First Self Take Off!

December 2nd,

                       Woke up to a wet morning with a wet nose,preparing a wet trip on the wet roads of pengkalan chepa to our hangar. Weather seems to be unsteady today. Looks windy and wet at the same time. Slight drizzle. METAR (Aerodrome Meteorological Conditions) reported light rain with only 6000 metres visibility and with base clouds at 1200 feet.

                       Guessed my flight was going to be cancelled. Thought of going back home early, but was put on STANDBY by Captain Ramesh. I was scheduled to be the SECOND pilot to fly today in aircraft 9M-NRC. So rather than rotting in the flight planning or briefing room, me and maxim ( friend ) took a sit into the Diamond 40's cockpit. Showed him how things work in the Diamond. He's a Piper Warrior flyer, so our Diamond is a little alien for him. After explaining everything to him , he was very impress with our 'baby', and said he would'nt mind flying 'her' too.

                      As we continue to chat in the cockpit, a couple of seniors were calling my name saying Capt. Ramesh wanted to see me in the Flight Operations room. As I entered the room, without me saying a word, he immediately asked me to prepare the aircraft ( MEANS I AM FLYING!!! ) But there was a few people scratching their heads, I was scheduled to fly second to my batch mate Joshua, but he was kind enough to let me fly first when Capt. Ramesh asked who wants to fly first. THANKS AGAIN JOSHUA ...

                   Anyway, during preparations of the aircraft, there was a minor fuel leak at the fuel draining hole on the left side of the aircraft,under the wing. Luckily Capt. Ramesh could solve the problem just with the help of a screwdriver. Hoping not too much fuel was lost during the leak, I checked the fuel quantity and it was still at a safe flying quantity. And so we proceed. Today's back-sitter ( passenger in backsit of aircraft ) was another one of my batch mate, Ralphael from Sabah.

                 

 What's so special today was, I finally have a picture of me in the cockpit in the Pilot-In-Command's sit, only thing was I was still on ground.

            Me at holding point Bravo awaiting a Boeing 737-400 of Malaysia Airlines to land.
                                                    ( Credits to Ralph for taking the picture.)


             Other than the picture, another great thing happened today, I took of the plane MYSELF !!! Taxi-ed the aircraft a little bit better today compared to previous attempts to taxi. A little unsteady of course for a starter, but basically I lift the plane up myself.

               Rotated ( Pull stick backwards) at 59 knots ( 118 km/h) waiting speed to increase 70 knots and continue climb to 500 feet. 200 feet press on brakes to prevent wheel from spinning, 300 feet after take-off checks ( Landing and Taxi lights off, Flaps retracted fully), 400 feet lookout (right clear, front clear, left clear, all around clear, fuel sufficient, engine temperature and pressure's are in green zone) , 500 feet, make right turn to Bachok and continue with our usual practice.

               T'was an AWESOME feeling to do all those by yourself. Especially when you're still new. Won't forget today.

December 2nd, rotated aircraft on my own in aircraft 9M-NRG with instructor Capt. Ramesh.