License Renewal

It was time to prove to myself that I can still fly an aircraft. I managed to find an aircraft with hand controls in down in Port Alfred at 43 Air School.

I jumped into my car and set off for the Air School. Access into the cockpit was the major hurdle as I was required to get in and out unaided. The brave instructor assigned to help me through this challenge was Robin Gout - a good old (well not so old) British aviator.

Robin was an absolute pleasure to fly with. He put me through my paces for just on 4 hours of GF and circuit work. Flying the aircraft was not the problem. Getting used to the hand controls was where the work was required. Another area that I had to adapt was that of judgment. The approach attitudes and speed vary a little from that of a Mirage and Robin had his hands full trying to get me to approach steeper and land further in on the runway.

Anyway finally on the 13 August 2001 at Grahamstown airfield Robin decided he had had enough of me and ask another brave instructor Michael Stringer to do my solo check.

All I had to do was 3 decent circuits and landings and I was on my own again. The first landing was great. The second was an absolute disaster. I tried to stretch the glide - something I knew I must never do but forgot - and we were all over the airfield. Mowing the lawn next to the runway I call it. 

I thought I had just blown my chance of flying solo. As I said earlier the brave instructor just said "OK lets try that again". After another 2 successful circuits Michael got out and sent me SOLO!!!

The feeling of flying solo again after 13 years of being grounded rated up there with my first solo in a Harvard - mind blowningly enjoyable.

A few more hours of training, a couple of routine navigational exercises and I was ready for my PPL test. Once again Michael Stringer occupied the co-pilot's seat and flew as testing officer.

Once again I can say that I am now a pilot again!!