My Flying

Flying weekend day 1. I had two flights in the Blanik, one was a 5 min circuit and the other a nice thermal flight of 15 minutes. The wind was really messing us around and we used all four runways today launching from four different directions.

I'm learning more about this aeroplane and besides the hideously uncomfortable cockpit, where there is definitely no place for a pilot and a parachute, it flies really nicely. With the flaps 70% extended she flies very slowly and turns on almost nothing. Another thing I really like are the very light and responsive controls. Unlike the Twin, you don't need to man handle her across the sky.

I'm finding landing to be a bit of a handful though, mainly because I not used to using flaps and the brakes aren't particularly effective, this plus the poor penetration into wind results in a high work load for me. The flaps are also tricky in that you need to first slow the aeroplane down before the flaps can be fully engaged and then increase to approach speed again. Cost = 110ZAR. Pity there was no time to fly the Falke.