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Check Pilot 339 - What was I thinking!

So I am sat, siting, my backside strapped to an aircraft I have never flown, with a 2 stoke engine, a type  I have trusted to fly me around the UK, but this one has spent the winter in an open-ended barn. The aircraft is loved by the owner, but not the sort of love that extends to keeping it in a reassuring cosmetic condition;) The ground is 1800feet below me and I am getting a kicking from then termal's that is already keeping me very busy and this is the point at which I have to execute flight test Stalls. Straight ahead stalls, left banked 30 degree, right banked 30 degree and I am wondering what on earth am I doing this for? 

The stalls go to plan, a nice straight forward stall break and nose drop into a mush, the banked stalls are a little more difficult to execute only because the ride is so rough that keeping the aircraft banked at 30 degrees is a challenge, one moment its 30 then 60 then level. after three attempts the exercise is over, and just the VNE dive to execute power off dive to the left and we get as close as I dare to the VNE (Velocity NEVER exceed) all the results noted on my map board and I can relax and fly the aircraft for a while, just enjoying its difference. 

So why did I sign up for this? Was it for the phone calls from pilots asking if I would do the flight test without the necessary paperwork (tsh!), certainly not for the financial reward, I left the day £20 quid down on my costs. This is a labour of love, a commitment to the sport to help other pilots with then necessary paperwork. Was it to help a friend how has shouldered all of the burden for the club over the last years? That was the initial motivation for sure, but I note my motivations have changed.

I found asking friends for money for my services more difficult than I anticipated, which surprised me, but I have to say the financial elements were never a motivation and based on this weekend wont be! I was surprised at how fickle, folk could be with my time, I will have to learn how to manage that to sure. So what does it bring? A degree of cudos, and when I reflect on the 4 Check flights of the weekend nearly 2 hours of flying 3 different types is an opportunity I would not ordinarily have had, but the most surprising and enjoyable part for me was the genuine thanks I received from those who trusted me to fly there aircraft, kept their side of the arrangement, and took time to listen to my observations, I found that humbling and rewarding, I look forward to flying for them again. 

9mph - 120mph Almost Backward..

What a hour in the air today.....the forecast was not looking good, but boy oh boy at around mid day the sky brightened the winds dropped to a gentle breeze may be 10mph max directly down then strip.

Checking the wether for a short trip to the isles of wight threw up a few odd readings on the my Airbox weather chart (?) On the deck it was 5 -10mph, Roy was finishing his hanger, and yet it was showing 30knots weather symbols, another look at the milky sky it was inviting. Taxi and Take off all normal, but as I climbed to 1000 feet (about 35seconds) The ground stopped! flying toward Hayling Seafront, at the stall I managed to get down to 9mph ;-) Not quite the flying backward I wanted, that ambition would have to wait! 

The air was warm and very smooth, from take off all the way up to 2k, but the wind gradient was on of the most dramatic I have experienced, great fun playing with the 120mph downwind, 9mph upwind speeds, and not a bump in the sky oh coastal flying!  

No 339 - Check Pilot - It is a good year!

2013 is shaping up to be a great year, already! Here is the latest line in great news, my application and test to become a check pilot has been approved, makes me think I am add one or two other qualifications to the licence  lets see  ;-) Now my first check flight.....