CCTS Evaluation.

Waited for so long to get this flight. Last time I flew was February and it was the Area A evaluation. 9V-BOQ has been dogged with problems lately, engine starter needed replacing and last week the pilot seat backing fell backwards.

I spent at least 2 hrs of last night on Flight Sim X practicing circuits on RW 03.
Spent the morning mental flying before meeting TC for brunch at Dempsey.
Later, wouldn't you know it, but at 1530 the active runway was 21 not 03 as I had practiced for. Uh-oh.

Take-Off went smoothly. Felt a little rusty, after not flying for 3 months. The wind was quite strong today as I saw the windsock was more than 3/4 extended. The first circuit was low and I had to drag the plane in. No-go. Never mind, just the first try. I'll get it right next.

2nd approach wasn't so good. The height was right except that a sudden gust of wind blew me off course as i was touching down. I was using the crab technique and couldn't compensate in time. Not a very smooth landing as I touched down, lifted back into the air and touched down again. Luckily its not a bounce.
"Uh...You sure you've got a PPL?" Darshan says while grinning. Damn.

3rd Approach, I had it wired and so it was onto flapless. Pretty low for the 1st and the landing was also a 2 touch. I pulled back on the controls a tad too much and the plane lifted off and I was like "Whoa damn!" before letting OQ settle down again.
2nd Flapless was fine and then we switched to glide.

The wind was pretty strong at about 10-15 knots and Darshan made me cut the engine a little earlier. So I cut into final and then we were a little high so I put flaps to 20. Geez...still high and the nose is still not low enough. Maximum flaps!
Ok, so now we're going down fast and the wind's still strong.... Just nice enough! I was on glide slope and settled down towards the aiming point where I had aimed to land at 1500ft. Spot on landing! YES! Now onto low-level approach.

That was quite ok as well. Darshan said he had no complains after we landed.
Good to finally get back my solo priveleges. One interesting thing that happened during the flight was that on one downwind leg, an eagle flew head on towards the plane and pulled up and away in time to prevent a collision. But still close enough to see its eyes. Cool! I love those birds. As long as they don't foul up my engine or splatter onto the windscreen.

It really felt good to be back in the air after so long. I'm back! The aviator, adventuror, daredevil spirit. is still very much alive. And so am I.