Flight Journal: flight 15

[beaky]

Flight 15
05-04-95

1985 C-172P
ORL
Local

3500
SCT; 240/05; 70F

0.5 dual
1 landing

"Sightseeing, turns to hdgs nice approach & landing!"

Well, before a suitable day for a flight to N07 presented itself, I went off to Florida for a vacation, staying at my friend Mitch's place in Orlando. I decide to do a little flying... looks like my first landing at another airport will be a bit farther from TEB than Lincoln Park!
Orlando Executive is very close to the apartment, so I head over there and wander into what turns out to be an excellent FBO/flight school. G. will be my instructor for this lesson, in a newish Skyhawk. Mitch has bravely decided to join us- he's a staunch friend.

I find myself struggling a bit on takeoff- the view over the nose is not quite right. But soon enough I get things sorted out, and we level off, heading north. G. navigates and handles the radio chores- this is more a sightseeing flight than a real lesson, as I want to take it easy and just enjoy myself. The practice certainly won't hurt, though... it's a compromise between really working on my training and enjoying my vacation.
I've only got a half-hour, so the plan is to just head up to Lake Apopka and back. I manage to find the airport easily on the way back, just after being cleared into the airspace, and I find myself finally making a very good approach. Turning to base, I feel at first that I've cut my downwind short, but as I roll onto final... why, it's perfect- right on the money!
We sail down the glideslope, power way back, flaps extended. There's a pond at the approach end of 25, and for a moment  I feel I'm too low as 2FS glides over the water... but no... hot diggity, this is gonna be a good one... I've got just the right angle now as I nudge the throttle a hair to maintain the descent rate... I touch down well, just past the numbers.

Mitch has only one comment after we roll clear of the runway:
"My heart rate only went up a little..."

What a pal. He didn't scream, or throw up, or anything.

In retrospect, I think I avoided my usual high-and-hot approach by having another person's weight aboard (and ol' Mitch has put on a few pounds since he moved to Florida), along with the higher density altitude (much warmer and more humid than on any of my flights so far). Perhaps I was unconsciously dealing with the thinner air, making the right choices without thinking about it...
So, in essence, I flew well, but thought poorly. Not good, really. But I enjoyed that flight, and I'll never forget how that beautiful approach looked and felt!

Next: Flight 16

[Rifleman]

Another great story Sean, but I did have one question for you.... ....( no , it's not about that "final/finals" turn)....its about how you unconsciously made adjustments to your approach in different air with a higher than normal wing loading....... :-?

     

[matt2190]

My first good looking approach was a few weeks ago. I still have not been able to solo.(stupid weather ) Just had another lesson cancelled today. I love learning from your experiences. Keep these great stories coming.

[beaky]

Another great story Sean, but I did have one question for you.... ....( no , it's not about that "final/finals" turn)....its about how you unconsciously made adjustments to your approach in different air with a higher than normal wing loading....... :-?

          ....if you did it unconsciously, ... you da man !.......what a pilot - absolute best ! ! !

......if you did it sub-consciously, then I applaud you for turning into a good normal pilot .........  8-)  

   ;D    ;D    ;D  

I suppose I though of it, and the instructor may have warned me (knowing I'd just started my training in the NE in the fall)... memory's hazy now, although the journal entry was made fairly soon after the event... but at any rate I believe I was, in fact, conscious...

If i mis-used the word "unconsciously" I apologize to all you hair-splitters...


I guess what I meant to say was I simply did what was needed to get the results i wanted without thinking :"density altitude; groundspeed..." and overall, the thinner air helped me maintain the proper glideslope as opposed to my typical high 'n' hot approaches.

[beaky]

My first good looking approach was a few weeks ago. I still have not been able to solo.(stupid weather ) Just had another lesson cancelled today. I love learning from your experiences. Keep these great stories coming.

Learn to be philosophical about weather delays... it won't stop after you get your ticket. What I do nowadays is ask myself, as I get ready for bed the night before: "What will I do tomorrow if I have to cancel?" I try to come up with something fun or relaxing as opposed to taking care of whatever chore I'd intended to escape by going flying.