My Flying

I've been planning now for a while to have a flight test in the Falke to get my Pax Rating (or Air Experience Rating to be politically correct because this is what the Soaring Society of SA now calls it). In gliding circles things work a little differently and when one gets one's license it does not entitle one to automatically take up paxes (passengers). You first need to building sufficient experience (in our case 100 solo hours or solo landings which ever comes first), go through a flight test and have CFI approval.

This has been on my agenda for quite a while now, but generally when arriving at the airfield one tends to gets busy and preoccupied with getting the show on the road that things like this tend to be de-prioritised or even forgotten.

Today I went up with an instructor in the Falke for this flight test and it included lots of simulated engine outs and precautionary landings. The wind was calm so we could basically take off and land in any direction which gave us lots of options. Today I learnt that at 350 feet into calm air one can relatively easily and safely do a complete 180º turn and land downwind in the Falke. Anything less than 300 feet and you're going to have to land ahead.

So now it's just a matter of completing the paper work and I'll be able to take some people up for a flight. Cool hey!

After this we flew gliders. The wind was calm and it was hot, but due to the high blanket clouds there was no lift what-so-ever and we just flew circuits. I again gave the backseat in the Twin a go and took three winch launches and did very well. One of the landings was a huge amount of fun as we landed "downwind" (very light breeze, like <5kph) and rolled along the length of the runway to the launch point.

I really enjoyed today and learnt quite a bit. One never stops learning in this game! Cost 270.75ZAR.