First flight since lockdown
VFR local to Rye and circuit practise
Who knew that when I made my trip from Le Touquet to Headcorn back in February 2020, that it would be my last for over four months and the reason was nothing to do with the weather or aircraft availability.
With COVID-19 causing a national lockdown and being placed on furlough at work my attentions turned to home schooling my 6 year old daughter, entertaining my 3 year old and completing some of those jobs around the house that I’ve never had the time to do in the past. All while experiencing some of the best flying weather of the year.
Even when some of the lockdown restrictions started to ease and airfields were slowly re-opening, I was still unable to fly as I self hire the aircraft from the flying school and government rules kept the school closed. On top of this, I was outside of the clubs 40 day currency rule which meant I would need a check flight with an instructor anyway. This was particularly frustrating as the weeks passed looking up at clear blue skies seeing other pilots enjoying the freedom of their licences.
The beginning of July brought the news we had all been waiting for and the flying school would be re-opening with new special hygiene measures in place. I booked in my check flight which annoyingly was on one of the worst weather days since the lockdown, but was enough for my instructor/examiner to sign my log book.
With that flight under my belt, I couldn’t wait to get back into the skies on my own and booked out the Cessna 150 G-BMLX for the following week on July 15th.
Usually I fly the clubs PA28 or C172, but with the financial impact of being on furlough and the C152 I have flown before out of action for a major overhaul I had to resort to flying the C150 which let’s just say ‘is no spring chicken’. To be honest, having not flown for so long and eager to get back in the skies, it really didn’t bother me as to which aircraft I was flying.
To get back in to the swing of things, I wanted to plan a short local flight but to somewhere I haven’t been to before but most importantly getting in some circuit practise to get those take offs and landings back up to scratch.
So I plotted a short flight to the south coast via Rye (I have always loved scenic coastal views from the air) which would only be a 15 minute round trip and then back to Headcorn for some touch and goes.
I arrived at Headcorn, raring to go. Typically, the weather wasn’t the best when you consider the countless CAVOK days we had in lockdown but was still perfectly flyable.
With the plane checked out, 2 quarts of oil added and kindly fuelled by the pilot who last flew the aircraft I was ready to go.
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The airfield was a lot quieter than I was used to meaning there was no delay in departing from runway 28 heading to the west.
After reaching 700 feet, I made a left turn and departed the circuit to the south on the crosswind leg. On leaving the ATZ I changed radio frequency to London Information as I was just outside of Farnborough LARS East coverage area. I received a Basic Service from London on an eerily quiet radio.
I levelled off at around 2,400 feet which gave me a comfortable separation from the broken clouds above.
The 7 minute trip to Rye via Tenterden was nice and peaceful and a great way to ease myself back into flying. As expected, the views of the coastline were great.
After turning back in land, my route took me over the villages of Northiam and Cranbrook where I changed frequency back to Headcorn.
I received the airfield information and joined the circuit on the left hand downwind leg at Staplehurst for runway 28. With only one other aircraft in the circuit, it was perfect to practice some touch and goes.
I completed another 2 circuits and I must say I was rather pleased with both the overall approach and landing but with the airfield due to close at 6pm, it was time to call it a day and taxi back to the parking stand.
I had most definitely got my eye back in which was the whole point of this flight and with the buzz of flying firmly back, I quickly booked in another flight in G-LX for few days later to practice a few more techniques and procedures.
View the video on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMU0ZipHB6Q