Jabien (hope I got that right) was my instructor........really laid back bloke. He was quite keen to let me do pretty much everything. It was good to chat away with him and learn about aviation in general.
Yours truly, all gung ho with my top gun glasses on my head looking for my seat belt..........can u see it???

Thats better (great start knob head
)
Now, as some of you are aware, I am a physiologist (a medical science that is the study of how the body functions) and my specific area of interest is Aviation physiology. The way the body functions when flying is not the same as it does in the simulated environment. It was awesome to be able to get a grasp of the 'feel' of flight. I mentioned to Jabien that my interest was in the physiology of aviation and we got to talking about G force and how it effects the human body during flight (no microsoft sim can prepare u for this!!!). Once we were up above South Dunedin at 2'500 Jabien mutted "I've got the airplane" I let go of the controls and continued admiring the view..........then with out warning Jabien banked the c152 over to 60 degrees and pulled hard..........there goes that sensation thing again.......The 'G force' mentioned only moments ago in the flight was now a practical class!!!!!!
This was a c152 not a fighter.........and yet we were pulling about 4 G's (so I'm told). After that steep turn was over it was my turn.........can't describe the sensation......so cool. That was the only time Jabien had the controls, he was more than happy to let me control the rest of the flight including the radios into and throughout the traffic pattern. Was great to have an instructor who's so laid back and hands off. Entered right downwind for runway 03. Was cool to be able to see the 'big guys' around me.......had an ATR and this a320 land just before me.


After the flight was over I got to head up to Dunedin ATC and meet Nick. Nick was rather funny guy over the waves......rather informal. Here's a couple from the tower,inside and out





Also this private jet caught my eye

Thanks for listening to me bleat on

Are the pics not loading on your comp???
)
Although, you did mention that he "pulled hard", so maybe that would have increased the load factor.
