First flight post BFR

After almost 9 months off flying due to having no medical, I am finally back on the horse, so to speak. Went to Auckland and got a medical from the awesome Air NZ doctor in Remuera. Then of course my BFR was due about a week later so got to do one flight which only showed how rusty I had become!

Went for a couple of flights after my BFR expired, and then bit the bullet and got our chief instructor to take me for my BFR. To my surprise I flew quite well and passed on the first attempt! (Unlike last time!!)

After 9 months of not being allowed to go flying I've built up a massive desire to fly, so after hearing me constantly going on about it at work, my boss Paul and his wife Dawn agreed to come flying with me and a friend, Kevin. I reassured them that even if I was to stuff up, Kevin has a ATPL and 4 times my hours so we'd be sweet!

We decided to fly to Raglan (a seaside town), which is 45 min by car or 13 min by C172, after work one day. So a week ago we all piled in ZK-WAM, a 160hp Cessna 172, and set off for Raglan. I hadn't flown a fuel injected 172 for over a year, so I was a bit concerned about the start, and it seemed to be justified as the fuel flow gauge seemed to be u/s. However, priming with the fuel pump, with the mixture rich for a few seconds then cutting the mixture and firing her up worked a treat..

The climb out and flight was uneventful, my front seat passenger had a play with the GPS on the way over. My approach to Raglan was pretty average, and we encountered some sink going over the fence that I didn't correct for, which resulted in a healthy bounce.. All good though, the passengers still seemed quite happy with the landing.. I guess I was struggling a bit, what with an unfamiliar aircraft with heavier controls.

We parked up and walked across the bridge into town and had some dinner, then wandered back to the plane. My startup was also uneventful, as was taxi and runup. I decided to do a max performance takeoff, as we were at max all up weight and Raglan is 646 metres and grass. The actual takeoff was fine, holding it in ground effect for a few seconds to build up speed and we were away..

Did a couple of orbits over Paul's house, our work, Kevin's mate's house, my house, and finally Kevins house. This was all inside the Hamilton control zone, so I obviously asked for clearance first, then flew around as we pleased, seeing as the only other traffic was a Beech 1900 on an instrument approach from Auckland (I presume).

By the time we were done the Tower went off watch so Hamilton reverted to uncontrolled airspace, so I elected to land on the sealed runway with a slight crosswind, maybe 3 or 4 knots. Unlike my Raglan 'arrival', this one was a real greaser! Didn't know we'd landed except for the squeak from the tyres!!

All in all, a flight that improved as we went along! Weather is the only thing stopping me at the moment from flying every week so will be posting more as I go..