Flight 35
05-05-96
1968 C-172K
N07
Local
1.6 dual
4 landings
Sunny,warm- scattered cumuli at 8-10,000 feet; wind NE 5-8 kts.
"Normal to/lndgs, steep turns, ground ref., MCA"
It's a beautiful day for flying, especially compared to last time. I feel confident and well-prepared.
Today's the day, I think, as I stroll down Jacksonville Road towards the airport. Ahead, a Cessna makes its way skyward, passing over the road. Another follows, close behind. Good. I'm getting better at spotting traffic, and I'm eager to put my new Ray-Bans to the test.
I'm flying with C. again today... he's willing to forge ahead, but he's also eager to whip me back into shape.
There are small holes in my overall knowledge, and C.is looking for them. He asks a lot of questions, and although I don't really mind that, it serves as a reminder that I still haven't been studying enough.
Our itinerary: no high-performance stuff, just a review of ground reference maneuvers and MCA, with a few landings afterwards.
I'm disappointed, but he's right. I need to brush up, to knock some of the rust off. Or... is he trying to steal me away from J. ? I can't help but wonder... things are a little slow at the school lately, and I know students are money to a CFI...
But clipboard (and ignition key!) in hand, I forget such musings as I make my way out to 475 to preflight.
Fuel is clean, flaps are working; plenty of oil; full tanks... the nosewheel tire looks a bit low, but it doesn't seem too bad.
Inaddition to my new sunglasses, I finally have my own headset... after startup,I plug it in, and... it doesn't work. No mic, no earphones. Damn. C. has a backup pair, fortunately.
I'm starting to enjoy C.'s company; he has a sense of humor that I can relate to, despite being very rigid and professional most of the time.
"So... um, where are we going?" he asks casually as I begin to taxi.
"Well", I tell him, "last reported wind I heard was 050 at 8, and traffic's using 01, so I figure we'll taxi down to use 01."
"Waaaayyylll... it looks like... we're using 19 now," he says. On cue, a twin touches down just ahead of us, landing to the south.
"It's always good to check the windsock before you taxi", he reminds me.
I've heard it before, but I still don't entirely trust wind socks, especially the one here at N07. When the wind's light, it just sort of settles, and one has to stare a while to determine which way it was facing before it stopped moving. A more reliable indicator is Unicom, in my opinion. Surely, the pilot who just took off knows which way the wind is blowing.
But of course I've failed to do pay attention, or I would have heard the twin calling final for 19. Ouch.
I'm now taxiing behind the Mentor I've seen here before, but I ignore the novelty of that... must not let C. catch me unawares again!
Takeoff is fair, but I'm guessing about the best airspeed... at least I think I am. The wind aloft is a little more brisk, but I run through the MCA exercises reasonably well. Then it's time for steep turns: C. gains a few points in my book by coaching me to the point where I can actually trim 475 for a constant-altitude turn with 45-degrees of bank... hands off!! Amazing! I feel like I finally know how to turn an airplane.
I'm not to be congratulated, though, as my pitch control levelling off lacks authority. But I'm definitely making some progress.
C. points out a water tower to use as a turn reference point, and after three revolutions, I finally ease my bank upwind to keep proper distance from it. Not too shabby, compared to my last attempt at turns-around-a-point.
Returning to Lincoln Park I try three landings. Not too bad, but C. points out every little flaw in my technique, and is showing an annopying tendency to remind me of each step just as I'm about to do it. I will realize later that unless I think aloud, he does not know if I will remember. But his timing is irksome- always seems to say something just as I'm about to do it!
Debrief: yet another review of the steps in a stabilized pattern and approach, and a reminder to memorize the V-speeds for that airplane.
Whew! I'm a bit shaken as I head home, but I can see that things are not hopeless- I just have to study and do more chair-flying. I've been neglecting that, deciding each evening that I'm too tired.
That attitude ain't gonna cut it...
Next: Flight 36: The PIC always knows best... or?
