220 degrees 16 Gusting 25 knots. Loverly.
I was going to try and do some cross-country work last Saturday. My instructor for the day and the owner of the flight school suggested that I needed to get familiar with landing the Grob and signed off for solo before doing and cross-country work. Circuit work off runway 25, in that wind really didn't appeal. But he was right, I needed the okay to go solo first. That way once I fly the cross -country route satisfactorily with an instructor, they can send me off for a solo cross country. I still didn't fancy my first flight in two months being a session of cross-wind circuits.
As it turned out, my concerns were unfounded. As I guided Alpha Charlie through the bluster, my instructor made approving noises. My landings were smooth, though initially they suffered from a shortage of rudder action but with each one I learnt to anticipate how much footwork was needed as I fed in the power. After 40 minutes of circuit bashing, the last touch and go was smooth and straight as I rolled onto the runway and remained straight as I lifted back into the air. My instructor was impressed. So much so, that in conditions that would have been outside my personal minimums flying on my own, he signed me off for solo.
He was happy for me to go on my own but I could feel fatigue setting in, so I decided against ruining a good session with a bad solo and contented myself with his signature on my licence. Right now, that's all the motivation I need . This licence might just be within my reach.
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