Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
I've been trying to transition from the Warrior I've always rented into a 172SP. I've had a few flights with a CFI and got the FBO checkout finished. I've been trying for more than a month to get a solo flight in.
Weather, maintenance, holidays, family commitments have all kept me grounded. Saturday was a long shot, considering the forcast, but turned out to be clear, cold, little wind. I finally got to take the 172 by myself.
Winds were mild, about 4-5 and directly across the runway. An easy way to get used to handling a light x-wind with an unfamiliar airplane.
Tower had us using R18. I took off, stayed in the pattern for a touch/go. When I turned final I remembered a few things, all at once - the 172 glides a whole lot better than the Warrior, high-pressure and cold air are giving me some good lift, and this is the lightest load I've ever taken in the 172 (no CFI this time). I just couldn't get the thing to descend. That's when I did the forehead slap - oh yeah, 'remember the winds aloft forecast?', the winds above 500' are giving me a pretty good tailwind. Went around and tried again, with much better results.
Headed out and did stalls, slow flight, and steep turns, came back for another touch and go and finally a full stop.
A whole lotta fun. Just as I was leaving, I noticed the airport was now using R36, figures, but lessons were learned.
Weather, maintenance, holidays, family commitments have all kept me grounded. Saturday was a long shot, considering the forcast, but turned out to be clear, cold, little wind. I finally got to take the 172 by myself.
Winds were mild, about 4-5 and directly across the runway. An easy way to get used to handling a light x-wind with an unfamiliar airplane.
Tower had us using R18. I took off, stayed in the pattern for a touch/go. When I turned final I remembered a few things, all at once - the 172 glides a whole lot better than the Warrior, high-pressure and cold air are giving me some good lift, and this is the lightest load I've ever taken in the 172 (no CFI this time). I just couldn't get the thing to descend. That's when I did the forehead slap - oh yeah, 'remember the winds aloft forecast?', the winds above 500' are giving me a pretty good tailwind. Went around and tried again, with much better results.
Headed out and did stalls, slow flight, and steep turns, came back for another touch and go and finally a full stop.
A whole lotta fun. Just as I was leaving, I noticed the airport was now using R36, figures, but lessons were learned.