Kaye
Line Up and Wait
I joined a fractional lease on a 2001 Trinidad (TB20) back in January. Sweet, sweet airplane with lotsa gadgets and buttons and gizmos. Went thru a thorough checkout and an IPC, but hadn't done an approach since then. Got an upcoming trip, so I grab my CFII yesterday to make sure I could still coordinate all the buttons and gizmos during an approach.
After a grueling 2 hours of eliminating dead brain cells (hopefully), we headed back to the busy home field. I placed myself between a 172 on downwind and a 172 on x-wind with lots more 172's headed in. I was a little snug with the 172 in front of me, so I was working that when my instructor informed me that this guy flew a slooooow final. Okay, I've trained in slow flight. A 360 for spacing didn't feel good due to the close confines of bravo airspace and the numerous planes calling the 45 entry, so slow flight was the game plan. I carefully managed my speed and altitude while following the 172, always ready for the go-around. He made a great short landing which meant he had to taxi forever to the first exit. Just as he turned off, I crossed the threshold with a little altitude that was easy to lose by reducing power. Touched down and with a little bit of brakes made the first exit while hearing 2 different 172's call a go-around.
As I stopped to clean up the airplane, my CFI said "nice". He said that with patience I had just done with a Trinidad what the 172's behind me couldn't do. Sure felt good 'bout that. Of course it was this particular CFI that taught me how to do it......in a 172........
After a grueling 2 hours of eliminating dead brain cells (hopefully), we headed back to the busy home field. I placed myself between a 172 on downwind and a 172 on x-wind with lots more 172's headed in. I was a little snug with the 172 in front of me, so I was working that when my instructor informed me that this guy flew a slooooow final. Okay, I've trained in slow flight. A 360 for spacing didn't feel good due to the close confines of bravo airspace and the numerous planes calling the 45 entry, so slow flight was the game plan. I carefully managed my speed and altitude while following the 172, always ready for the go-around. He made a great short landing which meant he had to taxi forever to the first exit. Just as he turned off, I crossed the threshold with a little altitude that was easy to lose by reducing power. Touched down and with a little bit of brakes made the first exit while hearing 2 different 172's call a go-around.
As I stopped to clean up the airplane, my CFI said "nice". He said that with patience I had just done with a Trinidad what the 172's behind me couldn't do. Sure felt good 'bout that. Of course it was this particular CFI that taught me how to do it......in a 172........
