LEARNING TO FLY
StarDome's Andrew Green is "up up and away" as he takes to the air
StarDome Astronomer Andrew Green takes to the air during his first flying lesson. July 2006
The lesson in the air lasted for over an hour as Andrew was allowed to take the aircraft (A Cessna 172SP) off from Cambridge airport, headed north towards Marham and Kings Lynn, then a turn towards RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. We got ATC permission from the US Air force to over fly Mildenhall Air Base at FL 2500ft. This was amazing as below us a USAF KC-135 Air Refueling Jet was practicing IFR landings, it took off again and passed us at 500ft and just in the distance! an amazing sight!. We then flew at FL - 500ft and did a pass of Duxford Aerodrome and then headed back to Cambridge Airport. A life time ambition fulfilled! After yet another trial lesson at Conington near Peterborough last week where I flew a Piper Warrior I returned to Cambridge Aero Club and signed up with them to do more flying training in the hope I will one day become a qualified pilot. My latest lesson at Cambridge (back in the Cessna 172SP) was on Aircraft checks then taxying practice around the apron and on the main airport runway. I am now a member of Cambridge Aero Club based at Cambridge Airport here in the UK.
2 more lessons out of the way since my last update. previous lesson as mentioned was taxying practice but my latest lesson was again back in the air. After I had completed the aircraft pre flight checks (on my own this time) my instructor came out to our aircraft to check I had done things correctly and then I was allowed to taxy and take off (Thrilling). Today's lesson was dealing with the effects of controls exercise 4(i) ie, Aileron, Elevator and Rudder. After trying out the various controls we did some steep spiral descents which were just fantastic, then I managed to get us back to Cambridge and did the base leg and finals before my instructor got us on the ground. Just brilliant!
Arrived in anticipation for yet another lesson. The weather was awful though, and visibilty at the horizon poor so the lesson for the day was cancelled (needed a good horizon for this exercise) However................ We decided to go flying anyway so I could gain some more airmanship experience but just as we were faxing our intentions to ATC my instructor was asked if he would go to Norwich International Airport to pick someone up. The result was.... Not only did I get to go along for the ride I also got to fly us for well over an hour on the way there and back and didnt have to pay. More air experience gained and yet another aiport to tick off the list. It was just fantastic. Next lesson soon.
An iconic day to be going flying (My thoughts were with all those people 5 years ago) but did excercise 6(ii) today. Flying went superb and even flew over the University of Cambridge Mullard Radio Telescope Labs on departure from Cambridge. We then flew west and north to do the excercise. it is amazing just how much affect the trim tab has on flying and maintaining level flight and the mastery of all the controls together takes some getting used to. All is progressing well so far and my log book is getting additions each week.
Flying is going great and more updates when time allows
Cessna 172 Cockpit like the aircraft I fly |
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