18 February 2015 - Local Flight (Rochester - Whitstable, Canterbury)

With one eye on the weekends poor weather I grabbed an opportunity to take half day holiday on Wednesday and go flying. The weather was cold but it was nice and sunny. The airfield at Rochester was open but it was mandating use of the relief runway (R20). 

The taxiways were the softest I've experienced but the runway itself was good enough. I took an opportunity to take a good friend of our family with me. A short video enclosed below. It was a lovely day for flying...

Brakes Off: 15:50 Brakes On: 16:50 Total 1:00
Total Hours: 124:50

08 February 2015 - Southend to Southend (VFR Kent)

I had a C152 booked first thing this morning over at Southend Flying Club so I was over there about 9AM and raring to go. 

After a short delay (I had to wait for the fuel bowser to come over) I was on my way at 9:40. Visibility was quite poor to be honest, no doubt caused by the prolonged period of very high pressure we'd had so I cut short my planned trip and took a diversion along the Thanet Coast for a bit before heading back to Southend. It was good to be up flying again. Wind back on R06 was 340/14 Kts so a nice crosswind to end the day on.

Brakes Off: 09:40 Brakes On: 10:40 Total: 1:00
Total Hours: 123:50

Some snaps along the way...

25 January 2015 - Southend to Southend (VFR Kent)

I had the great fortune this past Sunday to go flying. Rochester airfield was still closed due to the condition of the grass runways and so I went over to Southend Flying Club and rented their C152. 

My slot was first thing in the morning which is my favourite time to fly. Everything went well and it was really great to be away from the rat race for an hour. It was actually the first time I had rented an airplane and gone solo from Southend so upon reflection, it feels good to strike this achievement off the To-Do list.

Brakes Off: 09:50 Brakes On: 11:15 Total: 1:25
Total Hours: 122:50

20 December 2014 - Completing the Night Qualification

Last night I was back at Southend to complete my Night Qualification. I had about 1.5 hours to burn off the 5 hours course requirements so headed up to Earls Colne and Sudbury and then turned left to route over to Cambridge. From here another left turn over Duxford  and to the BKY VOR beacon. I requested a transit through Stansted which was granted. 

Once over the threshold keys of runway 22, I resumed track and Stansted kindly acknowledged another request which was to be passed over to Southend Approach for a traffic service at Chelmsford.

At Chelmsford I was met by a friendly Southend ATC contact who provided a traffic service and a procedural ILS approach to runway 24.

I would recommend doing a Night Qualification to anybody thinking about doing it. Really good fun and some great views. I have been lucky with the weather as I only had to cancel one flight due to fog. This has been a nice end to the year for me. I have enjoyed my flying this year and am pleased about the IMC rating and Night Qualification I've obtained.

Brakes Off 16:40, Brakes On 18:20 Total 1:40
Total Hours: 121:25

13 December 2014 - Night Qualification Lesson 3 - Solo Circuits

The Night Qualification requires the student to go through 5 solo take offs and 5 solo landings (full stop not Touch and Gos) so last night my third lesson was all about getting this done. The weather was great so an opportunity not to be missed.

Brakes Off 17:35 Brakes On 18:00 Dual (two circuits) Total 0:25
Brakes Off 18:00 Brakes On 18:55 Solo (5 Full stop landings) Total 0:55
Total Hours: 119:45

Nighttime approach to Lydd (EGMD)

Here is an extract from Saturday nights approach into Lydd. It demonstrates to some extent an illusion known as a 'black-hole approach'.

6 December 2014 - Night Qualification Lesson 2 - Navigation

Last night I was back at Southend to perform a cross country NavEx as part of the Night qualification requirements. It was my first night flight away from an airfield and so I was lucky that it was a still and beautifully clear night. With the full moon shining on the water and lighting up the sky some stunning views were to be really enjoyed as well.

I captured the trip on video here (speeded up of course) which took in Southend Runway 24, Faversham, Ashford, Lydd, Ashford, Maidstone, Rochester and back to Southend.

Brakes Off: 15:50(Z) Brakes On: 18:15(Z) Total: 1:25
Total Hours: 118:25

29 November 2014 - Night Qualification. Lesson 1: Circuits

Last Saturday night I was over at Southend (EGMC) to start a night qualification with Southend Flying Club. I had intended to start the week before, but it was cancelled literally at the last minute when fog rolled in and covered the airfield. Before the briefing ... clear as a bell, after the briefing ... a pea souper!

So my first session was nearly an hour doing 5 Touch and Gos on Runway 06. It took a while to get my visual bearings in the circuit as its not my home airfield but to be fair Southend is lit up like the proverbial xmas tree so it shouldn't have been too difficult. Anyway, by flying the numbers it all worked out fine. One landing was a bit flat (all were full flap approaches) but the rest went rather well and I was pleased with everything. Included below, I captured some video of the approaches to show what it feels like coming into land at night.

Brakes Off: 16:40(Z) Brakes On: 17:35(Z) Total: 0:55
Total Hours: 117:00