ScottK
Pre-takeoff checklist
An incredible bad run of wx, sickness, work and life in general had limited me to one flight in mid Nov and one in mid Dec.
I watched anxiously yesterday as the actual wx started to match the forecasted. 1700ovc became 2000 on its way to 3600ovc and finally clear skies shortly after I took off. And the winds were cooperating as well. I didn't want anything nasty for my first flight in a month. They pretty much held about 20 deg to either side of the runway around 8-10 kts.
My plan was to find out if I could still land an airplane. I had a friend/CFI riding along just for fun.
After about 3 or 4 landings, I had pretty much put the airplane where I wanted it each time. My speeds/approaches were consistant and the landings were as good as I've had in this plane (c172).
On one of the loops, I got an extended downwind for Spirit to take off and ended up flying the ILS in on a longer final. I haven't done many of these, but they are fun to do. I love looking up and seeing the runway. Instrument training this spring should be a blast.
The last one was a short approach from the numbers. I got it down nicely and out of the way for an landing corporate jet.
That was about as much fun as I've ever had in the pattern. There is a special satisfaction that comes from flying the airplane well and getting a "great job" from a friend. And the fact that I've flown twice in 9 weeks made it even sweeter. Can't wait to get back up there again!
I watched anxiously yesterday as the actual wx started to match the forecasted. 1700ovc became 2000 on its way to 3600ovc and finally clear skies shortly after I took off. And the winds were cooperating as well. I didn't want anything nasty for my first flight in a month. They pretty much held about 20 deg to either side of the runway around 8-10 kts.
My plan was to find out if I could still land an airplane. I had a friend/CFI riding along just for fun.
After about 3 or 4 landings, I had pretty much put the airplane where I wanted it each time. My speeds/approaches were consistant and the landings were as good as I've had in this plane (c172).
On one of the loops, I got an extended downwind for Spirit to take off and ended up flying the ILS in on a longer final. I haven't done many of these, but they are fun to do. I love looking up and seeing the runway. Instrument training this spring should be a blast.
The last one was a short approach from the numbers. I got it down nicely and out of the way for an landing corporate jet.
That was about as much fun as I've ever had in the pattern. There is a special satisfaction that comes from flying the airplane well and getting a "great job" from a friend. And the fact that I've flown twice in 9 weeks made it even sweeter. Can't wait to get back up there again!
