Flight Journal: flight 26

[beaky]

Flight 26

10-09-95
1968 C-172K
N07-4N1-N07

Sky clear; wind calm; @ 60F

0.7 dual
2 landings

"emerg. proc., normal t.p., normal t.o.& lndg"


No work today, so I arrive at around 4:30 to preflight 475.
But she's starring in a photo shoot! Instructor M. is helping a family visiting from Italy to get some pictures of the whole clan in and around the airplane. Some sort of Columbus Day madness, I presume... finally I'm free to preflight the plane.

As I climb up to check the fuel, I notice for the first time that the upper surface of the wing is heavily dimpled from hail... looks like a truckload of gravel was dumped on it!
M. and I discuss this briefly, in a lighter vein... some mention is made of golf balls, and theories about their aerodynamic properties.
All is well with 475, despite her blemishes, but M. tells me J. wants to brief me in the hangar before the flight.
I'm in a good mood. It's a beautiful day, I'm well-rested, amd there's good news: today's lesson will not merely be a repetition of the last one- today we will focus on emergency procedures. Bring it on: I feel ready.

I stroll over to the hangar. Inside is a big-looking twin. Hmmm... I can't identify it. J. explains that it is a late-70s Aztec, owned by a doctor. Beautiful beast...

We do a little classroom review of engine-out procedures, and it's decided that we will go to Greenwood Lake because that is most likely where A. will send me on the stage check ride.
Okay... here we go. I am using the checklist scrupulously today. Note to self: NEVER ask again if you should prime 475!! YOU are PIC, YOU decide! Besides, it always needs priming...

Other than initially setting out for the wrong end of the runway, I taxi well, and my takeoff is good. Another note: DO NOT ask A., when the time comes, which way to turn when departing off 19!!
Also: left traffic for 19, right traffic for 01!!
We head north; J. indicates landmarks to help find 4N1. We're there in a few minutes, and as we approach at 3500 feet, J. "pulls the plug".
I head for the key position, circle to lose altitude, then have to figure-eight to set up for base because "we" mis-called the runway in use... J. had assumed they were using 6, but they're using 24.
So... I'm not the only one, then... I am pleased.


My landing is pretty darn good, although a bit long. 4N1 is "weird" at first... not at all as I'd pictured it.
There's an old Constellation parked in front of the terminal, grafted onto it. I joke to J. that it's probably a restaurant (as it turns out, I'm close- it's a pilot shop/ classroom attached to a restaurant).
J. tells me to make a short-field takeoff, which I pull off well. As we start to climb, a tiny bird zips across the cowling, narrowly missing the prop- and the windshield- by veering at the last instant. Amazing! Poor little guy probably grounded himself for the rest of the day after that feather-ruffling close encounter!
475 hums onward and upward, unruffled.
Now comes the hard part: finding my way back to N07.
I do okay until I "find"  what appears to be the airport. I am wrong again. I guess again, with more successs. I overfly, turn around to enter downwind for 19, and shoot a fairly good approach and landing. J. is happy with my progress.
I guess I'm ready now for the stage check with the school's owner. Well, maybe after some more chair-flying. Like enough chair-flying so that I can find my way back to N07 blindfolded...

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