After two postponements due to rubbish weather earlier in the week I arrived at EuroFlight, Mt Maunganui just before 9am on a glorious cloud-free morning.
I went into a meeting room with Andrew, my instructor for the day, and we spent 30 mins going through the principles of flight and discussing what we were to achieve during our flight.
We went to the plane, ZK-TAA, a Cessna 152. Andrew explained the pre-flight check routine and we spent a while carrying out the procedure (mmmm the avgas smelt good .. lol). I brought along my camera, but only used it twice, so here's the first pic.
My steed for the morning
I hopped in the left seat and after checking the dials we started her up. Andrew suggested that I could steer the plane to the end of the grass rw25, whilst he did the throttle. I am used to rudder pedals but not toe brakes, and wore my thick soled shoes so didn't have any real feeling as to when I was making contact with the pedals, so I think Andrew did more steering than I did!
After Tower clearance we were up and headed to the Matakana Island sector at 2500' or below. There are two training areas, one over Matakana, the other down the coast over Papamoa.
The ascent appeared far steeper than I expected, even though the dials were indicating a leisurely climb. We were soon passing the beginning of Matakana Isl and up to 2500. Andrew said 'you have control' I repeated that 'I had control' and about then my heart felt as if it was hitting the dashboard.
We carried out a few turns, left and right (I was sure I was going to spiral earth-wards after my first turn, the lean seemed way more exagerrated than I imagined), then I experienced the effect of the rudder when flying straight (or more correctly, sideways), we went through the effect of attitude on airspeed (I found it interesting how slow you actually can go), and how the controls are heavier when you slow down.
I after about 20 minutes of this I was feeling more 'in control' and could maintain the turn and level flight. I realised up there that I tended to look too much at the controls and dials at first, a legacy of simming I guess, once I became relaxed flying based on what I could see out of the window I was smoother at the controls.
It was then time to head home. I was asked to turn around and head for the harbour entrance, descending to 1000'. We throttled off and the descent felt good. On flying along the coast alongside the airport Andrew took control and flew the appraoch to land on the grass. This is the only other shot I got, on approach.
On approach RW25 grass
I steered the plane and operated the throttle on the trip back towards the parking area , and was more confident on the pedals too.
I now have a log book, with .6 in it. B) Further flights (I have paid for 3) will happen after 15 January when I am on leave, and perhaps the weather will be more consistent then too.
Many thanks to Andrew Archie at Euroflight (19 years old ... been flying since 14, doing a job he loves, not many of us can say that).
Matt
I waited again for this year's offer but it never happened as Tga Aero was taken under the wing of EuroFlight.
