Cruising the Skyways

Proof that I made it to Margate on my first dual cross-country is in the top photo. We got off to a shaky start with a little brake trouble after start-up (and Noel will no doubt laugh often about this) but after that it was plain sailing.. or flying I should say. We landed first at Richmond which was just a 15 minute hop away, and then headed towards Ixopo. With maps, stopwatch and landmarks noted, neither of us could find Ixopo airfield and it is maybe no longer in use. It was not intended to land there though and we continued our journey towards the sea and Fredenheim... beautiful little airstrip on the edge of a cliff and in the Oribi Gorge area.

After a touch-and-go at Fredenheim we continued to the coast and made a landing at Margate where we enjoyed an excellent breakfast and watch the airforce helicopter in training. After that we routed along the beach doing some low-flying over the breakers towards Scottburgh and saw the sardines from the air.

Changing frequencies several times we crossed inland into the Virginia general flying area and routed back to Light Flight where we finished off with me doing a couple of circuits. All in all 3,1 hours flying time!!! Excellent exercise.

Getting ready for cross-country



Flying over Grassroots with Light Flight behind 



Getting ready for my first dual cross-country I have been flying in to the neighbouring airfields - Emoyeni, Grassroots, Rob Mirtle and back to Light Flight ... all within 5kms of each other. It's a process of learning to recognise an airfield from the air and adjusting to the different altitudes of each field but recognising the height from the ground for landings.

I have also been studying the aeronautical charts for the area and plotting the different airfields. My landings are coming along slowly but there is progress.

Chart of the Durban TMA

Noel takes a pic of me flying

Right downwind Runway 01

 Doing circuits at Light Flight I am now right downwind for Runway 01, trying to get my landings right in preparation for Tuesday's cross-country to Richmond, Ixopo, Fredenheim, Margate, Scottburgh and back to Light Flight. This also takes us into several frequency zones as we change from the uncontrolled general flying area in the Pietermaritzburg general flying area, as well as Margate controlled space and back out again.

The flight will take about 2 hours and I have been preparing my first flight log... drawing vectors for anticipated wind, ground speed, distance and flying time, as well as fuel consumption and anticipated totals and reserves.

Taking off from Light Flight 01