PPL training - Preparation and stage check basic maneuvers

After five cancellations (due to clouds, rain, fog, wind, and heavy turbulence), it was finally time to head down to Sola to do the first stage check.

Since the last lesson, I had also managed to complete the theory course on privatfly.no, so it is soon time to start on the theory exams!

The day started with a nice trip to Voss and Stord with anothe member of the flying club, before we headed down to Tau training area to do the final lesson before the stage check.

I let my instructor handle all of the radio calls, to allow me to focus on the maneuvers. The main maneuvers we trained on was slow flight, stalls, and steep turns.

But due to wind and turbulence (as you can see in the video below), we didn’t stay very long in the training area.

This was the first lesson I filmed using my brand new GoPro. Very useful to be able to review afterwards, and learn from my own mistakes.

After doing the maneuvers we had to do, we set course for Stavanger Lufthavn, Sola. A much larger airport than tiny Haugesund Lufthavn, Karmøy. I brought us to about final for runway 18, before my instructor took over due to the gusty crosswind (gusting 25kts).

He brought us safely down, and after a short taxi to apron 13, it was time to switch instructor for the stage check.

We also switched to the other training area, Orre, to avoid the turbulence in Tau. I was a bit nervous, but in the end this was just a lesson with another instructor.

We did a lot of slow flight, all the way down to the training area. That didn’t go too bad. Then we did turns, including steep turns, where I had a bit too much altitude difference at times. We also did stalls, where I didn’t use enough right rudder. Other than that, I apparently did good, because I passed the check!

The wind was a lot better down there, so we didn’t have to struggle with the turbulence. Even though I’m still far from perfect, it feels like I’ve gotten a lott better at speed and altitude control now.

When we got back, I was told some other members had heard me on the radio, and said it sounded like I know how to talk on the radio. That was a huge confidence boost!

After some quick paperwork (logbook and updating the training management system), it was time to head back home.

No maneuvers or anything, just a flight from Sola to Karmøy - which is still good training!

I departed runway 18, and then handed the controls to my instructor for a few minutes, so I could take some pictures of all of the Norwegian jets parked along the taxiways. Crazy times.

The flight was rather uneventful, except from when I said TMA instead of QNH on a radio call read back. I still beat myself up about that…

Flying home in the sunset was a very nice way to end a long day filled with aviation!

Gallery

• PPL
• Flight training