PPL Flying Lessons
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 1st Solo | 20 | Solo2 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26
Solo 3 | 27 | 28 | 29 | Solo 4 | 30 | 31 | Solo 5 | 32 | 1st Solo Nav | 33 | 34 | 2nd Solo Nav | 35 | 36 | 37 | Solo 8
Dual Cross country | Solo Cross Country | Solo10 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | Solo11 | 43 | 44 | Solo12 | 45 | Skills Test
Introductory Lesson
The first time I actually went in a plane was on the Isle Of White in a 4 seater Cessna (not sure if it was a 172 or a 182 just did an extended circuit of Sandown airport out over the coast, the flight only lasted about 10 mins. The first time I flew abroad was in a futura Boeing 737-800 from Exeter Intl to Reina Sofia in Tenerife, but the first time I actually flew the plane myself was in a Cessna 152 on my introductory lesson from Plymouth Airport and I taxied it down runway 31 , then held the controls as we took off, flew the plane down to looe island and back, then did a mini stunt, and then held the controls for the landing back onto runway 31 (which vas v smooth) at Plymouth. the whole flight lasted 55 minutes.
It was these 3 flights which got me hooked on flying and made me want to become a commercial airline pilot.
Lesson 1 4th April in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Now I have had my first proper flying Lesson and I am now a student pilot. It was very windy when I went up for this lesson, almost too windy to fly but after I had had my briefing the wind had dropped a little so I went up for about 40 mins after taking off on runway 24 and then flying over the hoe mainly, practicing flying straight and level and trimming the plane. The landing was quite smooth considering how strong the wind was.
lesson 2 26th April in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This lesson was all about flying straight and level at different speeds, power settings, and taxing, I started the engine taxied the plane out to runway 13 turned round and then held the controls for the take off flew over towards burgh island and flew up and down between there and Ivybridge doing exercises at about 2000ft , after that I flew the plane round the traffic pattern at 1000ft Then flew it in on the approach to runway 13 and my instructor did not do anything, not even touch the controls until we were about 20-30 ft above the runway and all he did was pull back a little and then brought the plane to a stop on the runway so almost I landed it on my 2nd Lesson !!!!!!! 
lesson 3 16th may in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This lesson was almost the same as last time I started the engine taxied out to runway 13 held the controls for takeoff ( But my instructor actually did it, flew out to burgh island again and practiced what I was doing in the last lesson. I then practiced flying straight and level with flaps down (not very easy!) then I flew round the airport for 5 mins while my instructor took some pictures of the runway extension then I flew the approach again but his time my instructor did not take the controls at all and I landed the plane by myself it was a big bump because I let the nose drop just before the main wheels touched!!
lesson 4 23rd may in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This lesson was all about climbing and descending. I did everything as before, started the engine taxied out of the turning circle at runway 24 then out onto runway 13 held the controls for takeoff again but this time my instructor had to take a few pics of an industrial estate up in Exeter so guess where I flew! I went up and back practicing climbing and descending (the glide decent and powered decent) and then climbing and descending with flaps on the way back. I flew the approach again back to runway 13 and I landed again by myself but this time it was very smooth because I didn't let the nose drop (the right back wheel came down first) and my instructor said it was really good for a second landing!!
lesson 5 6th June in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
In this lesson I did the usual until we got to the runway but this time I actually did the takeoff myself and I was also talking to the control tower requesting takeoff permission. I flew out again to burgh island and did lots of different turns (shallow, medium, climbing and descending turns) then I flew back over the china clay pits, descended to 1000ft and then flew the approach back onto runway 13, replied to the control tower when they said lizard 1 golf cleared to land and then landed the plane myself and taxied back to the grass parking area
lesson 6 6th July in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
In this lesson I was doing stalling and the clouds had to be above 4000ft which meant I had to put this lesson off for two weeks for it to be the right weather conditions. I flew out again to burgh island after doing the takeoff dodging the clouds and then did some stalling exercises how to recover with and without power after that I flew it back to Plymouth and then landed on runway 31 for the first time as there was no wind and almost perfect conditions apart from the cloud, runway 31 is the main runway that the bigger planes land on because this runway has the ILS (instrument landing system) which they use to guide them in, in all weather. The landing was a bit hard and I pulled back too much when flaring causing the plane to go up and to the right I thought I was going off the runway! 
but it was still a good lesson
lesson 7 18th July in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
In this lesson I was shown how to do a full walkaround of the plane and then I went up and did some more stalling exercises (using flaps and power in the stall) I was also doing most of the talking on the radio I only didn't answer 2 or three times. We then came back over Yelverton and landed on runway 31. I pulled back a bit too hard again 
but I am only a few lessons of (if I was old enough) going solo
lesson 8 31st august in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
It seemed like ages since my last lesson it was nearly 6 weeks ago!! 
but I was straight into doing circuits, I was doing all of the radio calls with guidance from my instructor and flying the plane completely by myself for the whole flight . First of all we took off from runway 31 climbed to 3000ft (should have been 4000ft but cloud was low) then did a few more stalling exercises, turned back towards Plymouth and did an overhead rejoin (a maneuver to join the traffic pattern) then did 3 go around's and two touch and go's onto runway 31 both were ok but the first one was a bit hard
Then landed (on 31 v nice smooth landing) and taxied back to the flying school. 
Lesson 9 2nd august in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Bit of a change only 2 days since the last lesson instead of 6weeks!! There were loads of planes up and around today because of the navy day and its quite busy for Air SouthWest and Air Wales on Thursdays. my instructor only gave me what to say to the tower at the start of this lesson and then I had to takeoff and fly one circuit and then do a touch and go by myself, talking to the tower with no guidance, while my instructor noted down things I needed to do better so I taxied out to the intersection and lined up on runway 13 took off turned onto crosswind then downwind, forgot the pre-landing checks then landed quite well and took off again. Then I went around and did another 5 circuit�s one without flaps (which was the best landing I have ever done!! 
) and one glide approach.
When we were back in the flying school my instructor said that if I was old enough and I had had my medical done, I would be going solo
lesson 10 21st September in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I couldn't go flying on the 20th because it was too windy but I had a briefing about what I would be doing and I was booked in for the 21st so I went up then instead. I took off into the circuit and practiced a few glide approach touch and go's but the main part of the lesson was forced landings in fields, I departed the circuit and flew out just past Tavistock to Brentor gliding field my instructor pulled the throttle back to idle and I practiced a glide into it and then did a go around by 500ft agl after about 3 or 4 attempts we flew back towards Plymouth and my instructor pulled the throttle back to idle when I wasn't expecting it and I had to find a field and glide into it, going around at 500ft agl again. when we got back to Plymouth we joined overhead to runway 31 and again he pulled the throttle and I had to do a full glide circuit from 2000ft aal and land on runway 31, they had to put all the approach and landing lights on because the visibility wasn't very good and it was getting dark. on top of all that 
I was in a different plane G-BSTO and everything was in a different place next Lesson will be a navigational briefing (2hrs!!) and then possibly a quick flight weather depending.
lesson 11 3rd October in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This lesson was my navigation briefing the weather was horrible so I couldn't go flying. For the navigation I had to buy over �100 of stuff. In the lesson I learned how to plan the basic route
lesson 12 4th October in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
In this lesson I had the second half of my navigation briefing - all about knowing where you will roughly be after certain times. I then went up for 3/4 hour to have a look at what the features on the map look like form the air, I went over to Brentor gliding school again then over to Lymmington, down to Saltash and then flew over my house and landed smoothly on 31
lesson 13 4th January in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This was my first lesson with my new instructor and I did a navigation exercise, starting at Plymouth going up to Holsworthy, over to Crediton and then back to Plymouth. When I was going from Holsworthy to Crediton we hit a large bit of cloud and there was nothing we could do except fly around it, but as we came around there was another cloud and we had no choice but to go in, my instructor took control for that bit, it was really strange being in the cloud in a little plane because you can see all around you and there is nothing but white, very strange you wouldn't really be able to tell if you were upside down we came through it and then after about an hour in the air I came back towards Plymouth and did an almost perfect landing.
Lesson 14 14th February in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Another navigation exercise in this lesson flying from Plymouth to the disused airfield at Davidstow Moor then on to Great Torrington then to Mortonhampstead and then back to Plymouth. When I was flying from great Torrington to Mortonhampstead I came into heavy cloud and by staying out of it, I ended up just north of Oakhampton, then because there is a no fly zone In the middle of the moors and I am not allowed to fly through the cloud I had to follow the A30 for quite a while heading towards Exeter and I was sure at one point that I saw somebody point up at me from their car, not surprising really as I was only 5-600ft above the road then I flew around the hills and we managed to find Bovey Tracy and then a gap in the clouds allowing back into Plymouth
lesson 15 31st march in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
In this lesson I was supposed to be doing the route that I did last time in reverse order however the weather decided to be annoying and the cloud was too low. So we decided to go up and do some circuits because I hadn't done those for a long time, I wanted to go flying again and it would be good practice for my solo flight. The first few circuits weren't too good but by the end of the lesson I was flying them perfectly again
lesson 16 30th April in G-AVAR at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This lesson I was in a different type of aircraft a Cessna 150 rather than a 152, not much difference but some things were in different places and also the airspeed indicator reads Mph rather than Kts, I just went up to practice doing circuits again because the weather wasn't good enough for anything else, taking off from 31 with a tailwind was very strange because it means that while the airspeed indicator is reading say 60 Kts you are actually doing 70-80 Kts so everything was a bit faster, I didn't do the circuits too well to start with because I kept forgetting where things were and then while trying to find them I forgot to do checks and radio calls but the last circuit went perfectly and the landing was smooth I didn't feel much of a bump when the wheels touched so it was sort of alright
lesson 17 2nd May in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This time I went out to try something new because the weather although very gusty, turbulent and unpredictable, above 1500 ft it was really calm and almost perfect for flying so after a extremely bumpy takeoff from 13 (literally dropping about 30-40ft 15 sec's after takeoff) we turned right and went just north of Saltash to about 2500ft and practiced doing steep turns , meaning the plane being almost on its side turning around one field and pulling about 2G it makes your arms feel very weak but it�s quite fun! Then we did an few spiral dives and aircraft avoidance procedures e.g. going from straight and level into a 90 degree right turn and level again in about 10 seconds then we joined right base for 13 and had an extremely bumpy ride down to the runway where I was actually looking out the side window at the runway on final approach because of the wind somehow I managed to land on the centre line without too much of a bump and taxied back in
17th May
I Had my class 2 medical and I passed and I will get the certificate soon!! I�m now medically fit until sometime in 2010
Lesson 18 31st May in G-BFVU at EGTE (Exeter international)
The first of two lessons at Exeter international airport to get me familiar with the aerodrome and all the usual procedures there, ready for my solo flight in 11days there was a lot of cloud around but it was very high and did not affect us, there was little or no wind and flying conditions were absolutely perfect everything was very smooth and flying the circuits at Exeter was very easy, not bumpy like at Plymouth it was very strange to see the looks on people�s faces, seeing me walking out onto the airfield while they were taxiing out to the runway in a 737 flying down to faro in Portugal and also while taxiing out I remembered that the last time I was on that taxiway I was flying out to Tenerife! . I flew all of the circuits perfectly even though I�d never flown from Exeter before and every landing was quite smooth, (one I didn't even feel the landing, just heard a slight screech as the wheels touched). The weather for the second lesson (I should be in the air as I�m writing this 
) wasn't looking too good so we decided that it was probably better to concentrate on passing my air law exam because id had such a good session. It was one of the best lessons I�ve had and my instructor told me he would have been happy to let me go solo there and then
I have two short videos with no sound, which were taken by my dad, both are similar, about 10-15 secs of me climbing away from a touch and go onto rwy 26
lesson 19 11th June in G-BUEG at EGTE (Exeter international)
My birthday!! I was due to fly solo today and I was extremely nervous as we were driving to the airport, after I gave in all the documents like my medical certificate etc I went up with an instructor for 5 circuits which were all rubbish really, landings were all bumpy because the runway is a bit strange at Exeter it drops away and its difficult to judge how high off the ground you are but the instructor seemed happy he put it down to nerves. We taxied off the runway and he said, "Fancy going up on your own then?" So I said .... yes and then ...............
1st SOLO FLIGHT 11th June in G-BUEG at EGTE (Exeter international)
The instructor jumped out of the plane and then signaled to me that I was ok to go, I contacted the tower and requested taxi for takeoff, I went up to one of the holding points and did my pre takeoff checks, I watched a Spanair plane come in to land and then I was told that I needed to get out of the way so that it could taxi in to park. I then had to wait for another 2 flights to come in and land before I could take off. Eventually I was cleared and thought ahh I can�t believe I�m doing this as I put full power on and began to roll down the runway, it felt so weird being in the air without the instructor, the plane handled much better and climbed a lot faster when I got to 300ft aal I can remember thinking well I�ve got to land it somehow now!! I climbed to 800ft aal which is the circuit height at Exeter and I flew the rest of the circuit fine, I extended my downwind leg a bit because there was another plane on final approach but he managed to get out of the way and I was cleared to land, the approach was perfect, the best I had done all day and the flare before landing seemed perfect but I think it stalled and dropped on the runway because it was a bit of a bump but I have done worse ones before I taxied back in and parked the aircraft shut down the engine and then I didn't seem like I had done It !! It was amazing and I can�t wait to go up again
The first part of the flight was filmed by my dad, on the digital camera, so there is no sound
lesson 20 20th June in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I went up with my instructor before going solo again and flew 4 circuits perfectly very nice soft landings onto runway 31 with the noise of the tyres gently touching on the runway then we landed taxied back in and then he jumped out and said make sure you are back on the ground by 3, have fun!! Then... ...
SOLO FLIGHT (2) 20th June in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I was doing touch and go landings onto runway 31 I flew round the airport 6 times doing 5 touch and go's and 1 go around. on the last circuit before I landed I had to orbit at the midpoint of the downwind leg and another aircraft had to orbit at the start. While I was turning around on one of the orbits, I saw a shadow of another plane flying in my direction so I descended to 700ft and carried on orbiting & then I saw the other plane not very far away at all as I came around, and I could feel the wake turbulence coming from his engine it was the first time I�ve felt scared in a plane because if I had been at circuit height he would have been close enough to hit me!! he was in the wrong place and has a bit of reputation up at the airport for not doing things properly I was told to continue in the circuit so I turned downwind and flew with full power at about 110kts to get away from the other aircraft and then flew the rest of the circuit as normal and landed perfectly. The other plane had to carry on orbiting because there was an air Wales plane coming in so I was able to taxi in and park before he landed so that I could give him an evil look as he went past. very scary because there was no instructor to save me, lol, but in general the flight was really good because all my landings were quite good and the last one I did was so smooth I didn't feel or her the wheels touch.
lesson 21 4th July in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I went up with yet another new instructor and plane (another c150) and did three circuits one normal one flapless and one glide approach, did all of them quite well landings were all nice and smooth.
lesson 22 6th July in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Very windy day! I went up to do a navigation route because it�s been ages since I�ve done one, went out to Ivybridge up to Mortonhampstead, up to great Torrington, down to Davidstow moor and then flew back and landed at Plymouth, everything went perfectly, all the headings and ground speeds I predicted were exactly right and we arrived at each destination within 1-2mins of the estimated time, perfect flight the best nav ex I�ve ever done and then I finished it all off with a very smooth landing on RW31 didn't feel or hear the wheels touch (my instructor said it was the best nav ex he'd ever been on as well!!)
lesson 23 7th July in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Still quite windy and the lesson was put back a bit because the plane had a problem with its carb heat and it went up to Exeter to get it fixed, when I did get to go flying, I went down to the southeast and was flying around near burgh island doing practiced forced landings into fields, started off forgetting most of it but by the end I think I was doing them ok, then joined straight in for runway 31 and used the ILS to guide us down to a almost perfect landing 
lesson 24 11th July in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Perfect day for flying no wind at all just the occasional breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Took off from 31 smooth takeoff didn't really notice it happen, just seemed to float off the ground. Flew down to the southeast again to do some more practiced forced landings, including the engine checks and mayday call etc, then we did a few steep turns and then joined straight in for runway 31 again. Landed perfectly with a slight tailwind
lesson 25 12th July in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Another perfect day for flying went down to the south west coast between looe island and Saltash and did some more steep turns and some practice of getting bearings from the tower to work out our position and then joined overhead from Saltash, flew left downwind for runway 13 and landed quite nicely
lesson 26 13th July in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I went up and flew one circuit with my instructor and then ....
Solo flight 3
flew 2 normal circuits, nice landings (9/10 from the tower!) and then went over to the pumps, filled it up and taxied back to the school I only had time to do 2 circuits because G-BSTO is being used at the moment by my old instructor to teach people to be instructors and they needed the plane back fully fueled. Very good flight though
lesson 27 17th July in G-BSTO EGHD to EGLA (Plymouth to Bodmin)
flight 1 - perfect day again for flying flew straight to Bodmin, joined overhead there and then flew along the runway about 100ft over it and then went round again and landed there, dodging the tractor ploughing the field attached to the runway, shut it down, paid the landing fees jumped back in for
flight 2 - did a short field takeoff and then flew back to Plymouth, joined right base for 13 and landed not too bad and taxied in, parked perfectly V good day
lesson 28 20th July in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Took off and flew out to the northwest to Roadford Lake and did a steep turn to the left, then the right which were perfect then did one or two practiced forced landings into fields, and another on the way back to Plymouth, all of them were ok then we rejoined the circuit did one glide approach and then landed quite a good flight and I managed to get quite a few things ticked off on the list of stuff I've got to do
lesson 29 21st July in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Went up with my instructor and did four glide approach touch and go landings, started off rubbish (dunno why really) but by the end I was getting them almost perfect, so he decided I was ok to go and do it on my own so I was able to do
solo flight 4
Took off flew the circuit as normal but when on base I pulled the power right back and did a glide approach onto the runway like I had been with my instructor, it seemed to go ok and the landing was quite good so I went round again and did exactly the same again, very smooth landing and then taxied back in, my instructor was in the tower watching the approaches and landings and he seemed happy so he has now signed me off for it so I should never have to do it again !! (only flapless approaches to go before I can go navigating solo!!)
lesson 30 8th august in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I went up to do a nav ex with my instructor, flying to some of the lakes in the south west, first I went to the lake in between Bideford and Bude then we flew NE towards another lake but diverted to Crediton when we got to South Molton just for practice at diverting, then from Crediton, we flew down to another lake slightly NW of Buckfastleigh then joined the circuit at Plymouth on right base landed quite smoothly.
lesson 31 9th August in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Went up with my instructor and did 2 flapless approaches on 31 then taxied back in so I could do ....
solo flight 5 G-BSTO
2 flapless approaches on my own both perfect with nice landings (flapless always seem to be quite nice landings)
lesson 32 9th August in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Yes 3 flights on one day, after going solo we still had quite a bit of time as the flights were quite short, so I went up again with my instructor and flew down to the south west, did a steep turn to the right then one to the left, then I did one practiced forced landing and flew back to Plymouth joined the circuit and landed perfectly. For the entire flight my instructor did nothing except tell me where to go e.g. �down to the south west somewhere", and "I think we'll head back to Plymouth now" vvv good flight
Solo Flight 6 (1st Solo nav ex) 10th August in G-BSTO EGHD to EGHD (Plymouth to Plymouth)
The weather was pretty good cloud was about 3100ft wind was coming from 340degrees at 10kts and the visibility was about 20-30 miles. I took off on my own and flew out towards Holsworthy at 3000ft and arrived perfectly on time there, then I contacted Exeter on one frequency (119.05) and they told me to change to the other one (128.975) then I flew towards Crediton, I ended up a bit lost when I was about 3/4 of the way there because I couldn't see the railway line which practically runs parallel to the route so I turned a bit and eventually found it and then started to follow it, but lost sight of it again and somehow ended up about 4 miles north of Crediton, but I got there in the end
I now know what I did, I was on top the railway line when I couldn't see it, when I turned to the right a bit that's when I saw it out of the left window, the railway then bends sharply right then left, while doing a cruise check, it must have passed underneath me now out to the right, I thought I�d drifted south while doing the check so turned left to try and find the railway again, then I recognized a town from the map which was north of Crediton, so I looked out to the right and there was Crediton about 4 miles south) even after all that I arrived at Crediton on time
then I turned back to Plymouth, had to go back to the other Exeter frequency (119.05) got down to Mortonhampstead and contacted Plymouth again, who told me to join from Ivybridge, which was a bit out of the way for me, and another aircraft had been told to head out that way, so I very roughly headed to Ivybridge (only about 5 degrees off the planned track) ) but I eventually decided to ask if I could join from the clay pits like I planned to (not sure why I didn't straight away ) and that was ok, so I continued on my planed course flying past the mast at Princetown and Burrator, then joined right base from the clay pits and landed so smoothly that I didn't feel the wheels touch it was quite fun to fly away from the airport on my own (the whole flight was 79 nautical miles, or 91 normal miles)
lesson 33 14th August in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I went up with my instructor for an hour practicing radio navigation, this is where you tune certain frequencies into the radio and you can get the instruments to point you to an airfield, or give you a bearing and distance from a place so that you can plot your exact location on the map, we were flying in between Tavistock and Launceston, tracking radials from Berry Head. We rejoined the circuit from Tavistock
lesson 34 15th August in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Did exactly the same as the last lesson, in the same area but rejoined the circuit from Callington
Solo 7 (2nd Solo Nav ex) 16th august in G-BSTO EGHD - EGHD (Plymouth - Plymouth)
I took off on my own again after refueling the plane departed the circuit straight out from runway 31 past the Tamar bridges and then headed down towards looe I took the camera with me because I wanted a picture of looe island (because I went there on the introductory lesson) so I took a few of looe and some others on the way up and back to Bude, I reached looe no problem because it does stand out a bit and then climbed to 2500' as I flew up to Bude. I got up there on perfectly on time, as I was coming up towards it I turned out over the sea and flew up the coast towards Bude before turning overhead, & heading straight back towards Plymouth past Launceston. I joined left base for 13 and landed perfectly
lesson 35 17th August in G-IANJ EGHD to EGFF (Plymouth to Cardiff international)
I flew up to Cardiff with my instructor via Crediton and then Minehead, we had to wear life jackets because we were crossing a large area of water. It was very very hazy and we couldn't see very far but it wasn't too bad to fly, so we went up there at 3000', were cleared to join controlled airspace and then received joining instructions for runway 12, we had to fly a right base which turned onto final as you reach the threshold of the runway so we were in a 30 degree bank about 200 ft above the runway we leveled out and then I landed perfectly really really smooth, then we taxied fast off the runway and parked up, paid the landing fee, had a drink, watched a Boeing 767 take off (making out plane look tiny!!) then jumped back in, took off and were cleared out of controlled airspace. I navigated perfectly back to Plymouth, and landed ver smoothly again onto 13. It was quite fun, but also a litte scary flying at Cardiff because they clear you for an altitude and a heading and you have to stick to it completely as they are watching you on a screen and keeping you separate from the jets but it was a good flight and day
lesson 36 21st August in G-IANJ EGHD to EGTE ( Plymouth to Exeter )
I went up to Exeter with my instructor, flew up there ok and got told to join left downwind for 26 just as another plane was cleared to do exactly the same thing, so we were pretty close to him, we then got told to head south of Exeter and then fly round in circles for a bit to let other traffic in Eventually we were told to join again and there was a FlyBe 737 on final as we were flying downwind, so we got to see him land before we lined up behind him. The landing was pretty good and after paying the landing fee we went in to the flying school for a bit to say hello, then jumped in our plane and flew home again practicing some basic instrument flight on the way.
(Plymouth and Exeter�s flying schools were, at the time, the same company and instructors, planes, and students often switch between the schools) below is a picture of where we parked at Exeter
lesson 37 22nd August in G-IANJ at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
In this lesson I did more instrument flying, after we got to about 1000' I put this mask thing on 
which stops you looking out of the windows, then my instructor turned the plane left and right a bit and then got me to try and fly the plane straight and level with my eyes closed, we ended up in a spiral dive because when you can feel but not see the movement it messes your mind up a bit and it feels like you are straight and level but you are actually in a sharp bank, I can�t really explain what it is like it�s really strange, anyway after that he let me look at the instruments (although you still get that strange feeling the instruments tell you when you are level but it feels like you are turning) I flew the rest of the flight on instruments I wasn't allowed to take it off until we were on final approach so I could land the plane normally. You only get taught this so that if you somehow ended up in cloud you could get yourself out again without ending up in a spiral dive, it teaches you to completely trust the instruments and try and stop listening to what your brain tells you to do
also took my meteorology exam and passed 80% )
Solo 8 (1st solo landaway) 28th August in G-BSTO EGHD to EGTE (Plymouth to Exeter)
This was the first time I had flown to another airport and landed by myself, the weather was perfect even though cloud was forecast for my flight, the visibility was perfect and not very much wind. I went out to the plane, gave it a quick check over then taxied it to the fuel pumps, filled it right up and then took off from runway 13 at Plymouth, I climbed up to 3000' while heading out towards Ivybridge and once I reached there I turned towards Exeter and basically followed the road up, Exeter picked me up on radar and when I reached Topsham I was told to join left downwind for 26, then as I was flying downwind another aircraft which had just landed had the same call sign as me so I was answering to his instructions for a little while until I realized and told the tower with my full call sign (Golf bravo sierra tango oscar) that I was downwind and then the tower realized too and told me to report final and then called the other aircraft again with their full call sign, a bit confusing but anyway, I turned final behind a flyBe dash 8 (like the ones you see on TV) and then landed perfectly in a slight crosswind , taxied onto the grass parking, shut down the engine, went into the back rooms of the airport and up into the tower, paid the landing fee (�17.40 ) and got my pilots pass, 
then I walked past all the orange people which were pouring out of the arrivals area with their bags, went back out to my plane, gave it another quick check , started the engine, taxied right up to the end of the runway, took off and got some nice shots of Exeter, then I followed the road back to Ivybridge, (I could see the airport from miles away) then I joined downwind left for runway 13 at Plymouth landed not too bad again taxied back in and shut down the engine, it was quite fun but I�m glad Exeter was quite quiet because recently it�s been really busy for some reason
lesson 38 30th August in G-BSTO EGHD - EGTG - EGHA - EGTE - EGHD (Plymouth - Filton- Compton-Abbas - Exeter - Plymouth) (dual cross country Qualifier)
I went up with my instructor on a huge flight up to Filton down to Compton Abbas re-fueled at Exeter and landed back at Plymouth it all went quite well (sorry for the short description but the solo one is next, same route)
SOLO CROSS COUNTRY QUALIFIER in G-BSTO EGHD - EGTG - EGHA - EGTE - EGHD (Plymouth - Filton- Compton Abbas - Exeter - Plymouth)
An annoying day because of the weather, it was forecast too bad to go in the morning but would clear up and become perfect later, my instructor was also taking another student pilot up on the same route so he eventually decided that we should take a chance on the weather and went for it, he departed first and then about 5 mins later I took off and headed down towards Ivybridge dodging around the cloud. Once I got there I turned up towards Crediton and contacted Exeter, I was only flying about 6/700ft agl when I was going over the moors because the cloud was so low. Once I reached Crediton the cloud lifted a bit and I turned towards Bath, flying over the M5 for a while and having to go straight through the Yeovilton area of intense aerial activity (3 helicopters and 2 jets passed in front of me ) once I reached bath I was told to descend to 2000ft because there was a jet turning final above me going into Bristol (I could see right down the runway and a plane had just taken off ) , I turned towards Filton and then joined left base for 27 flew straight over my instructors head (he had landed and was parked slightly to the left, but almost below the approach path) and landed perfectly. Parked, shut down, said hello to my instructor, paid the landing fee, and got ready to take off again. I took a few pics of Concorde and was then cleared for takeoff, I flew out over Bath and headed down towards Compton-Abbas which is a grass field. I joined overhead there and landed perfectly to start with, but the plane felt like it kind of launched into the air again a few times as it went over 3 bumps in the runway, but as soon as it felt firmly on the ground I hit the brakes, & come to a taxi speed just over halfway down the runway. My instructor who had already been parked for about 15mins said it looked pretty smooth . I parked next to my instructor's plane, paid my landing fee and then took off with one stage of flap. I flew down to Exeter, past Yeovilton and when I got to there, I had to circle for ages because there was another plane which had a problem with its landing gear but after about 15 mins I was cleared to land and I landed very smoothly and went to get some fuel. I parked up, then paid the landing fee, went back out to my plane jumped in, and took off again, I followed the A38 down to Ivybridge and then headed straight to Plymouth where I landed not too badly, V V V good flight just over 4hrs in the air and about 180 road miles
Solo flight 10 25th august in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I took off and followed the south east coast down to start point, flying over burgh island again where there were lots of people flying their kites. Once I reached start point I flew out over the sea a little bit and flew north alongside Torcross and Slapton sands, which looked really good because the sun was shining on the water but I don't have any pictures because I forgot to take the camera with me 
it just means I�ll have to do it again , when I came back to land the approach was really good but I think the wind dropped as I was flaring because it suddenly dropped onto the runway hit quite hard and bounced about 3 times it was the first time I had bounced a plane and it wasn't very nice but it wasn't 'end of the world' because the plane absolutely fine, probably felt worse to me than it actually was.
lesson 39 27th October in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Because of bounce last time decided to go up with my instructor. We did some practice in the circuit because it was a really gusty day and it would be good practice. My arm was really aching when I came back down because it was difficult keeping it straight and under control I did all the landings very smoothly today even though the conditions were really difficult.
lesson 40 23rd February in G-BHZH at EGHD ( Plymouth airport)
I Went up in the circuit after 4 months of not flying and did 4 circuits, one normal, one flapless, one go around and one glide vvv good flight all the landings were perfect which I was a bit surprised about after so long and I also haven't flown ZH for nearly a year
lesson 41 23rd February in G-BHZH at EGHD ( Plymouth airport)
Yes 2 flights on one day, nothing for months and then 2 on the same day departed the circuit to the SW and practiced PFL's I got my instructor to do one, which I filmed so I could watch how it was done later as revision, (of course this vid is available below) then I did one myself, which I got my instructor to film, (that vid is below as well) then we came back in and did an overhead rejoin (which my instructor filmed for you )
| My Instructor doing a PFL | me doing a PFL |
| Me Doing an Overhead rejoin | |
lesson 42 15th March in G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
1st good day of weather for about 2 weeks and I had a lesson booked I went up with my instructor to do a bit in the circuit because although the weather was flyable it was too hazy to do anything else. I did the preflight check as usual but I found a hairline split in the hydraulic line. It didn't seem to have an effect on the brakes performance, so we went up after a good check to make sure the brake did work and did 2 circuits and both of the landings were absolutely perfect (even if I do say so my self) just a mini bump as wheels touched and a squeak from the tyres, after that my instructor asked if I wanted to do it solo so I could be signed off for crosswind landings, obviously I said yes, so we taxied back in and shut down to we could check to make sure the split hadn't got worse, it hadn't so ................
Solo flight 11 G-BHZH at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I started up again taxied to holding point Alpha & was then cleared to holding point Charlie where I did my pre T/O checks, I waited for one of the navy planes to takeoff and then was cleared takeoff from runway 13 1st circuit was very good so was the landing similar to the ones I did with my instructor but the 2nd one ....... I can�t describe how smooth it was, it was a slightly high approach but dead on the right speed 65KTS I flared at about 15-20 ft floated it down the runway then the next thing I knew I was on the ground I didn't even feel it or hear it, I wasn't sure whether to actually start braking because I thought I was still in the air, until the nose wheel touched and I could see that I was on the ground, this was 'the' best landing I�ve ever done
lesson 43 5th April in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
I went up with my instructor for the last time he's going away for a while and I will probably have my licence before he comes back again
anyway, departed rwy 13 and turned out over my house and flew down past the Tamar bridge at 3000ft towards Liskeard, then I flew the rest of the route as diversions, meaning I had to work out the headings, distances, the amount of drift, and an ETA for the next point, we went up to Holsworthy from Liskeard and then headed back down to Plymouth again, I got the headings spot on and the ETA's were only about a minute out then the approach was a bit crappy but the landing was smooth as always lol and it was a good flight.
Lesson 44 26th April in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
This was my 1st lesson with my new instructor, an ex airline pilot with 25,000 hours we took off, headed out to Tavistock and then did a steep turn to the left, one to the right, then another to the left. We then did a clean stall and then recovered within 100ft, headed back into the circuit and then did 2 touch and go's then one landing, after that....
solo flight 12 26th April in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Took off planning to do 2 circuits, once I got to 300ft a air southwest plane came onto the approach, causing me to have to orbit at the midpoint of the downwind leg, for nearly 5 mins so that he could land so I decided to land instead of doing a touch and go, the flight lasted about 10mins
Practical exam 31st may at EGTE (Exeter international)
Went to Exeter and passed my practical RT exam, it was really easy I thought (<-- radio exam, in case you were wondering)
lesson 45 1st June in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport)
Practice skills test. I had to put this off for a week and cancel it twice because of the weather, but anyway, went up to the airport on one of the most perfect days, weather was CAVOK with only light winds which just happened to be straight down the runway as well I went out and gave the plane a quick check over, the only major problem was that the landing light wasn't working, but that doesn't stop us flying, the a/c needed some fuel so I took it over to the pumps, a really strange thing happened while there, the guy filling up for me found a black piece of foam floating in the fuel tank anyway after that I took it back to the flying school and, my instructor said the plane was still ok, so she was now a passenger and I taxied to the 24 turning circle for the preflight checks, then we took off on rwy 31 climbed straight ahead to the strange bend in the Tamar and then routed direct to Bodmin, arrived 26 seconds early (not too bad!) then routed to Holsworthy and arrived a min early. I started to route to Crediton but after about 4NM my instructor simulated us going into cloud so I turned 180 degrees on instruments to get out of "the cloud" & once we were out again, I had to find my position using RNAV, I got a radial from berry head and a true bearing from Plymouth, that put me just north of Holsworthy, looked out the window, ooo look Holsworthy We then diverted down to Roadford lake and did a steep turn to the left, one to the right, another to the left then climbed to 3500ft and did 3 stalls, clean, base leg config, and final approach config, then we did a PFL, which didn't work to well so we did 2 more and they were ok so we flew back to Plymouth via Tavistock and joined overhead for rwy 31, went back into the circuit and did a normal landing, flapless landing, and a glide approach (which we landed on) all were ok, kept messing up the flare, but they were not too bad, taxied in and shut down. Only 10days to go to my birthday now and I just have my skills test to go,
SKILLS TEST 2nd June 2006 in G-BSTO at EGHD (Plymouth airport) 6PM lcl to 8PM lcl with Eric
Here we are then the last thing I have to do to get my PPL just a 2hour flight covering everything I�ve ever done in my entire flying life and no room for errors, so no pressure then
I just managed to squeeze this one in at the end of the day which was very very lucky as the forecast couldn't have been more perfect CAVOK and only light winds the only problem was that the flying slot I had the plane for was 5PM to 8PM which meant that when we would be coming back, the sun would be right in my face 
but never mind, we took off climbed to 3000ft and flew down to Ivybridge no probs at all arrived about a min early (which was fine) then we headed to Crediton which took ages as we only had a ground speed of 75kts, ah well plenty of time for freda checks and getting ready for calling up Exeter, which we were told to as we got to Ashburton. I called them up no probs at all and then we arrived at the midpoint 30seconds early, this meant (if you think about it) that we would be a min early when we got there and I adjusted the ETA accordingly and even with that we were still a min early. We then headed to a little town called wiviliscombe its about 20 miles NNE of Exeter, we arrived about 1 min and 30secs early there after another revised ETA and lots of freda checks, once we got there I flew over it and then turned right and came back around to be overhead it and facing the right direction for the next leg which was down to Roadford lake, after flying for about 16miles down the track I had to find my position by estimating the distance flown after flying for a certain amount of time I think it was flying at a ground speed 100 Kts for 10 mins , I found that my position was approx just south of a small town, and there it was out the right hand window, I was told then to divert to Bovey Tracy, it was approximately south of where we were so I turned onto HDG 180 and then calculated how long it would take to get there and the actual hdg taking into account the wind which was about 170 and about 10 mins. We were about a minute early at Bovey Tracy but that was ok. Then the examiner took over the RT and we did 3 stalls, one clean from 70kts, one in the approach config (i.e. 20degrees of flap and turning base leg) and then another in the final approach config (i.e. full flap and descending slowly) all of these went quite well apart from the fact that I forgot the HASELL check to start, and then the HELL check before the last stall, this was just about acceptable because I only had to have one prompt from the examiner for each, then he took control and put the a/c into a spiral dive (how nice ) and I recovered from that not too bad, we then climbed back to 3500ft and I had to put the a/c into the glide config and then demonstrate a 30' 40' & 50' gliding turn, all of which were fine. I was then simulated being put into cloud and I was told to put the a/c into straight and level flight on instruments only, and then turn through 180 degrees to get us out of cloud which was fine. Then I had to fix my position using the Berry Head VOR which was no problem either (I like RNAV its so accurate) then I had to track a radial to the VOR which again was no probs at all, next up was my least favorite bit the PFL (practiced forced landing), it didn't turn out too bad in the end, we were a bit too high for the field I picked so I decided to go for the next one which was equally as good. Surprise surprise, seconds after going around from that - simulated engine failure after takeoff, lucky for me there was yet another nice field straight ahead and I remembered all the checks we then climbed away and headed back to Plymouth, we were told to join right base for rwy 31, which was slightly odd as we were south of Plymouth by that point, anyway as we were approaching right base I spotted an aircraft dead ahead before the examiner, which must have been good because I got a "oooh yes well spotted" I think it was a microlight as Plymouth didn't seem to know anything about it. We came back into the circuit and the 1st landing was good enough, perhaps let the nose down a little too quick after the wheels touched but it was ok, went round again for a flapless approach & when we were downwind, another a/c was cleared to backtrack rwy 31 and we were to expect an orbit at the end of downwind, the examiner called up the tower and explained that we were on a skills test and we only had 1 more circuit to do (circuits are not allowed after 8 o'clock and it was getting on for nly 5 to) the tower asked the other a/c to 180 backtrack even tho he was already halfway down the runway! We were then allowed to continue, the approach worked perfectly (all those flight sim hours paying off there) nice ish landing much better before, then went around again for a glide approach to land, it worked not too badly, started very high so I had to sideslip a little, this put us back in the right place and I held off the landing until the wheels touched VVV smoothly which must have been a good thing I asked to taxi back in via B as this allowed me to park the a/c with the nose wheel straight, ready for tie down. I shut down the engine and then the examiner said,
"well , well done that was a Pass your now a pilot )
YES!! Now I�m just waiting for all the paperwork to be processed and my licence to arrive in the post
This also now means the end of my PPL flying lessons, so there will be no more entries on this page, but there is a section for my flights as a PPL holder