The last few times i flew G- ECGE have not been so great. i have been trying to master how a different set of hand controls are used on a type of aeroplane that i did not learn on. When i say not great, i had to get used to taxiing, and knowing how the steering works on the Cessna 172, with the differential breaking. Fine tuning the landing was also took a few hrs to get right.
I am always wanting to better a skill and be consistent all the time. Donald who has been flying with me whilst i a have been getting used to the new hand controls. He is very good at keeping me focused, he kept on saying ” you will work it out, be patient”. The union hand controls allow the pilot to operate the rudder and the throttle in one hand, the right hand, which the vision air, in the PA28 does not. being able to use the throttle and the rudder is very helpful when landing with a cross wind element.
Rusty, who flew with me recently had the pleasure of flying in the PA28 using the vision air hand control. Kelly Armstrong, a journalist friend of mine working at the Daily Mail joined me today for a flight in the Cessna 172 which has the Union hand control. The day was lovely considering it was the end of January. Light wind, clear sky, a little bit hazy but great weather conditions to continue my learnership in the Cessna.
I have just got cosy in my seat and about to start the pre-flight checks.
The ring you can see below by right knee is the top of the hand control bar. My hand would go through it and i can use the throttle with my fingers and with the forearm operate the rudder.
Checking i have all my information on my flight board, I took information from the ATIS, which runway was being used, wind, cloud levels, initial contact frequency, QNH, QFE. During the drive to the airport, i gave Kelly a rundown on the things i would be doing. This i reckon is helpful for people who are flying with you so that they feel comfortable knowing all that is going on and why certain things are being done by the pilot.
Kelly likes adventure and lives in the fast lane. he has never flown in a light aircraft before and this event would be a brand new experience for him. Does he look a ok?
At least he wore the correct flying jacket and had the right shades on!
Well, i suppose all was well in his mind until we were cleared by the tower for take off. I lined up, checked the instruments before full throttle….cheer up Kelly!
Looking very cool during the take off run. for the first 20 mins or so, i flew a few circuits to get kelly used to light aircrafts, climbing, descending, gentle turns and landing and take offs. Knowing he was loving it, we left the circuit for a local vfr flight around Milton Keynes, Silverstone, Northampton, across to Bedford, then as the sun was setting, went back to the airport for a cup a tea.
Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix. Flying above the race course, i did a gentle orbit to the right so that a good view was had of the circuit.
What a sight, watching the setting sun on the horizon from 3,500 ft. We were just getting ready to join the circuit Cranfield and by the time we got to circuit height, the sun was almost gone. We landed with 8 mins to spare before the sun set.
Final approach to land on rwy 21, the tower just switched the lights on which you can see as we turned to finals.
Today was perfect. Everything just clicked into place. I felt so much better today flying with the union hand control and i have started to get a good feel for the Cessna 172. The flying conditions were brilliant. I could not get over how stable the Cessna is to fly. I could not have asked for a more fun day out. I am starting to feel that i am taking the right steps forward at the right speed in my flying evolution.
The next few flights will be to Fenland, Oxford and Southend. I have promised kelly that one day, i will fly him to Stornoway. The reason being, you always see it on the weather forecast and we have both wondered what is up there?
I don’t know now which aeroplane i prefer to fly, until today i liked the pa28 more. But now i am starting to like the cessna a tiny bit more. I am lucky enough to have the chance to fly 2 different types – thus i love them both equally.
