5 June 2016 - Local Flight

Just a quick local flight. Visibility was poor so I cut short the cross country I had planned.

05.06.2016 - Brakes off 09:20(Z) Brakes On 09:50(Z) Total: 0:30
Total Time 154:55

22 May 2016 - Rochester, Bewl, Lydd, Canterbury

Nice flight out from Rochester in a lovely C152 (G-GDIA). Departing R20 I headed off down to Bewl and then over to Lydd turning through their overhead up to Canterbury. Really nice smooth flight all the way around Kent with very little wind. Surface wind back into R20 was only 5 Kts variable.

I'm relieved with the improved performance of the headset which I had refurbished recently. Of course, time will tell if this was money well spent as I'm hoping the intermittent problems I had with it previously, do not return in a hurry!  On the subject of communication I also purchased and took along a back up transceiver (aircraft radio) given the issues I encountered on my last time. I'm pleased with my choice, the interface is easy to use and it will give me greater confidence in my future flying to know if the aircraft radio packs up I have a good fall back option.

22.05.2016 - Brakes off 09:35(Z) Brakes On 10:40(Z) Total: 1:05
Total Time 154:25

8 May 2016 - Rochester, Dover VOR, Manston - Radio Failure

Frustrating flight out from Rochester with an intermittent radio failure. I also trialed the use of audio cables with the Virb camera which would have worked great had it not been for the issues I had with the radio. Shame, but these things will happen from time to time.

A short extract of the commencement of the radio problems...

The full fight...

08.05.2016 - Brakes off 09:05(Z) Brakes On 10:15(Z) Total: 1:10
Total Time 153:20

17 April 2016 - Southend, Margate, Ramsgate

A lovely sunny Sunday morning flight out from Southend in a Cessna 152. Departing runway 23 and turning left to head over the Thames to the Isle of Sheppey. From there across to Whistable and then around the Kent coast taking in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate before looping back over the final approach path to Manston Airport (now disused) and cruising back to Southend for a left base join for Runway 23. A lovely lazy flight in the Sunday morning sunshine.

17.04.2016 - Brakes off 09:05(Z) Brakes On 10:15 (Z) Total: 1:10
Total Time 152:10

3 April 2016 - Southend Local Flight

Back over to Southend for a solo flight in one of their C152s. Just wanted a relaxing flight so opted for a trip along the Thanet coast in Kent. Visibility was awful though, as can be seen in the video. 

I also need to put the prop filter back on the Virb camera. I had taken it off because of the dark conditions when doing instrument training.  

03.04.2016 - Brakes off 10:40(Z) Brakes On 11:40 (Z) Total: 1:00
Total Time 151:00

2 April 2016 - 28 Day Checkout C152 - Circuits

Back to Rochester for a few circuits in a C152. I hadn't flown a Cessna 152 since November so it was necessary to do a 'check-out' routine. As I had been flying regularly albeit at Southend in a PA28 this boiled down to a few circuits captured here on video. With this done I am free to hire out one of these in the coming weekends.

02.04.2016 - Brakes off 15:05(Z) Brakes On 15:50 (Z) Total: 0:45
Total Time 150:00

24 March 2016: Completing IMC Renewal

 

Back to Southend on the 24th to complete my IMC renewal. Great way to start the long Easter weekend. Just headed out NW from R23 to do some compass turns and recovery from unusual attitude on partial/limited panel before heading back for a couple of bad weather circuits. 

Its been so great to be back at Southend Airport. Since my last foray here it's all changed to Class D controlled airspace but the ATC are really helpful and accommodating. On top of this you can get some great coaching from Southend Flying Club and take advantage of the all year round super facilities for IMC training. 

24.03.2016 - Brakes off 10:10(Z) Brakes On 11:00 (Z) Total: 0:50 IMC (0:30) Total Time 149:15

20 March 2016 - IMC Refresher: DME Arcs and Holding Patterns

Really great session over at Southend on the 20th. VOR tracked after departing runway 05 NE up to Clacton and performed a 180 degree 7 NM clockwise DME arc, continuing NE the other side of the beacon for a few miles (until 10 DME) before instigating a 45/180 degree procedural turn to rejoin the reciprocal (SW) track back to the beacon. Once there, I did a 5 NM 180 degree DME arc clockwise. 

After leaving the beacon I was on track direct to Southend for a sector 1 parallel entry into the hold. Here I did 2 holds which went really well, probably I have to say helped by the wind perfectly aligned 050 degrees which is the inbound leg of the hold.

Note to self on joining the arc: lead-in to the arc itself after tracking NE was only 0.5 NM due to the headwind but 1.0 NM tracking back due to the tailwind.

Video enclosed but its of the cockpit instruments while in the hold so it wont mean much at all to anybody looking at it apart from me visualising going round the hold! I'm glad I've filmed my flights these last couple of years though as it really helps remembering them. Looking through a logbook doesn't have the same recall factor I'm afraid.

Anyway, loved this session. Everything worked out well but I also felt I gained good experience, particularly playing around in the hold at Southend (who I have to say are so good with us little GA folk).

 
20.03.2016 - Brakes off 09:50(Z) Brakes On 11:10 (Z) Total: 1:20 IMC (1:10) Total Time 148:25