Precautionary Search & Short Field Landings

In which I learn how to do a precautionary search, fly at 50ft AGL and attempt a few short-field landings.

Stalls, Steep Turns & Forced Landings

In which I start flying dual again, refuel without messing anything up and do some more work on stalls, steep turns and forced landings.

Flying in a Pitts, Solo time & Aeros

In which I fly in a Pitts, do some more solo time in the Jab, find that I apparantly can’t land for love nor money and experience aerobatics for the first time

Solo training area flight

In which I head off solo to the training area again, work on stalls, steep turns and forced landings and manage to not get lost

First Area Solo

In which I’m let loose in the training area by myself for the first time, practice various things with varying results and play a game of ‘find the airfield’

Stalls, Steep Turns & Forced Landings

In which I prove that I can do stalls, steep turns and forced landings without getting myself into trouble and that I can find my way back to the airfield from the training area without getting lost. Oh, and some women in swimsuits have their photo taken next to one of the Pipers (much to the delight of the instructors)

Forced Landings IV

In which I learn how to choose a field for a forced landing, have a crack at actually doing it and attempt to be decisive, with varying results.

Forced Landings III

In which I attempt more forced landings, forget half the checks and make a very blunt pax brief.

Forced Landings II

In which I try more forced landings, add some checklists, make a (simulated) mayday call and give a vague pax brief.

Crosswind Circuits

In which I do some more circuit bashing, but this time in a crosswind

Forced Landings

In which I hit the plane to make it work, practice some forced landings and judge things surprisngly well.

Flying a Gazelle

Mission report coming when I get around to writing it up

Flying in a Cheetah

In which I fly in a Cheetah from Goulburn to Wollongong and back again.

Forced Landings and Circuits

In which I learn the basic theory behind forced landings but don’t get to do any and do a few circuits to ensure I don’t forget how to land.

Flying & Fearlessness

In which I muse on why I fly and my apparant lack of fear when flying.

Bucket List

You may have noticed that a new tab has appeared at the top of the page called “Bucket List“.

A ‘bucket list’ is a list of things that you want to do before you, well, kick the bucket. I have no intention of dropping off this mortal coil anytime soon (does anyone?) but I am finding that there is an increasing list of things in aviation that I want to do before I die. So, I figured I may as well write them all down somewhere and what better place than here?

If (when) I ever complete them they’ll be crossed off the list. The list as it is now isn’t finite, it’s going to continue to grow as I gain more experience in the world of aviation and discover what there is out there for me to try.

Some of the things on the list are fairly mundane (e.g. Get my licence), some are more off the wall, all of them will be an exciting experience to have.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, alcohol in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

Stalls & Steep Turns

In which I do more stalls, revise steep turns and find out what 2Gs feels like when I’m in control.

Advanced Stalls

In which I learn about more types of stalls, fight the Jabiru to make it stall at all and experience a wing-drop.

Training Area Familiarisation

In which I spray myself with AVGAS, finally get out of the circuit, fly the boundaries of the training area and learn how to read a map.

Short Field Landings and Solo Circuits

In which I discover I’m not allowed to take out any cars on approach, learn how to do a short field landing, force 5231 to do a go around and suffer a Tomahawk with a stuck mic.