Weather is starting to get better so the best way to spend a day for me is to do some flying and keep building my hours. My initial ideas was to fly to Sibson. Local weather around the airfield was not brilliant and i still want to explore destinations with longish runways before i start to visit fields with short grass strips. So instead I plotted a route to Wellsbourne Mountford (EGBW), close to Birmingham CTR.As i completed the A-check – i noticed 2 people walking towards me. They were the 2 students reading Aeronautical Engineering at Cranfield University whose major project is to develop a set of hand controls for disabled pilots. So i took Trem flying with me so that he could see how a pilot with disabilities flies using the vision air hand controller in the PA28. Symeon the other student who is with the Greek Airforce, stayed behind to play with the Union hand controller for the Cessna 172…
Departure was on 21 and once at the M1 turned right heading 280. Everything was bang on track until we got 6 miles away from the airfield where i diverted left of track to go around a patch of rain. For a few mins i had gone off in a different direction and in order to find Wellesbourne – i tracked 270 radial from Daventry vor – as soon as i saw the race course next to Stratford Upon-Avon, i knew i was downwind to land on 18 right hand circuit. The A/ G radio controller was terrific and let us park right next to the tower with the fire truck parked to our right.
We did not stay long, a orange and fizzy drink later, we paid our landing fee, did a quick walk around, and taxied along to do the power checks next to the volcan which is on static display.
As we approached Silverstone, i called CFD approach and they told us that they were very busy and to slow down – ooh, got to practice my slow flying skills. Once over heard Woburn, i could hear Donald was in the C150 behind us and literally there were already 5 in the circuit, and 5 being told to remain local until we were called to join.
During this particular trip I recalled my first instructor Paul giving me the tips on fine tuning my flaring which i did but i still want to get his technique as perfect as possible. I also recall Nige, who flies Chinooks and helped me with Navigation classes – i still use his watch technique to dead reckon when flying…thank you both – i still have you talking to me in spirit whilst i fly….
Trem was really impressed with the way a pilot flies using the hand controller. I shall be seeing him and his professor next thurs at a presentation to “the aviation industry” on his project.
