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Category: Flight training

Learning to land?

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Mike Blackburn

There are only three tricks to a perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. It was in pursuit of these that I found myself 500ft over the threshold of Runway 36 at Brakpan Airfield (FABB), power off, flaps down and in an aggressive sideslip. Too low… damn it… 100ft up, still 1000ft short of…

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Flight training, flying, Sport Flying

Revalidated

Posted on June 19, 2019July 2, 2019 by Mike Blackburn

It is a year since I passed my initial flight test for my PPL. According to South African air law, after one year, you need to revalidate your PPL (and thereafter every two years). This is done via a ground briefing/exam and a flight test.  In the year since I got my PPL I have…

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Exams, Flight training, flying

A new rating

Posted on October 19, 2018November 16, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

So I have a new type on my license – and some endorsements to go with it!

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Flight training, Uncategorized

I like the night life….

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

Some of the best video I’ve seen on YouTube of flying is in the evening – after the sun has set. Being able to fly at night obviously extends the useful flying day and also improves the options for waiting out weather and other potential delays. I’m a firm believer in having options to decrease…

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Flight training, flying, Night rating

Achievement Unlocked – PPL!

Posted on June 14, 2018June 17, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. I need to change the subtext of my blog from “An Anaesthetist’s journey to PPL” to “An Anaesthetist WITH a PPL!”. Yes. That is correct – I passed my PPL checkride on Tuesday! I am now legal to fly all and sundry and to “exercise…

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Exams, Flight training

Solo Navigation Exercise 1

Posted on May 10, 2018June 17, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

Solo Nav Number 1 – FALA – FAVV – FARG – FALA Look. Flying an airplane is fantastic. Flying an airplane solo on the other hand? Absolutely amazing. It’s great to be flying solo again. But scary too. Almost everyone I know who has learned to fly tells me they got lost on their solo…

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Flight training, Navex

Ridin’ in the back

Posted on April 17, 2018June 17, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

Date Aircraft Route Flight Time Total Hours 14 April 2018 SR22T FALA – FARG – FALA 0 – Ride along 57.6 Ongoing maintenance issues with the flying school aircraft mean I’m grounded for the moment. Fortunately my flying buddy Ari came to the rescue this weekend. He owns an SR22T and was kind enough to…

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Flight training

Cross Country – and a new Province

Posted on April 12, 2018July 21, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

  Date Aircraft Route Flight Time Total Hours 8 April 2018 ZS-CTP SR20 FALA – GAV – FAPY – FAPS – FALA 1.9 (Dual) 57.6   Back in the Saddle We’ve just come back from 17 nights away. It was great. Apart from the whole “not flying” thing. So I was a little apprehensive about…

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Flight training, Navex

Stimulating simulating and 50h in the logbook

Posted on February 26, 2018June 17, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

Time is flying. And flying is time. I’ve spent three weeks doing basic instrument flying in the simulator. I thought I would hate it. Really. What could you possibly enjoy about playing a hyped up computer game? “I can do that at home right?” “How hard could it be?” “It’s not real flying” “will I…

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Flight training

Progress?

Posted on January 31, 2018June 17, 2018 by Mike Blackburn

Feels like ages since I managed to sit down and write a post. So. Where are we in this journey? Well, I’m excited to report that I have made significant progress this month after 3weeks of not flying. The first two flights were not stellar – on the first we were hounded by a localized…

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Flight training
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