My Flying

Arrived again just as the Twin is being towed to 16L. Wind is blowing a light SE and everyone is hoping that the ridge will provide some lift. Two other students arrive. This would be my first proper training flight. First student flight (we each get two) revealed that not much was happening on the ridge and thermal activity is low. Unusual as it is hot enough, about 32ºC

Anyways instructor F(4) takes me through the pre-flight check procedure.

CB SIT C BUF : Controls, ballast, straps, instruments, trim, canopy, brakes, undercarriage, flaps.

• Controls: All controls must have free movement.
• Ballast: A minimum of 70kg in front seat. Also ensure that no ballast is present in the cockpit from a previous flight and that the tail-dolly off.
• Straps: Safety straps secure and tight for myself and person in backseat.
• Instruments: Altimeter to zero, tap the side to ensure zero, VSI and ASI at zero.
• Trim: Trimmed for takeoff, set to neutral.
• Canopy closed: We normaly leave this until last if it’s a hot day.
• Brakes: Airbrakes, fully open on both sides, half open on both sides. Locked.
• Undercarriage: Down and locked.
• Flaps: Not applicable on this aircraft.

Instructor launches. First flight on the way to the ridge the instructor finds some lift. We go up to about 1250ft. My turn at the controls. Tried some straight and level flight. Not very successful. The feeling of the controls is completely alien to me. The stick needs very little movement and I can't feel any aerlon control. Pitching yields more response as speed quickly increases and decrease and the rudder needs large travel. No lift at the ridge. Back on the ground within 11 minutes.

Short break and the second flight. This time no extra lift on the way to the ridge. Managed to fly straightish with sort of level wings, once up and once down the ridge. Instructor takes us down from 700ft to land on 16L with no circuit. Flying time 6 minutes. Total time "at" the controls for both flights, about 5 minutes (instructor gave lots of input so I'm not sure as to what I did and what he did). Cost = 100,60ZAR.