So I’ve signed up for the PPL from WLAC and this is the first of two lessons this week. I have my check list and WLAC log book so I’m ready to go!

I flew a PA28-161 Cadet today which looked a little tired 😉

We did Exercise 7.1 & 8.1 today, climbing and descending. I did the transit pre flight check as the aircraft had just flown, then I taxied the aircraft and performed the run up tests. We then took off with me controlling the pedals and the instructor rotated.

Once at 100ft I took over and we performed lots of climbs and descents funnily enough!!

PAT (Power, Attitude, Trim) except in leveling off a climb when it’s APT

I need to lookout more and glance at an instrument regularly, alternating the instruments. We did Vy climbs which are best rate of climb, ie. the fastest climb, which is 79kts. Pick an attitude you think is right and hold that until the speed stabilizes, adjust attitude accordingly until desired speed and then trim out the back pressure.

Exiting the climb start to return to straight and level 50ft before desired altitude and then adjust the power, let speed stabilize and trim.

Gliding descent, carb heat on, power to idle, back pressure to hold altitude until 73kts and let nose drop and hold 73. Trim. If a long descent “warm the engine” periodically. 50ft (I did it at 100ft!) before desired altitude carb heat off, power to 2200 and back to straight and level. Once speed stabilized, trim.

While straight and level follow Lookout, Attitude, Instruments (check one instrument at a time)

Heading back I picked up a few radio messages and set the QFE to the correct setting so we could enter the left hand circuit at 1300.

Points to note:

When adjusting attitude I need to go with one and hold for a little bit and then adjust … watch attitude when trimming as I seem to adjust!