Boston Aero Club

All the paperwork sorted and posted off to the BMAA with my log book and cheque so now it is a matter of waiting for the CAA to post my licence.
Permit, weight and balance done on my Rapier and whilst I was at the airfield with my machine fully rigged I put in some carefully mixed fuel and with the help of some of the guys managed to start the 503 Rotax and ground run ( up and down the runway a few times). It sounded sweet!!
Just a bit of tidying up now, replaced the hangbolt, and a few small patches on the wing. Move the hang point forward and plan the trip to Chatteris for the test flight and I am hopefully ready to get some decent flying time in (weather permitting).

Chill time and recovery from last night’s proceedings at Lazy Jacks.
Paul Mahony took off in his paramotor for a reccy flight along the coast.
Nick is going up with Gerry soon, I am finalizing my paperwork.
One last visit to the Adega Da Marina restuarant this evening and a beer at LJs before the early morning flight home.
It has been a really enjoyable time here but very hard work indeed so I am really looking forward to some R&R at home.
I will be flying for some time to come with Neils voice in my headset which is probably no bad thing.
Neil , all joking apart , I am so pleased you were my instructor, thank you very much for your perserverence and excellent instruction.
Gerry – thanks for sharing some of your vast experience with me, I have a far better understanding of aviation now than I ever thought I would.
Photo -Gerry Breen and Neil Groome

Visiting helicopter and Sky Ranger

I couldn’t believe how nervous I was.
Ground Oral examination then inspection of the aircraft and some questions concerning various parts.
Ok get the aircraft out of the hangar.
All of a sudden there is a hive of activity, tourists come for flights, two local planes taking off, paramotor in the air, the Pioneer and the X-Air up as well.
Think safety, airmanship. Go through the checks, they have become a source of comfort and ensure, even in the stressful environment I now found myself in, that everything is covered. The checklists are all written out and in this respect are far better than relying on pnuemonics. In the air then the checks utilize pnuemonics but are far simpler.
The flying part went quickly with almost no sense of passing time. Taken through my paces. I was disappointed with my performance, I knew I could do a lot better – but I did enough to demonstrate to Gerry that I was safe and competent enough for the grant of a licence so in that respect I shouldn’t beat myself up about it – I passed.
I know this is only the start of my microlight flying career and I intend to return and show Neil and Gerry how I have progresses – so to that end John , get your machine refuelled, we are going flying!!!!!!
Thanks Neil, Gerry and all at the Algarve Airsports Centre.

Neil with his Extra 300s
A local Pelican
A Rans tail boomer
Gerry’s Aerobatic biplane – an Acro

A full day of flying, practice, practice, practice. Turn to headings, 60 deg bank turns, and practice forced landings – the last one not so much as a practice as a real one as Neil turned the mags off at 1500′ so I had to make the runway, I did and he complained I wasn’t on the centre line !! Train hard fight easy.
Early night tonight GST in the morning.

Briefing then with Neil in the back takeoff and depart to the south.
Cruise climb, level off, gradual turns, max rate climbs, turns and climbs, descent and turn, turn to compass headings, 60 degree turns, stalls, recovery from unusual and dangerous attitudes, spirals and stalls some with bank.
Practice forced landings, low level flight, slow and fast flight, approach and join circuit, glide descent to land, take-off again, powered approaches.
The result – well a long debrief and highlight the areas which could be improved – most of them – but a really useful exercise and constructive critism fully accepted.
I only hope I can act on the points raised not only for the GST on Thursday but for life. After all I didn’t come here to pass a test I came here to be a good pilot or at least gain the basis to become one.

Neil in the back, the weight makes a big difference and we needed the weight in the turbulence and rotor we were to encounter.
Practice forced landings, getting the plan in my head is still the problem. I can execute it but it needs to be good to start with. The 3rd and 4th were an improvement. 60 deg turns next, climbing in the turn instead of maintaining level, look around more, a bit of everything.
Land and a quick breather before the next flight.