My Flying

Today was one of those ummmhhh?!?!? days. A day with lots of question marks with equally as many exclamation marks all preceded with ummmhhhh. So what am I saying here? Ummhh, well it's kind of hard to explain.

For some reason I was feeling a bit apprehensive for that first solo flight of the day, it was a different runway with a 45 degree cross wind and the wind was gusting to 35 kph from the SE. My check flight went off well launching from 08R, but we landed on 16L after an absolutely horrid circuit on my part and my brain was a little slow during the landing as well. Scary the cob-webs you accumulate without flying for seven days.

During the launch I again pulled too steeply on the initial climb, but the speed was a constant 100 kph all the way up. Near the top of the launch I had a brain fade moment and forget to gently start levelling off, at 1400ft (a damn good launch height by-the-way), BANG, the cable breaks and I’m doing seriously negative G's as the camera, radio and water bottle shoot into orbit around my head. My straps were nice and tight so I didn't make contact with the inside of the canopy. Took me few seconds to remember to release what was left of the cable and chute.

I headed off for to the ridge with nice altitude but after 20 minutes of scrapping looking for lift I hit my 750 ft cut off and headed back to 16L. I reached it with good height to spare, planned the circuit well but fubbed the landing somewhat.

I was then reminded about my steep launch and the fact that the cable could have let rip when I was much lower down resulting in less pleasant outcome. Ummmhhh.

After that my confidence was slightly bruised and I sat the rest of the day waiting for another turn and thinking to myself, should I go when the time came. Strangely enough when I was asked later that day if I wanted to fly again I didn't even hesitate when saying yes.

The launch went off much better and I kept good forward pressure on the stick, my launch height suffered with 200 ft, but at least it was a lot safer. I bleed off the height with some nice tight turns then started a long circuit and landed very well. Finals were interesting though as I had full flaps and brakes and was keeping the speed at 100 kph and again aiming for the fence. The Blanik at the best of times has a very shallow approach and I tucked the brakes away at the last moment just to give me some extra height over that fence and so as not to alarm the folk on the ground too much.

So uummhh. Some good points, some bad points and all in all a nice day at the airfield, and as a fellow pilot said, practice makes perfect. 173.00ZAR.