NVFR

After several weeks practicing and reading up the skills associated with flying a light aircraft in the dark, Wednesday night was test time to demonstrate to the test officer that I could successfully pilot an aircraft in the dark alone.

Unlike driving a car an endorsement is required for a pilot to fly after dark and before dawn. This includes navigating by radio aids (as you cant see so many landmarks) and using instruments more to ensure the aircraft is not actually upside down or some other precarious position. Also avoiding low terrain is high on the list of things to get right.

After an oral theory test the flying got underway. The trip was supposed to be from Warnervale to Maitland, Singleton, Scone, Warkworth, Cessnock, Mt McQuoid to Warnervale. However a en-route diversion meant not getting as far as Scone. However the time saved in journey time was spent on demonstrating the recovery of unusual attitudes, navigation aides and orbiting 360 degrees whilst making sure my altitude did not vary by any more than 200 ft.

Two and a half hours later and the test was complete and I'm now happy to be able to fly at night.

C150 Navigation Exercise

Some pictures from todays solo flight = Warnervale - Maitland - Bundook - Nowendoc - Quirindi - Scone (touch & go) - Singleton - Maitland - Warnervale. 4.5 hours. This picture taken just south of Scone.

This picture taken just south of Scone.

The hills and valleys of NSW.

Following the railway line through the Williamtown military area.

To avoid being hit with a missile through the Williamtown military flying zone, its possible to fly up a 'lane' at 1000 feet which tracks the railway line. In this picture the railway and road run parallel. It was about at this point the aircraft radio stopped working....

Overhead Sydney - 10,000 Feet

Overhead Sydney - 10,000 Feet
Originally uploaded by harrip.

Flew to Canbera and back today in a Cessna 172 (KHT) via Sydney controlled airspace. Awesome view - just like Google Earth :)