Some fun time

I was supposed to do my final flight test today, but the weather was acting up. Instead I did a solo circuit at Virginia, spent some time polishing the plane, and was joined by my friends Shawn, Mark and Michelle who cheered me up. :-)

First service

Our red rocket had it's first service today - a 30 hour oil and filter service. So I got to fly solo from Virginia to Cato Ridge for the service and watch as the oil was changed, plugs checked, filters cleaned and magnet checked for filings. All was good, but I was so absorbed that I forgot to take photos. Then bad weather was brewing so I had to get back to Durban. Pity actually as some extra solo time would have been good. However, I was quite chuffed as remembered all of my checks, the flaps at the right time and the changes to the constant speed prop.. text book! Landings were ok too, although had a bit of a balloon at Virginia after I thought the plane was about to land perfectly. Perfect next time!

Sling Solo

First Solo flight in the Sling

Showing off at Light Flight - myself and Llewellyn

 Today was an awesome day. I convinced Brad that I really was confident to take to the air in our Sling Solo for the first time. So off I went and did a few circuits at Virginia, even managing to take a photo of my first Sling solo flight. After that I took the pocket rocket solo to Pietermaritzburg while my instructor tailed me with Marc in his plane. Feeling a little unfamiliar with the route, I put the plane on auto-pilot for a short while while I gazed more intently at the GPS while chatting to Brad and Marc on 123.45.. sjoe what a morning, but awesome stuff and great to feel I can handle the plane myself. Big steps and rocketing now towards my licence I hope to achieve next month.

Brad at Light Flight

Home to Durban

Brad takes Calvin and Marc for their first flips in the plane

Solo awards braai

Enjoying a braai at Light Flight School on Tuesday, Geoff and Noel handed out licence certificates and Solo awards to their students. Thanks guys for my certificate and for getting me this far. The sky's the limit, or is it?

Neat chopper

There are quite a few neat aircraft at Light Flight where I train. Here's a chopper I captured yesterday. Home built and very cool. One of the limitations with them I always thought is that you are stuck where they land, but you will see the clever little wheels (like a wheelbarrow) the owner has made.. you lift up each side with the fulcrum and clip the wheel on. When both sides are done the helicoper is pushed easily in and out of the hangar. Simple but effective.

Oh, did I tell you I got lost this week? Not too hectic and within a few ks of my home field, but part of my training to venture out on my own and find my way back. I was retracing my flight to the N3 highway when my instructor spotted me cruising the skies from the ground and diverted me back to the field. Next exam is on Tueday - Human Preformance - and Friday I write (or click .. its an online exam) Flight Planning and Performance, a little more tricky... loads of graphs and stuff.

First hour solo

Just completed 1,1 hours solo.. and beautiful landings.. so proud of myself. Here instructor Noel gives me the thumbs up, after touching down on a crisp Cato Ridge morning at Light Flight.

First Solo flights today

Sjoe, was landing perfectly on Monday but the paperwork and insurance was not in place for my solo, so managed my first flights on my ace today after work and shortly before the beautiful sun was ready to set after a stunning day in Durban.

Was pretty awesome.. not the most perfect landings on runway 19 but I did ok, the second circuit better than the first. Thanks Noel and Brad for the patience and effort you have put in to getting me to this point. Can only get better. Had to rush off to Pietermaritzburg as the sun did set for the second part of my Radio Course with Sakkie, the ATC at the Pietermaritzburg Airport. So will have to postpone the regulation celebration drinks to the weekend....!!