spiderweb
Final Approach
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2005
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- 9,488
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Display name:
Ben
Well, shoot. I was supposed to make my first trip solo PIC under IFR today. The route took me from FDK up through eastern PA to KDDH. I got all the way to the airport, and called for briefings twice, but I just decided it was a no-go. See, there were these two blops (a technical IFR term) of yellow 'n red that were converging on each other from either side of my route. I didn't have a stormscope and the briefer said I would most likely be flying in IMC and that some of those TR were embedded. Well, with no radar or stormscope, words like "converging" used along with "embedded" (as well as "tops to FL40") made me rethink taking that lil' 'ol C172 up there.
So I did some pattern work instead.
As a second choice, it was still an OK one. The first landing was a perfect three-pointer! That would've been great for a taildragger, but I thought I might try for something a bit more suave. So I did five or six more. Have to remember how slow those C172s are (I've been driving C182s and Zlins the past half year). The second approach was flown with too much power on final, held into the flare, and pulled out too fast. The butt sank too fast, and then I pulled back too quickly. Saved it with a touch of power and got a nice touchdown, but pulled off to the taxiway and gave myself a spanking.
After the dressing down, I decided to take my own advice and make sure the remaining finals were flown no faster than 60 KIAS with power-off or almost so. The rest of the landings were good to purty durn good. Have to remember how slow those C172 things are on final!
Too bad didn't go no where today, though.
So I did some pattern work instead.
As a second choice, it was still an OK one. The first landing was a perfect three-pointer! That would've been great for a taildragger, but I thought I might try for something a bit more suave. So I did five or six more. Have to remember how slow those C172s are (I've been driving C182s and Zlins the past half year). The second approach was flown with too much power on final, held into the flare, and pulled out too fast. The butt sank too fast, and then I pulled back too quickly. Saved it with a touch of power and got a nice touchdown, but pulled off to the taxiway and gave myself a spanking.
After the dressing down, I decided to take my own advice and make sure the remaining finals were flown no faster than 60 KIAS with power-off or almost so. The rest of the landings were good to purty durn good. Have to remember how slow those C172 things are on final!
Too bad didn't go no where today, though.