Victor 1 with twiddly bits

For a treat for my brother and nephew who are currently in Australia, I offered to take them for a scenic flight over Sydney. Whilst I've done the scenic flight a few times before now, I decided to have a go at doing the optional orbits over the harbour. I've been reluctant in the past as it involves a bit more radio work as you have to get permission from the guys at Sydney International Airport to be able to do this.

Anyway, whilst the radio was certainly busy, I managed the calls okay and even got back to Camden before dark. I later learnt that my flying instructor was in one of the other planes flying around the harbour. It was perhaps as well I didnt know this was the case until after the flight!

Back in the air, just...

After a month in the UK, and finally having a few cents in my pocket I managed to reach to the skies again to fly a few circuits.

Today there was a bit more wind than the last time I flew, which actually helped on the landings. On my previous flight, the wind was 'light and variable' and I was cought out on one circuit with a clight tail wind. With a few knots of headwind today, and a slight cross wind at times, it lead to some better circuit practice.

Take-off was delayed a bit though through a faulty aircraft. On switching on the Masters to lower the flaps prior to my pre-flight inspection the usual whir of the Gyro's was not present. A phone call to the engineer soon sorted this. I'm pleased I noticed the problem as the flight could certainly have been a bit too interesting with only some of the flight instrucments working!
The flying school has now added a new online booking system to its website which makes booking even easier - its just like booking a flight online with Virgin Blue :)

Round and round we go...

After obtaining my Australian Private Pilots Licence in October last year I have been remarkably lapse in not flying for the last month or so. Yesterday I decided to put this wrong right and drove off to my flying school at Camden.

It was hot, 37 degrees according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Kneeling on the tarmac to check the fuel of the Cessna confirmed this as I swiftly got a rag to kneel on to save burning my knees.

Anyhow, after fueling the aircraft and checking it out (and remembering how to start it) I taxed off to runway 04. After the pre-takeoff checks I took off and headed into the local area before rejoining and practicing my circuits with five take off and landings. I was pleased that I had not forgot how to land the plane!

After flying on such a great day, albeit a bit on the hot side, I can't wait to get in the cockpit again soon. I'm hopefully taking two friends up on Sunday and doing a flight along the Sydney coast line - I hope the weather holds!

Flying Victor 1

I've just got my hands on some photos my first Australian passenger, Billy, took whilst I flew Victor 1 in Sydney a week ago. Victor 1 runs along Sydney's coastline, ducking under the approach path for Sydney's East-West runway. Its compulsory to fly at 500 feet for much of the route.

The picture below is a taster, more here.

PPL for the second time

I first obtained a PPL in 1997 but after starting up my own business, flying sadly fell by the wayside. 6 years later with a few pennies in my pocket and whilst currently living and working in Sydney, Australia I decided to see if I could get flying again.

In June I started the process. As I already had a UK PPL to convert to an Australian licence I just had to pass an Australian Air Law exam and pass the Australian PPL flight test.

The Air Law exam was not too bad, similar in many aspects to the UK version although it is a Cyber exam (done online at the flying school) and surprisingly open book. Being open book did not make things much easier though as there are so many Australian aviation related manuals to take into the exam and finding the right content can take some time.

I took and passed the PPL flight test last Monday. This involved flying from my home airfield (Camden, south west of Sydney) to Canberra International. This first leg was a navigation exercise to prove I could find the destination and handle class c airspace. Unlike today, it was fabulous weather although this was after about 5 cancellations due to poor weather. Its not all sunshine in Sydney! In fact it can get very wet but more often, very windy.

The return trip from Sydney to Camden was via a small private strip at a place called Crookwell. Here I had to demonstrate stalls and a precautionary landing and various other handling skills before proving I could find my way back to the home airfield. 3.3 hours later I was back on the ground and informed of my pass. Yay!!

After roughly 6 years non flying I was very rusty, but my flying school did a fantastic job in getting me back up to speed with all things aviation whether getting to grips with Australian procedures or hands on flying training.

If anyone is in this neck of the woods, they could do far worse than get in touch with the guys at http://www.airborne-aviation.com.au . I found it a total pleasure getting back in the left hand seat. I avoided weekend lessons opting for weekday slots. This resulted in unrushed lessons with an excellent instructor. I can confidently say its one of the best flying schools I've been to and I'm not getting paid to say it

I feel as though all the various components of getting a PPL have been put in context and I am now comfortable and looking forward to exploring more of this great land... once the PPL has actually arrived that is!