My first flying lesson 28/10/2002

The day of my first flying lesson arrived fairly windy, some blue sky, but more cloud and intermittant rain showers, great!!!! Phoned the airfield and they said the flight was still on so off I set. Uneventful journey there about 24 miles. Parked up and walked to the Control Tower, after asking in the Clubhouse.
Receptionist took my voucher and I looked on the board listing all the planes that were flying that day and saw I was booked in with Mark Bland on G-BOPU.
Waited whilst Mark fuelled the plane then after introductions we walked across the tarmac to PU. Not raining!!!. He showed me how to get in not easy with a bad knee, then strapped me in and got in himself. We both got settled and he started the engine having first asked me where I lived so that we could fly over there later. Then he tried to contact the tower on the planes radio and guess what that wasn't working. Never mind he said, popped out his mobile phone after swithcing off the engine, dialled the tower told them we would be going non-radio and started up the engine again.

Off we taxied to the holding point at the end of the runway. Then we talked about non-radio procedures, which meant we had to wait for a green light from the tower before we could take-off or land. Green light was shown and we lined up on the runway, then we were off climbing away towards two great big black clouds. He took me through a rain shower (thanks) and the headed us up the M62 towards Uppermill. These were the first ones showing the rain and clouds. Then I had a go at some fields on the way to Uppermill. Then I found Uppermill and took the following mostly of the School. Then we were off to Pots and Pans

After that I took back the controls and Mark had me heading towards Winter Hill. During this time I complained that the controls felt quite heavy and Mark apologised to me as he had not trimmed the plane, the column was a lot lighter after the trimming. Flying between various clouds and rainstorms. Then it was over The Reebok Stadium for some practice trurns. Then a controlled ascent and descent using the engine throttles.

All too quickly Mark pointed out the Airfield and we were on our way home. I piloted until we got into the overhead and then he took over and I took some more photos.

Then we taxied to the end of the runway and back to the apron, and shutdown. I could not resist asking Mark how I had done. Of course he said excellent(but I bet he says that to everyone).

What a tremendous day out.