What’s it like to fly a plane?
Over the summer Chronicle reporters have been trying their hand at something new, under the supervision of experts. In the first of our series called I’m New to This, Liz Wylie gets behind the controls of a Cessna high above Whanganui.
There are some strong wind gusts at Whanganui Airport on the day I choose to take a trial flight with Wanganui Aero Club. Chief flying instructor Jonathan Mauchline tells me it might be a bit bumpy on the way up but once we gain altitude, we’ll leave the strong winds below us.
Jonathan has the kind of calm and friendly demeanour one wishes for in a flying instructor and we chat for a while in the clubrooms where Hangar, the resident cat, is staying out of the wind and basking in the afternoon sunshine.
Today we will be flying in the club’s Cessna 172 4 seater Skyhawk aircraft so Whanganui Chronicle photographer Bevan Conley can join us.
The club owns three two-seater planes: a Piper Tomahawk, a Cessna 152 Aerobat and a Cessna C150. There is also a latermodel Cessna 172 at the club’s Feilding base.
At this point, I must confess to cheating on this assignment as this was not my first time — I took a flight with an Aero Club instructor in 2016 although, on that occasion, I didn’t realise I would be taking the controls until I was aboard the plane.
Although this may not be my first air show, it is my first experience as an “intentional” flight trainee.
This time, I make sure to pay attention during the pre-flight briefing as Jonathan explains the workings of the aircraft.
He tells me about the ailerons or wing flaps that will control the lift for take-off and I learn that the fuel is stored in the wing with a capacity of about 200 litres (100 litres on each side of the cockpit).
I also learn the plane has a tricycle undercarriage, which means the landing gear is arranged with one wheel to the fore and two slightly behind the centre of gravity.
The plane has a swept tail design, which provides better airflow than a straight tail.
I have done a bit of reading up on Cessna 172 and learned that production began in the US in 1956. It is estimated that every pilot will have flown one at some stage and it is considered to be “the most popular single-engine aircraft ever built”.
Inside the cockpit, I have a moment of panic when it seems the seatbelt is not going to fit around the expanded girth I have acquired this year.
It turned out I was actually trying to use my instructor’s belt and the seatbelts do expand to fit people larger than myself.
I put on the headset that will enable Jonathan to instruct me while we’re in the air and there is an extra set that will enable Bevan to hear and speak to us both as well.
I remember from my previous flight that the foot controls are used to accelerate and steer the plane on the ground while the hand controls are used for lift-off and steering in the air. I make a conscious effort to keep my hands on my lap while we are on the ground.
The control panel has fuel and oil gauges as you find in any car and a speed indicator, which Jonathan tells me measures our airspeed in knots.
“When we’re in the air we’ll be travelling at a cruising speed of around 180 kph,” Jonathan says.
The heading indicator tells us our direction and the altimeter measures our height in feet. There are other gauges which I don’t fully register but if I should wish to gain a pilot’s licence, I would need to learn all their functions.
The machine has a straightforward, key operated ignition and when Jonathan instructs me to start the plane, it is a thrilling moment to hear the engine turn over and see the front propeller start turning. I don’t do so well at steering us along the runway and I am grateful that Jonathan is able to use his own set of controls to correct me.
Once he has us in the right position, we take to the air and the Castlecliff coastline is below us. I can now use my hands to steer the plane which responds to the gentlest of touches and Jonathan compliments me on my light-handedness.
“Some people treat it like driving a car and try to over steer,” he says.
“Young learners who haven’t started driving cars tend to be better at steering a plane because they haven’t developed that tendency.”
As promised, we soon leave the strong winds below us and have a smooth flight up to Kai Iwi. We get a stunning aerial view of the new Upokongaro Cycleway Bridge and the Whanganui River as we head back over the city.
Jonathan takes the controls for a smooth landing and I will need to come back for more lessons if I want to learn how to do that myself.
A trial flight with the Wanganui Aero Club costs $99.
The club has members as young as 10 as well as some in their 90s. Pilots need to clock up at least 200 hours and reach the age of 17 to sit a test for Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
Jonathan tells me he learned to fly at the club and went on to become a commercial pilot, which requires 1500 hours. He loves being back home teaching others to fly.
He says while the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy offers fulltime study in Whanganui, the Aero Club is a great option for part-time learners.
“Flight instructor Leroy Johnston is a great example of someone who trained at the Wanganui Aero Club while working fulltime. He accrued his hours over 18 months and we can take people up any time during daylight hours which are pretty long during the summer.”
The Wanganui Aero Club was established in 1929 and was one of the first Commercial Flight Schools to open in Australasia. Members participate in flight competitions all over New Zealand and the club can also provide tail-wheel and strip training.