After a couple of group members carried out the new permit test flight at the weekend, I grabbed the chance to get back in the saddle myself today, following a 7 month lay-off. I wondered if I’d remember how to fly the thing after such a long time, but conditions were perfect for a return, with a 14 knot wind blowing more or less straight down the strip and a decent cloud base.

There was even a relatively good mown section up to the intersection – good enough to get airborne before the rough and mushy stuff beyond. It felt a little strange being back in the ancient cockpit about to go flying, but as soon as the little continental fired up I felt all at home again and off we went.

I just wanted to do a few circuits to get the hang of things again and I had a great time, completing 3 touch and gos before a large shower passed through, which included some hail! I sat that one out on the ground, listening to the hail bouncing off the drum like skin of the Auster’s wings and then snuck one last quick circuit in between the showers. Once more, I found myself having to peer out the side window a little on the final approach as the cockpit window had become covered in stubborn water globules. I reminded myself again, to order some rain repellent for the perspex and called it a day after that, watching the sky turn an angry, brooding grey and seeing the showers becoming more frequent. Still, it was great to be flying the old thing again – hopefully the first of many flights this summer and seeing her lined up on the grass of the strip before I flew was a good sight, after all the maintenance and frustration of the last 7 months.

I’d almost forgotten the gentle pleasure of flying this old thing – the rumbling, bumping, floaty awkwardness of it. Funny the things that make you happy!

Until next time….