It's Day One. First day of the 'A' Certificate Course, the 2nd step in gaining your Gliders Pilot Licence (If you haven't done a Trial Flight) and the road to the Willy Wonka Golden ticket of your Pilots Licence.
Up and away from Auckland at 7.15am for the hour or so drive down to the Matamata Airfield. I had checked the Weather for the Waikato and Matamata region and it was going to be another warm and fine day. It was crap weather in Auckland.
I wasn't too nervous driving down to the Airfield, abit apprehensive about what the day would bring and how I would go. I wondered how many other nervy souls were on the course and what the Instructors would be like. Hopefully nothing like my old Army Drill Instructor's or Police Sergeants at the Police College.
Got down to the Matamata in plenty of time, and after stocking up on lunch and 'V' at a cafe in Waharoa, and a nervous pee, it was off to the Airfield.
At the Airfield, I meet the only other student on the Course. Ed from Hamilton. A nice bloke similar in age to me. Ed had been on the same course a couple of years previously but didn't complete the course due to overseas commitments so he was going to do the course again.
Great, some inside knowledge on the course, and tips and tricks may have to be pumped from him. Time to put some Police Interviewing skills to work.
The two Instructors arrived. Bill Mace and Bob Gray. Not at all like the fearful Instructors I had come across in my Khaki and Blue uniform days. Nice blokes that welcomed us, and made Ed and I feel right at home.
0900hrs and straight into the course. Introductions and welcomes, and an introduction to the Piako Gliding Club, responsibilities of members, and how to write out cheques.
Then onto Gliding familiarisation. A good introduction to Glider flying, instruments, handling, pre flight checks, safety, various other components of the aircraft, and the course syllabus. A good Power point presentation and lots of questions and answers. But as this is a full hands on course, it was a quick slurp of coffee at 11.00am and then out to the hangers to prepare the Aircraft for the day.
We had two twin seater aircraft at our disposal. A PW6U and a Puchacz. It was great to have the two aircraft and two Instructors and two Student Pilots. One on one, can't get better than that.
Straight into flying. Aero Towed to 3,000ft, released, and into the training. Full on, Hands on. Bill put me through lots of exercises. Getting the basics right. We flew for about an hour. Bill encouraging me from the back, taking over when I stuffed up (which was often), but always comforting, patient, and reassuring.
Back on the ground, with my brains blown to bits, it was time for lunch and debrief.
More 'V' and then back into the air with the other Aircraft, and this time with Bob, for another hour. Believe me, an hour is a long time, and tiring when you are fully concentrating on flying, and trying to get things right. But thats the great thing about these Instructors at Piako. They know your under stress, a little frightened, trying to take every thing in at once and getting overloaded, but fully committed to getting the best out of their student, and recognising the students abilities and adjusting to that.
Back on the ground and another debrief.
Another break, and then back up with Bill for some circuits and landings. By this time I was stuffed and called it a day.
I learnt alot. I think that one of the most important things about learning to fly is to recognise when to stop for the day. It was a good day, stressful, intense, but hugely enjoyable. For me, apart from learning to fly, was to get myself comfortable in the Aircraft, position wise. I am big, and I did not sort myself out comfortably to have full control and ease of the controls.
Stick and rudder together was my catch phrase for the day. I heard it continually in my sleep that night, and in the morning my bed was a train wreck. It was like I had ridden one of those lay down bicycles that European hippies ride around on in NZ.
Roll on day Two.
Up and away from Auckland at 7.15am for the hour or so drive down to the Matamata Airfield. I had checked the Weather for the Waikato and Matamata region and it was going to be another warm and fine day. It was crap weather in Auckland.
I wasn't too nervous driving down to the Airfield, abit apprehensive about what the day would bring and how I would go. I wondered how many other nervy souls were on the course and what the Instructors would be like. Hopefully nothing like my old Army Drill Instructor's or Police Sergeants at the Police College.
Got down to the Matamata in plenty of time, and after stocking up on lunch and 'V' at a cafe in Waharoa, and a nervous pee, it was off to the Airfield.
At the Airfield, I meet the only other student on the Course. Ed from Hamilton. A nice bloke similar in age to me. Ed had been on the same course a couple of years previously but didn't complete the course due to overseas commitments so he was going to do the course again.
Great, some inside knowledge on the course, and tips and tricks may have to be pumped from him. Time to put some Police Interviewing skills to work.
The two Instructors arrived. Bill Mace and Bob Gray. Not at all like the fearful Instructors I had come across in my Khaki and Blue uniform days. Nice blokes that welcomed us, and made Ed and I feel right at home.
0900hrs and straight into the course. Introductions and welcomes, and an introduction to the Piako Gliding Club, responsibilities of members, and how to write out cheques.
Then onto Gliding familiarisation. A good introduction to Glider flying, instruments, handling, pre flight checks, safety, various other components of the aircraft, and the course syllabus. A good Power point presentation and lots of questions and answers. But as this is a full hands on course, it was a quick slurp of coffee at 11.00am and then out to the hangers to prepare the Aircraft for the day.
We had two twin seater aircraft at our disposal. A PW6U and a Puchacz. It was great to have the two aircraft and two Instructors and two Student Pilots. One on one, can't get better than that.
Straight into flying. Aero Towed to 3,000ft, released, and into the training. Full on, Hands on. Bill put me through lots of exercises. Getting the basics right. We flew for about an hour. Bill encouraging me from the back, taking over when I stuffed up (which was often), but always comforting, patient, and reassuring.
Back on the ground, with my brains blown to bits, it was time for lunch and debrief.
More 'V' and then back into the air with the other Aircraft, and this time with Bob, for another hour. Believe me, an hour is a long time, and tiring when you are fully concentrating on flying, and trying to get things right. But thats the great thing about these Instructors at Piako. They know your under stress, a little frightened, trying to take every thing in at once and getting overloaded, but fully committed to getting the best out of their student, and recognising the students abilities and adjusting to that.
Back on the ground and another debrief.
Another break, and then back up with Bill for some circuits and landings. By this time I was stuffed and called it a day.
I learnt alot. I think that one of the most important things about learning to fly is to recognise when to stop for the day. It was a good day, stressful, intense, but hugely enjoyable. For me, apart from learning to fly, was to get myself comfortable in the Aircraft, position wise. I am big, and I did not sort myself out comfortably to have full control and ease of the controls.
Stick and rudder together was my catch phrase for the day. I heard it continually in my sleep that night, and in the morning my bed was a train wreck. It was like I had ridden one of those lay down bicycles that European hippies ride around on in NZ.
Roll on day Two.
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