A regular feature on our club agenda: Touch & Go Day, destination Midden Zeeland (EHMZ) … and having fun! As the day has been organized once more by our new chick PH-IRENE obviously we have to join counting also on getting some additional practise and enjoying Dutch “gezelligheid” together with other flying enthusiasts for the day.
Weather is…well…Dutch….but spirits are high anyway
So obviously we are annoyed when we watched the weather forecast the last days: forecast once more is not at all pleasant. But sure enough just after 8 o’clock this morning we get the “Go” from Irene. So in the car we jump for a long drive down South. Why again did we decide to go by car when flying there would have only been 20 minutes? Well, the idea was to stay flexible and independent of the group, but let’s talk about this later….
By the time we arrive T&G training is well on its way – and the schedule has been changed for the Xth time not only due to our delay, so Irene is busy to change schedule while still keeping an overview as well as everybody happy.
PH-IRENE is keeping an overview…
Weather is still on the edge, but spirits are high and we just start chatting, have a coffee, simply relax and enjoy. 19 people have joined for the day, arriving by plane as well as by car, so there is no lack of people to talk to – and thankfully the lunch buffet is also already ready for us to dive into.
Enjoying the lunch buffet at EHMZ restaurant while others are up in the air struggling with the bad weather
While we enjoy, weather is closing in and the 3 planes currently up in the air have to divert for 10 minutes. No way anybody would be able to land in this soup – but hey, this is also part of flying and a good lesson to learn for the students who came along. How to escape heavy local shouwers – lesson definitely learned today!
…while we simply enjoy doing nothing but looking forward to our flight slot
And then it is our turn to take off. Off we go…touch & go and touch & go and touch & go….and a quick engine failure (simulated)….flapless landing, glide in….yes, we have learnt is all during our training, but how often do we use it now? To be honest…never really, so it is good to do it all again and also to have an instructor giving us some feedback after flying alone for a while.
The day is not only about flying yourself, but also about “watch & learn” or simply: chat!
Much too soon the flying is over and we are heading back towards Rotterdam. As we have taken the student files with us, we briefly have to stop by at the club. And surely the flying crew is already there enjoying a well deserved drink. No we really do not want to stay, we want to be flexible and leave early for once….and surely, 1,5 hours later it is again difficult to say: “No, now we are really going home.”
Happy chicks
Conclusion? Irene did a great job! It is fun to do such days out together with other flying enthusiasts. You always meet new people in the gang and learn a lot – not only during practise time, but also in the “before and after” chats. It does not do any harm to fly with instructors now and then again – feedback is just making us better. And last not least: a day out together is fun! Especially as it was the first time when the 3 chicks have been out together! Definitely a reason to do have happy jump!!!