Went flying again today, alone in GGEU to practise steep turns, slow flight, precautionary landings and some circuits.

I put the aircraft into slow flight for the short commute to the training area. I had the VSI stuck on 0 all the way there, so I think I have slow flight covered.

Next came steep turns. These had been causing me grief, and my mission today was to master the wretched things...
The requirement for the flight test is to do two 180° turns one immediately after the other - basically a S turn - maintaining your assigned altitude.
The difficulty comes from the change of direction half way through the turn, which unless handled properly can send you into a climb/descent.

I started off with a 1800° turn to the right at a 45° angle of bank to get comfortable with the g forces, attitude and pressure required to maintain a smooth level turn. After a few turns I was holding my altitude and bank angle so accurately that I flew through my own wake turbulence. I repeated the exercise with a few left turns, then transitioned to the S.
15 minutes later I was happy with my performance so I dropped down, did a precautionary around a road, then turned for home.

The sun was just setting as I overflew the field for some circuits. I did three, all terrible, then taxied in and put the plane to bed.

Conclusion:
- Steep turns -> Done.
- Slow flight -> Done.
- Precautionary -> Done.
- Soft/Short field landings -> Not done: Lots of practise needed.
- 180 Precision landing -> Scary: Even more practise needed.

Looks like I’ll be in the circuit all Wednesday to learn how to land an aeroplane...

S.