Flight One

3rd September 2007, 1130.
Very good visibility, cloud base of around 4000ft
Tutor GBY VW, No 1 AEF
30 mins Duration

Flight Description

After our pre-flight checks the pilot taxied the aircraft out onto St Athan’s main runway setting course for Porthcawl. According to Cardiff’s instructions we had to keep to a height of 1500ft until we passed the seaside town. We sharply put the aircraft into a climb and continued up until we reached 5000ft, at this point I was handed control of the Aircraft. Starting with keeping the aircraft at the datum attitude we proceeded with some high degree turns and basically learning how to use co-ordinated controls in the Tutor (keeping the aircraft steady using both rudder pedals and the control column). But me being me I was itching to get the plane inverted and asked the pilot if it was possible to do some aerobatics, to which he replied a chirpy, Certainly!

We flew out over Swansea bay and began to put the aircraft into a series of manoeuvres such as; Barrel rolls, Loops, Half Cubans, and a figure of eight. When the pilot handed me control after his perfect routine I continued to put the aircraft through its paces doing a series of loops and barrel rolls. Full of adrenalin we set course for St Athan, too complete the sortie, smiles all around!

Flight Description

This flight was a great introduction to go into my glider training, as we climbed out of St Athan the pilot handed me control and instructed me perfectly on how to execute turns and manoeuvres with the correct hand and foot movement, this allowed me to broaden my skills at flying through instruction by an ex search and rescue pilot, how much better can it possibly get?! As I gradually adapted to the controls I was able to pull turns while keeping the plane in the datum attitude to a great standard, which gives you a buzz similar to that you get after aerobatics (minus the g force)!

This flight taught me many principles which are really helping me get though my glider training, and it just proves how great these RAF pilots really are!

Flight Description

Without doubt the best flight I have ever had! As we climbed out of St Athan and continued out to Porthcawl  I grilled the pilot with questions about his career, which had included tours on aircraft from the Hawk to the Tornado. Saving myself from drooling over the thought of flying Hawks on a daily basis the pilot asked whether I’d like to sit through an aerobatic sequence 4000ft over the Port Talbot steelworks. Not being able to contain myself I muttered a rather loud ‘YES SIR’ down the mic, to which he replied in a very controlled way, ‘ok then, nose down speed gaining, and pull back’. At this exact moment G read 4. Which in real terms is 4 times the gravitational pull, or in cadet terms arghhh my stomach is somewhere around my ankles!!

Today's sortie started with a few technical hitches which after re-taxiing in were rectified without any problems. We took off easterly and flew out of the circuit past Nash point. At this point I was handed control and I flew to Port Talbot via Porthcawl.  Because of the low cloud aerobatics was out of the question so Flg Off Sweet suggested that we look at high rate, and maximum turns in both level and dive attitudes. We commenced flying these over the steelworks, and I was able to feel the full jist of the G forces that pilots must tolerate.

Flg Off Sweet then took control and started climbing for a nose down maximum rate turn, as the plane went over the top the revs heightened and the tutor accelerated, at 120kts the wings flicked to 90degrees and the maximum rate turn pulled to 5.5g, which feels awesome!  With another sharp flick of the control column the tutor was straight and level again.  We continued descending and flew around Nash point at 800ft, to come straight in for finals to land.

Another amazing insight into flying.  My personal thanks go to everyone at 1 AEF for providing me with some cracking flights this year!