Hopefully I set out on my second solo navigation exercise today. This time it's a route to the north, to Virginia in Cavan, south to Mullingar and home. This will be more of a challenge for me as I'm not familiar with the country-side between Weston and and Cavan. I'll be relying purely on accurate flying and navigation skills without the crutch of known landmarks to reassure me along the way. I'm also going to fly longer legs today, say 20miles between waypoints, which will hopefully mean more time to enjoy the view and not more time to get further off course :-) I'm planning for the former.
Yesterday's first solo nav-ex was successful. There was more going on that I had been used to on the training flights. More talking to ATC, several frequency changes and a couple of orbits; one while waiting for clearance to enter military airspace, and one near home to provide separation between me and a Piper also on it's way to Weston. Coping with these and still managing to navigate my way successfully along my course was a good confidence builder.
The next big waypoint to the licence is the long cross country flight, probably to Knock and back. Since Knock is about the same distance as the route I flew yesterday, I reckon I'll be well able to cope with it. Fly it once with and instructor and once on my own and we're done with the biggest steps. After that it's just polishing up for the flight test.
Nearly there.
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