The weather today looks a little ominous with overcast clouds although there is little to no rain and visibility meets the minimums as per Visual Metrological Conditions (VMC) required for day VFR flights.
Arrived at the flight school for my 11am pre-flight theory lesson followed by the corresponding flight lesson.
The image below is taken from a Visual Terminal Chart (VTC) and shows the Eastern training area used for by the flight school for flight lessons. The training area border is highlighted in orange, quite a large area to play in :-) East outbound from Archerfield is tracked at 135 degrees magnetic at 1000 feet. East inbound to Archerfield is tracked at 283 degrees magnetic from the Target department store at 1500 feet.
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| Visual Terminal Chart showing Eastern Training Area |
The plan for the flight today was to achieve level turns (ie maintain altitude) at various angles of bank and at various speeds by following a river. We would also practice climbing turns and descending turns.
My instructor today was Mick, the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) for my flight school, Pathfinder Aviation. This is the guy that will eventually be doing my checkride which is like a driving test where you handle all operations and radio while he observes you.
I think its ideal to fly with different instructors as they each have slightly different methods and you pick up different things from each instructor.
Mick took me through the pre-flight inspection of the Jabiru J170. First working methodically around the outside of the airframe checking all screws, joins and control surfaces. The airframe surface and windscreen are checked for marks, dings or scratches. Without going into too much detail, various other items are also checked.
Oil is then checked for quantity and consistency and a small fuel sample is taken from each wing tank and the middle tank checking for any water contaminant.
Having completed pre-flight inspection, we jumped in the aircraft and I commenced my checklists starting up the engine - "Clear prop!". Tuned the radio to Aerodrome Terminal Information Service (ATIS) which is a pre-recorded message about every hour to get information including weather and active runway. This frees up the ATC frequencies. Runway 10L is the active runway. Radioed to Archer Ground requesting taxi:
Me: “Archer Ground, G’day Jabiru 7829, on the Eastern apron with Delta, dual for Eastern departure, request taxi”
Ground Controller: “Jabiru 7829, Archer Ground, on Bravo cross Zero Four Right and Left taxi to holding point Bravo Five, runway One Zero Left”
Me: “On Bravo
cross Zero Four Right and Left taxi to holding point Bravo Five, runway One
Zero Left, Jabiru 7829”
I taxied to the runup bay for runway 10L as per the taxiway instructions. We arrived at the runup bay and I lined up the aircraft upwind for the runup checks (for engine cooling). I completed all runup checks successfully - temperatures, pressures, magnetos, carb heat, high RPM steady and idle check.Removed park brake, added a little throttle and using rudder pedals began to steer the nosewheel to the taxi line towards holding point bravo five (B5) for runway 10L takeoff. The aircraft wasn't moving off smoothly... hmmm. Park brake off, no brakes and sufficient throttle... what's wrong?
I closed the throttle, applied park brake and we opened the doors. RIGHT TYRE WAS FLAT!! Ahh bummer :-( Neither of us had our mobiles on us to call the flight school, so my instructor radioed Archer Ground to advise of the situation, abort the takeoff and advise our intentions. We asked for clearance for us to walk (yes, walk) back to the apron via taxiway bravo.The picture on the right isn't a photo of the actual flat tyre but is almost identical to what it looked like.
I completed the shutdown checklist and we pushed the J170 off the runup bay onto the grass. Walking back, landing aircraft must have thought we had strayed onto the airfield! :-) On our walk back to the apron, a fuel truck was coming down the taxiway to pick us up (thanks ATC). We headed back to pump up the tyre (fuel tracks have air as well). We immediately heard the tyre deflating but couldn't see any puncture on the tyre... must be an inner tube split. Mick taxied the aircraft quickly back to the apron before the tyre had a chance to deflate too much while I hitched a ride with the fuel truck. Mick almost made it back to the apron but the tyre deflated too much. We stopped, refilled with air and we all eventually got back to the apron safely.
As to the cause of the flat tyre? Well it was fine on the apron as I had checked the tread and pressure so the leak must have occurred during taxi. Mick said it was most likely the inner tube was not installed correctly and was "pinching" the metal rim which eventually caused the small split.
Another student and myself proceeded to help Mick pull the wheel off and replace the inner tube. I used my car jack to lift the aircraft! :-) We got it all done with inflated tyre... quick lesson in aircraft maintenance :-) Apparently its very rare to experience a flat tyre but I'd much rather discover this while taxing than during takeoff or landing!
Unfortunately it looks like my lesson will be postponed for today as they have a schedule to keep with other lessons. Not to worry... more reading in the meantime until my next flight lesson.
In lieu of today, I'll be doing two flight lessons on the coming weekend - Saturday and Sunday morning. Can't wait! :-)
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