day (soccer matches permitting) so that I can practice inbound and outbound procedures while the tower is operating.
Photos
As usual there wasn't a chance to take pictures till after the flight. Here are a couple of Tiger Moths, and 3801 passing through Faulconbridge later the same day.
Click thumbnails to enlarge.
 Tiger Moth |
 Tiger Moth |
 3801 |
 3801 |
 3801 |