Flight 08
01-23-95
C-150H
TEB
Local
17,000 bkn; wind 270/07; temp 27F
1.4 dual
1 landing
"xwind t/o, 4 fund in cruise & slow flight, MCA, pwr off stalls imm. and full, xwind ldg"
A nice day for flying: the air is clear, cold, and calm. Preflight and taxi seem almost routine now... although I forget to pump the throttle during startup.
We're cleared for 24, so there's little delay. Somehow I lose the centerline after rotation, but at least I pull back at the correct speed. But then I'm still holding back pressure when I shouldn't: the stall warning starts to whine a little. I soon get the right angle, and I can see in 86S's handy little rearview mirror that we're back on the centerline. Levelling off at 1000 feet, I bank northwest.
Despite the picture-perfect weather, there's no traffic in sight. That's odd... I wonder why nobody else is out here zooming around? As if in answer, we are rattled with some small but hard bumps over Paterson.
But it's no big deal...
We quickly review everything I've learned so far, and F. keeps stirring in useful tips on how to orchestrate scanning the area and the instruments, while still maintaining complete control.
As we approach the state border, the land rises. As we continue north, more and more snow can be seen blanketing the ground. soon it's time to try a few more power-off stalls: carb heat ON; power back to idle; let her slow up; pull back... whoomp! I don't restore power soon enough, and the 150 dives about 300 feet. It's a lousy recovery, but it's fun for a moment, pointing almost straight down. I try it again, and do much better.
F. seems unsatisfied... he takes over to demonstrate. I quickly discover that I'm a little prone to vertigo and airsickness when I'm only a passenger... somehow being busy at the controls keeps the feeling at bay. I haven't had much of a breakfast, but something is definitely amiss inside my belly. As F. casually dumps the nose yet again, I can feel my palms getting sweaty... uh-oh...
This unease of course brings on anxiety: how can I keep flying if I'm going to get sick after a few sedate stalls?
Eventually, after I get control back from F., the nausea passes. I call Tower at the Alpine beacon and receive a clearance for a straight-in for 24. F. reminds me to descend below 1500 to stay clear of the Class B overhead, then more or less takes over for the approach and landing.
I find myself relieved to be back on the good, solid earth...the nausea has passed, but I feel ashamed. I mention my spell of airsickness to F., and he seems surprised. I guess I didn't look as bad as I felt back there. This makes me feel a little better, but I've still got a little cloud over my head as we secure the airplane.
What's the use? I think. I'm forgetting things, getting queasy...
Defeat is staring me down, and I'm not putting up much of a fight.
During the debrief, F. tells me he finds my skills to be "above average." Well, that puts a few much-needed pounds of pressure back into my vast but fragile ego, and I depart with a bit more bouancy.
I have much to consider now- no longer contemplating giving up ("above average"!! Me!!), but I've got to keep my edge keen, especially now that F. is gradually giving me more free rein.
"Don't wait for me to tell you how to do it", he has suggested, "if you think you know, just go for it."
Within reasonable limits, this is a very sound teaching philosophy, I think. I'll have to try hard to remember that, and maybe next time I'll be more confident and more precise.
In the final analysis, despite my chagrin, I'm sure I still want to keep at it- and one uncomfortable lesson is not going to stop me!!
Next: flight 09
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