Flight journal: Flight 33

[beaky]

Flight 33

04-14-96
1977 C-152
ORL
Local

high cirrus, winds 035/07

C152

1.0 dual

"Scenic Flt"

While visiting an old friend in Orlando, I decide abruptly one evening to go do some flying, as the forecast for the next day is not promising.
The fellow I'd flown with last time I was here is not around, but another instructor, R., tells me he'll stay late to hook me up with an hour of dual.

The only ship available is a very nice 152... I'm a bit hesitant, but my memories of good old Eight Six Sierra come back to me as I look at it, and I'm suddenly itching to fly it.

R. has trained at Comair, as it turns out... his take? Excellent training, but the "over 90 percent of graduates hired by Comair" line, is, and I quote: "Bulls**t."
But he reiterates that he feels he was very well trained, for what that's worth to a guy who's staying late to do an hour of dual in a 152...

He has obviously been very rigidly trained, as well... he's rather critical of my standards on a few minor points.
He reminds me that the 152 will tend to fly itself off the runway without much input.
Sun 'n' Fun is still going strong over in Lakeland, and ORL has been busy as a result, handling many unusual types. At the runway intersection, a tiny biplane, smaller than a Pitts, swings onto the centerline and leaps into the air in a remarkably short distance. We're told to continue down to the end of 35... I note that I will have a slight quartering headwind.
As I pull onto the generous run-up area, I pull alongside another plane that has just completed its runup: a gorgeous civilian F-86, painted midnight blue with a red pinstripe along each side.
The pilot receives his takeoff clearance, and I watch my first Sabre takeoff. Nice...

Soon it's my turn. 247 is even more nimble than my old friend 86S,probably due to the extra horsepower. As I approach rakeoff speed, I hear a clattering noise, below me to my left.
Is it the gear? R. is not sure either... my seatbelt is fastened; it can't be that...

"Go ahead," he says, "I don't think it's the gear..." when I ask if he thinks we should abort.
Once climbing at Vy, I solve the puzzle.
"Here it is," I tell him. the last 3 inches of the free end of the seat belt is trapped in the door and is fluttering madly, beating against the fuselage.
After levelling off at 2000 and trimming the little plane, I pop my door open and yank it inside.

Sighs of relief behind us, we head west to skirt the Class Bravo airspace on our way to look at Disney World from the air.
It's a pleasant flight- I do well turning to and holding headings and maintaining altitude, even though this plane feels unfamiliar, and the panel is laid out differently than what I've been flying.
Soon it's time to return... I find my way back well enough, and we receive a clearance to make a right downwind for 35. My approach procedure is sound, and my final looks good. It's easy, as the wind has died down a bit. I'm a smidge too high as we cross the threshold, so I chop the throttle as I would with a 172.
"No, no, not yet", R. says calmly, as 247 suddenly sinks. I've forgotten that the 152 will not glide anywhere near as well as the 172. I nudge the throttle a bit and the little plane checks its sink, entering an acceptable flair moments later. My landing is acceptable, but would not have been, had I chopped the throttle on base...


Next: flight 34

[Jared]