The other day when i did my short navex to Connington and Fenland, i was less nervous then i was today. I was going further away from my home aerodrome through several MATZ crossings and to 2 different aerodromes, each with different circuit patterns and circuit heights surrounded by villages who wish that aeroplanes were not flying near their homes. The other thing that i recalled when i got to Cranfield was that today was September 11th, possibly not the best day for being in a plane. i have been taught very well so i had to apply what i have learned. Still doing something for the first time is a daunting event and I naturally wonder if i will forget something.

Leg 1 Cranfield to Connington.

Take off was nice, wind today on the surface was very calm, but at about 500 feet it was a little bit bumpy..I flew to Olney where i would start my navex from. I turned onto track bang on where i should have and after checking my alt, t x P, hding, DI and compass, i saw on my map that i was exactly where should be at the right time check. The flight to Connington today was just lovely, the weather was almost perfect, viz was great, the sky was sparkling. Very little traffic in the air today, just 2 planes i saw on route. Changed radio freq to connington and told them that i was “inbound with 10 miles to run” as well as other bits of info. made my standard overhead join and landed smoothly on rwy 21, back tracked the rwy and once vacated parked on the grass. I was pleased with myself that i had flown accurately and kept on track the whole way.

Leg 2 Connington to Retford Gamston

Now this leg was alot longer, longer then anything i have flown yet on my own and it would mean going through military airspace or MATZ. Prior to departure here and at Cranfield, i have been calling NATS (national air traffic service) this is not nromal, but i have a problem with the transponder i have been followed on radar by them to try and work out why the transponder sometimes says that i am at 20,000ft which i am not ever. After take off, i got straight on track and changed to Cottesmore almost after the take off checks were done. made my call to them and once i was squaked on their radar, i kept my eyes open for fast jets and flew past Wittering air base and Cottesmore air base. i left Cottesmore radar and was passed to Waddington radar who stayed with me until i was visual with Gamston and then changed to gamston radio and made my standard overhead join. after i vacated rwy28, i was allowed to park right next to the control tower where the airport’s owner’s king air was parked, i felt a little special. the controller even came out to greet me, how cool was that, and i am only a student pilot. paid my bill, went to the loo, then glass of water and back in the plane. (mayeb this is what it will be like when i fly around the world one day)

leg 3 Gamston – home (Cranfield)

By now i was loving flying on my own but kept my mind completely on the task ahead. The longer leg of all 3 legs without a stop was coming up with another MATZ crossing. during this leg, i had to make good my track as the wind was pushing me off track, not by far, but still i was not bang on track but was heading in the right direction.  I was told my waddington that syserston was active with glider activity and i replied and told them i would avoid them, which meant changing course to then bet back on track five minutes later. They were right, i had about 4 gliders in front of me and to the left. I avoided them safely, got back on track and then had to speak to cottesmore once more as i was crossing their zone but from the opposite side then the first time round. all good and once i was over corby, i knew i only had 10 mins to run before i would get back my back garden so to speak. landed back at cranfield safely and not that far off my time plot. my brain was fried after concentrating and working hard. I did enjoy it too.

My certificate to say that i completed this crucial task of my PPL training.