by beaky » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:29 pm
Flight 57
09-25-96
1968 C-172K
TEB-4N1-N07-TEB
1.4 solo
3 landings
"Pilotage, dead reck., short/soft, MCA, pwr-off stalls, grnd ref"
Sunny; cool; scattered clouds at 3000; wind light SE
Time for a solo flight today, as I have the time and money but C. can't fit me into his schedule. I'm ready to fly more than usual today, but 23F is not. The engine hardly budges when I engage the starter, so I shut down and decide to double-check the oil. Hmmm... it might be a bit low, so I add another quart, wondering if I've already damaged it by trying to start it while low on oil. This is silly, I will later realize, but for some reason that was my first thought. I then decide to try to move the prop, and notice it won't budge, even an inch! Strange; maybe the starter is jammed. I climb back in and try again; nothing.
I gather my things and return to the office to see about getting another plane. N. hands me the keys to 475 and follows me back outside to investigate 23F. He agrees with me, after a few tries, that the starter is faulty. I'm relieved that I did no harm as I preflight 475.
I haven't flown this one in months, but I feel right at home after a minute or so. It's thrilling to taxi once again to the run-up area by myself... I'm also looking forward to this flight because I plan to land at Greenwood Lake again, and this time I'm certain that I won't get lost. After takeoff, I head straight up to the Mahwah Sheraton, finding it with ease. Before passing it, I slow 475 down for a little slow flight. After a few gentle turns at MCA,I shovel on the coal, retract flaps, and bank to a new heading towards Greenwood Lake.
The clouds are just above; I'm tempted to climb a bit to see exactly how far above, and maybe try flying between them, but better judgment prevails. I'll wait until I need to do that, for long-distance cruising; it's enough fun just to bomb along as PIC, low over the hills east of 4N1.
I spot the field well out and make a good entry to downwind for 24. I've remembered the proper pattern altitude- 1800 feet- and soon I have a splendid approach going. Touching down requires some wind correction... been a while, but I manage it well and touch down just past the numbers, rolling out right to my intended exit point.
There is nobody else around as I swing the 172 onto the apron and shut down. 475 has no parking brake, I have no chocks with me, and there are no tie-downs here, but as I climb out I see she seems happy to stay put.
I sit for a while, enjoying the quiet and a cigarette, strange how this almost feels routine now- taking off by myself, flying this expensive spamcan to a destination of my choosing, then landing safely and a little skillfully... just like that!
But of course, it is not really routine. Not at all. I am very far indeed from taking it for granted as 475 and I rest under scudding cottonball clouds, sunbeams dancing on the hills to the west. The pilot shop is closed, so I won't be buying that kneeboard today.
I wander over to a line of parked airplanes and spend a few minutes examining a nice Luscombe Silvaire when I spy a man emerging from one of the hangars. He's headed my way, but instead of frowning and asking "whatareyoudoingbythatairplanewhoyoulookingforblahblah", he smiles warmly and says "good morning!"
I ask him if he knows what hours the almost-mythical pilot shop is actually open, and he happy explains the situation as he understands it. Seems my best bet is midday on a weekend. We part company, and I decide to leave.
I taxi to the approach end of 24, check the wind sock, and execute a reasonably good soft-field takeoff, letting the speed build as I hold 475 close to the runway.
I climb away, banking gently towards N07. This area has grown quite familiar to me, and I have no trouble locating the other airport. I land without incident there, and go over to see if JP is working in the hangar... it's his day off, so I walk back to the plane, crank up the mill, and in a minute we are headed back to TEB.
Later, tying down the airplane, I congratulate myself for improving so much on my last solo venture. I stuck to my plan, met all my goals, and had a pleasant, stress-free time of it!
Next: flight 58- Allentown at last
