Two weeks off on holiday and it was time to get back into my flying. I had booked two lessons for the Friday. In the morning I was planning to take my wife up for the first time, a nice trip from Humberside, over to York, then to Bridlington, and finally back to Humberside. The afternoon would be some revision of PFL (Practice Force Landing) and also a go at side slipping.
The night before I had done some extensive planning and a full set of mock wind calculations. I had also got a new map. I normally use a 1:250000, but the the nav exam calls for a 1/2 mill map, so I thought this trip would be a good practice for this. This morning we arrived at Humberside airport and I got to work. First getting all the latest weather reports. I could not believe it. No wind! None. So much for my careful planning and practice. No wind vectors to worry about. Richard my instructor arrived and we talked about what we planned to do and he checked my plans and map. With everything looking good to go, I got Caroline a headset and we headed out to check out the plane.
The last plane Caroline had been on had been a little Embraer ERJ-145, which had taken us on holiday to Slovenia. My little Piper PA-28 is quite a bit smaller but after checking out the outside I got her comfy strapped in the back and finished of my checks when Richard arrived. We soon had the plane started and lined up on runway 21 ready for take-off. On reaching 500 feet I made a right turn and headed for the local visual reference point, the old airfield at Elsham, but all thats left now is a collection of buildings. On the way there we passed the other major marker for the airfield, the local quarry.
Once clear of the airfield I turned onto my first co-ordinates 311 (T) Track, which I had calculated at 311 (T) Heading (no wind) which gave a heading of 313 (M). There is a small island in the middle of the Humber and if I was on course I would fly directly overhead. I was surprised to find that I was actually on course! Wow, but really there was no excuse with there being no wind.
I had calculated that it would take 19 minutes to get to York and it was with relief I found myself over York about 20 minutes later. I banked gently over, no sudden or sharp turns to upset my passenger.
I turned onto my next heading 078(M) and we headed over the Yorkshire wolds.
This second stage of the journey was the most difficult. Few landmarks, so difficult to check my navigation but eventually I spotted Driffield but a bit close to my right but still not to bad, and from there I could spot my next destination Bridlington.
The third stage was the easiest, my turning point was just below Bridlington. and Caroline got this lovely shot of Flamborough Head as I banked over to my next heading 191 (M) for the final 18 minutes home.
This stage was simply a matter of keeping the coast to my left heading towards York.
Hull finally appeared and with that the Humber Bridge. We came over Hull, crossed the river and was soon cleared to land. We were soon down once again and Caroline had experienced her first flight we me at the controls.
For the afternoon I had a quick practice of PFL’s and also tried slide slips for the first time. I am too lazy to write up my PFL’s again.
Side Slipping
Side slipping is a very old technique to get an aircraft down fast, and was used extensively before flaps were fitted to aircraft.
Basically you fly with crossed controls. Slowly and gently you start to bank to the left (or right), and then apply opposite rudder to counter act the bank. Richard demonstrated it first then I had a go. I glanced down at the vertical speed indicator, we were dropping fast, very fast, but to look out the window you would not think so. I gently centered the controls and the descent stopped. I then tried the other way, a gentle bank to the right and then left rudder to counter act. Once again we dropped. Certainly a fast way to get down.