Date: 23/5/2007

Time: 17:40 - 18:35

Aircraft: Ikarus C42 - G-CDMS

Exercise: Ex 17b

Have got fed-up with having lessons booked for one day a week - if it is bad weather, then that's a whole week gone, twice and it means an entire three weeks have elapsed. So I have decided to do two split lessons on Saturday afternoons and one on Wednesday evenings. Can't really afford it, but I feel I'm really making progress at the moment - and you can't take it with you.

Lovely conditions, little wind and little turbulence. Don't know why I'm feeling a little apprehensive.

When Steve has finished with his previous student, He says "Seeing as it's such a nice day, I'm going to send you straight up solo. I'm not too sure - I suggest that we perhaps ought to do one circuit dual. "Oh, alright then" he says in disappointed tones - of course it means more buggering about, booking out,in and out again. By the time I have fuelled and inspected the plane I am either feeling braver or more used to the idea, so I decided to go for it.

I haven't been solo before without going with my instructor first. I do my pre-flight checks (first time on my own) and take off on runway 21. I make the mistake of following someone else and end up going too far downwind (as they have), making it a much enlarged circuit - daft mistake, must watch for the turning marks better. But the landing is OK and my grin starts to stretch. Line up and off we go again. This continues for nearly an hour (although taking the correct circuit pattern) and I'm relatively happy with all the landings, except one that was a bit flat.

Really enjoyed today and I'm relatively chuffed with my performance and landings, although it has been ideal conditions.

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