Phase 1 on Flight Blog | Justin Verstijnen

1.1 Basics

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Do not use specific information given like fuel flow, landing/take-off distances for your flights. Always refer to the POH of your exact plane for flight preparation. My information is just for references that I used.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.1	Basics	25-07-2025

In my first flight lesson for my Private Pilot License journey. I have been introduced to multiple aspects of flying. In the past, around 3 years before this first PPL lesson, I did a trial lesson where I only controlled the plane at around 2.500 feet, but only controlled the yoke, rudder pedals and trims.

1.2 Effect of controls

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.2	Effect of controls	08-08-2025

In this lesson, we went more into the technical limitations of the Cessna 172 aircraft. Also we did some slow-flight exercises to be somewhat ahead of schedule as we had some spare time.

1.3 Airwork 1

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.3	Airwork 1	22-08-2025

In this flight, I learned how to perform the preflight inspection myself by doing the walk‑around using a structured checklist.
In this first checklist item, we look for reasons not to fly.
In IT terms, this can be compared to a physical risk assessment.

1.4 Airwork 2

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.4	Airwork 2	02-09-2025

We started by reviewing previous material and then went deeper into the theory of a nose attitude.
During the flight we practiced slow flight, throttle effects on nose attitude, gliding, and trimming.

1.5 Airwork 3

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.5	Airwork 3	26-09-2025

In this lesson we performed several airwork exercises, preceded by theory briefings.

1.6 Slow Flight

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.6	Slow flight	13-10-2025 & 20-10-2025

One of the harder lessons so far: slow flight.
The purpose of this lesson is to fly as slowly as possible while remaining safely airborne in the Cessna 172.

1.7 Stalls

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.7	Stalls	03-11-2025, 30-01-2026, 27-03-2026, 03-04-2026 and 17-04-2026

This page contains all my notes for the 1.7 Stalls lesson. This was a very hard lesson because of the weather situations in late 2025. The lesson was cancelled for about 5 times, and 2 times we were already in the air but the weather was worse than forecasted.

1.8 Circuit 1

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.8	Circuit 1	20-04-2026

Today was the day that we do circuit training for the first time. An hour before this flight lesson, I passed the meteorology theory exam which I’m very happy about, after some doubts the night before. Now I need to do just 2 more exams (AGK and POF) to be done with the theory.

1.9 Circuit 2

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.9	Circuit 2	23-04-2026

Today we had a beautiful weather day with a small layer of stratus clouds dissolving as the sun rose and with a slight crosswind component. At the time of take-off, they almost all dissolved giving us a clear sky with sun. The wind was around 6 knots, coming in a 60 degree angle of the runway, which is not that strong and good for some circuit training. Because we did some basic circuits the previous lesson, we will going to make it a bit harder now with some more factors into play.

1.10 Circuit 3 with Diversion

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

07-05-2026 (Diversion)

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.10	Circuit 3 with diversion	07-05-2026, 09-06-2026, 22-06-2026 & 16-08-2026

Today we did a circuit training lesson with a diversion to an airfield in Germany. The purpose of this lesson was a little preparation for the upcoming solo lessons. Then I have to find a possible diversion for myself, as an airfield can be closed temporarily for several reasons. We don’t want to still be in the air while having too less fuel and such.

1.11 Progress test 1

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer

For a live overview of my flight lessons, visit: https://flighttools.justinverstijnen.nl/flightlessontracker

This page can contain a collection of personal notes, steps to remember, finished and unfinished content. Please excuse brevity.

Introduction

Lesson number	Lesson name	Lesson date(s)
1.11	Progress test 1	20-07-2026 & 04-08-2026

Today we did the progress test for phase 1. This is a flight where we will perform every exercise learned in Phase 1. To enhance this lesson, I got another instructor which can also help me improve on different area’s.