PART 3: LET’S FLY
The Clockwork Routine
At precisely 8:30 am, Calvin would ferry us to the WLAC, our ground zero for skyward aspirations. By 9 am, we were there, ready to tackle whatever came our way until the clock struck 6 or 7 in the evening. Our first task was always a visit to the Operations (Ops) desk. This was where we got the critical airfield information — runway in use (White Waltham has four runways, mind you), visibility, and wind conditions etc. It’s like reading the morning paper, only this one tells you whether you’re going to have a smooth ride or get tossed around in the sky like a paper plane.
The Aircraft: Piper PA-28
In theory modules or even A3, we’d trained on a Cessna 172 equipped with a glass cockpit. However, the real flying was with a Piper PA-28, a no-frills aircraft complete with analog instruments. Personally? The switch didn’t bother me. Whether it was dealing with mechanical flaps, carb heat, or manual fuel tank change, each feature was a lesson in adaptability and hands-on engagement.
Time not Flying
With only two-hour flight slot allotted each day, you might assume we had ample free time. Quite the opposite. When we weren’t up in the air, our feet were firmly grounded in rigorous study. We’d hunker down with our notes, backseating others, and ‘chair flying.’
The lawn outside the WLAC became my go-to location for chair flying. Seated alone, eyes closed, my mind would launch into a simulated flight. I’d mentally step through each item on my pre-flight checklist, visualising every action from engine start-up to final touchdown. As I navigated this mental landscape, my hands followed suit, mimicking the manipulation of levers and switches. It was an immersive mental rehearsal, offering its own form of flight training.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The atmosphere at WLAC was reminiscent of my high school days.
