Road to the PPL (#31) - Final progress test (including a NAV to EBGB RWY 01) - with ATC (Sonaca 200)

See description below (with timestamps at the bottom). Weather: EBCI 221350Z 14006KT 100V200 CAVOK 22/08 Q1013 NOSIG EBCI 221420Z 10005KT 020V180 CAVOK 22/08 Q1012 NOSIG EBCI 221450Z 13006KT 090V160 CAVOK 23/07 Q1012 NOSIG EBCI 221520Z VRB02KT CAVOK 23/06 Q1012 NOSIG EBCI 221550Z VRB02KT CAVOK 23/08 Q1012 NOSIG EBCI 221620Z 11004KT 040V200 CAVOK 23/10 Q1011 NOSIG EBCI 221650Z 02006KT 290V080 CAVOK 22/10 Q1011 NOSIG After another month of studying (one day a week, as that is all I can comfortably manage next to work while leaving some space for other activities), I wanted go for a flight just to keep my flying skills in order, and maybe refine the soft field operations a bit further with the same instructor as on the last flight. Unfortunately or not, the administration of my flight school thought that I had made a mistake in booking, and so they changed my flight to a Final Progress Check with a different instructor. Even though that was really not my intention, the idea got into my head, and thus I went along with the changed plans. The final progress test is basically a practice check-ride (a.k.a. the practical exam), so the evening before the flight I quickly refreshed my memories about all the maneuvers and procedures from the SOP, and I also prepared a NAV flight to Grimbergen (most of which I had still lying around from a month earlier, which saved me a lot of work, as I only had to update the wind data and the resulting magnetic headings and timings). The flight went pretty well, with only some minor mistakes (mainly on final to EBGB as I was extremely preoccupied with navigating the very short circuit for the first time ever, so I did forget a few items, and I needed a second try for two of the many exercises, as the first ones were not up to my standards), so I passed the progress check, and officially my flight training is now done. I am very happy about the improvement I made in operating to and from a soft field. Last Friday I passed the in-house mock theory exam at my flight school, my official theory exam is scheduled for the 1st of July, and my FCL.055/ELP assessment will follow two days later. When those are done, only the check-ride will remain. We will see if I want/can/need to do another solo flight before that just to refresh my flying skills (since it has been now a bit more than a month since this last progress check flight), otherwise the next flight would be the final examination. Exciting times ahead! 00:00 Briefing 01:31 Requesting taxi instructions 02:53 Small theory question during runup 04:09 Take-off EBCI RWY 06 05:25 Leaving the CTR of EBCI overhead November 06:04 Abeam NW (incorrectly labelled and referred to as November), and turn towards AFI 08:13 Checking in with Brussels Information 10:16 Turning over AFI 11:10 Contacting Grimbergen Radio 11:59 Approach briefing (descent checklist) 14:17 Overhead EBGB, joining right hand downwind for RWY 01 16:10 Landing EBGB RWY 01 18:03 Debriefing the first leg 20:31 Briefing for the short/soft field take-off 22:39 Take-off EBGB RWY 01 23:51 Leaving the zone of EBGB 24:19 Requesting air work in the vicinity of NIK at 3000' (from Brussels Departure) 25:01 HASELL check 26:18 Clean stall 27:44 Stall in landing configuration 28:36 Stall in approach configuration (in a turn) 30:15 Steep turn 360 to the left 31:08 Steep turn 360 to the right 31:56 Unusual attitudes (recovery after eyes closed) 32:54 Recovery from nose down/increasing speed 33:17 Recovery from nose up/speed decreasing 33:50 Almost drifting into the CTR of Brussels on the way home (and some VOR action) 34:49 Listening to the ATIS of EBCI (RWY changed to 24), quick route improvisation 35:54 Engine failure/forced landing exercise 37:32 Requesting landing instruction from EBCI Tower (then briefing & descent checklist) 38:53 End of right hand downwind (after waiting for arriving & departing jets) 39:30 Turning final, then final RWY 24 40:10 Flapless landing EBCI RWY 24 (and almost bird-strike on the roll-out) 41:34 Debriefing of the second leg