Flight Journal: flight 58

[beaky]

Flight 58

10-15-96
1979 C-172N
TEB-ABE-TEB
2.1 dual
2 landings


"XC to ABE, pilotage, dead reckoning"

Sunny; cool; scattered clouds at 7000; wind light from SW

Here we go again- it's time to try that route to Allentown one more time. I've been rehearsing, so as we climb, I turn to my heading while monitoring Caldwell's ATIS, ready to note my first checkpoint. C. is abstaining from jumping in to change freqs for me, but I keep noticing little tugs on the yoke.

"It's been over two weeks", he says sheepishly, "since I've flown with a student who's at your level, so don't mind me if I keep doing that..."

It's annoying, but I decide I have more important things to think about. And I'm amused that this confirms what I've long suspected about C.- he's nervous flying with beginners.

Once again, I find it impossible to note all the checkpoints while also handling the radio chores, but it's no big deal. I fly a flawless transition through the CDW airspace, except for a moment when the controller is uncertain which reservoir I'm talking about.

I reach MMU right on schedule. We receive several traffic advisories west of the field, and I manage to spot them all. Shortly the wind aloft becomes stronger than expected, and I veer off-course briefly, correcting quickly to get back on track.

The trip goes well as each checkpoint sails past below, and in a short while I'm talking to Allentown Tower. This time I'm cleared in right away, and since the highway below leads straight to the airport, I just follow it. I choose a suitable turn point to start my base leg, and shoot one touch-and-go.

On the way back, C. is marveling at the superb visibility. "See that over there?"

I can see some vertical structures on the horizon; don't recall seeing them last time I was out this way.

"Yeah... what is that?"

It turns out those are smokestacks of a power plant near Lebanon... over forty miles away!


Not much to say about the return leg- I stay on track and on schedule, and make a good landing at TEB, despite the fact that the wind has picked up.

Back in the office, C. remarks "That was good."
He mentions something about our next dual X-C, but I cut him short to explain that I have completed the requirements.

"But... we haven't done diversions yet."

"Sure we have", I remind him. Out comes the logbook, and he relents.

Can't blame him for forgetting- he has numerous training programs to keep track of; I have only one.

Having completed the dual cross-countries, my next X-C will be my first solo flight to a point more than 50 miles from Teterboro!

Next: Flight 59-not as planned, but a good flight