Exams... and the first of what will hopefully be many...

Well tonight I completed my first two mock ATPL examination papers for Oxford Aviation. Instrumentation Part One and Principles of Flight Part One. Expecting them to be difficult, I wasn't surprised when they were, although 75 percent of the questions were pleasantly manageable, some of the others were not so manageable. Nothing that a little hard work could not get around. Anyway, with the results emailed to OAT, planning for Saturday's flight could commence. The plan is to combine the Duxford Cessna fly in day with the 300nm qualifying flight for my Commercial Pilot's Licence. This will also require another land away, at Northampton Sywell aerodrome, where a microlight rally will ensure a free landing. Carrying two passengers, my dad and my uncle, the day at Duxford will include a tour around the museum and the historic WWII control centres, the heart of the Battle of Britain.

Looking forwards to the month of May, I have two biigy flights planned. Firstly on the Saturday 5th May, I am planning to take my wonderful new partner, Jacqueline flying. This will be her first time ever in an aeroplane of any kind, so it should be a memorable day on all fronts. I know for me it will be one of the biggest flights up to date in a number of ways, but most importantly due to the fact that I am looking forwards to taking the new woman in my life up into the skies. Im sure she will be fine, and no damage will be done, well hopefully nothing that a few kisses and snuggles wont fix lol... The plan is to just test the water at first, but if all goes well, then fly up to Carlisle and Kirkbride, via an overhead pass of her house near Lancaster and a low level route across the Lake District, including the camp site where we met. The destination of Kirkbride will play host for a romantic picnic on the Scottish border, before returning back to Barton. I cant wait.

The second bank holiday in May will play host to another flight, my first time over to East Anglia, with Alan, Sarah and Chris. This will undoubtedly be another fun day, but also quite challenging due to the large amounts of MATZ's around the area in question. Apparently, the destination is either Seething or Shipden, but as of yet I have not received my pre-flight briefing. All in all, it looks like a month of new and exciting things is on the cards...