Dr. Bill
Pre-takeoff checklist
So I'm coming home from work the other day and doing the GPS 17 approach as there was an overcast layer reported at 11 to 1200 agl on the AWOS. It also said the winds were 100 at 12.
I had checked the AWOS, by my usual practice, 2 or 3 times when I was within radio range (about 50 miles), and it had been pretty consistent.
But when I broke out, I noticed I was higher than I'd have liked to be (I like to hit the numbers for practice), so I dumped all the flaps, pulled the power, and trimmed for my usual 80. Then, I hit some pretty wacky windshear. No biggie, I thought, I've done worse, but I wished I'd not have done all the flaps. Quick windsock check - yup, direction true... Gave a passing thought to pulling some flap out (I know better) and decided just to add a bit of power and a couple of knots.
It was then I realized that to align with the runway I was having to push a lot harder on the rudder than ever before - and still wasn't quite aligned!
I've done a 30 kt direct X-wind in the Cherokee, and about the same in the Cessna 150. I've about a hundred hours now in the Bo, and hadn't noticed crosswinds being a problem...
For a moment, I considered doing the go-around I was spring-loaded for, anyway. Then, as usually happens, I got into ground effect and lo and behold, it straightened enough to settle! I had to keep telling myself to hold that correction in whilst rolling out.
Wondering why it got so squirrelly in the first place, I flipped on the comm 2 and hear "wind 100 at 22, gusting 24". Windsock sticking straight out.
Well, that explains that. If I had done that technique I have heard many others do of keeping the AWOS playing in the background, I'd have likely been more aware.
Oh well, now I'm MORE experienced.
I had checked the AWOS, by my usual practice, 2 or 3 times when I was within radio range (about 50 miles), and it had been pretty consistent.
But when I broke out, I noticed I was higher than I'd have liked to be (I like to hit the numbers for practice), so I dumped all the flaps, pulled the power, and trimmed for my usual 80. Then, I hit some pretty wacky windshear. No biggie, I thought, I've done worse, but I wished I'd not have done all the flaps. Quick windsock check - yup, direction true... Gave a passing thought to pulling some flap out (I know better) and decided just to add a bit of power and a couple of knots.
It was then I realized that to align with the runway I was having to push a lot harder on the rudder than ever before - and still wasn't quite aligned!
I've done a 30 kt direct X-wind in the Cherokee, and about the same in the Cessna 150. I've about a hundred hours now in the Bo, and hadn't noticed crosswinds being a problem...
For a moment, I considered doing the go-around I was spring-loaded for, anyway. Then, as usually happens, I got into ground effect and lo and behold, it straightened enough to settle! I had to keep telling myself to hold that correction in whilst rolling out.
Wondering why it got so squirrelly in the first place, I flipped on the comm 2 and hear "wind 100 at 22, gusting 24". Windsock sticking straight out.
Well, that explains that. If I had done that technique I have heard many others do of keeping the AWOS playing in the background, I'd have likely been more aware.
Oh well, now I'm MORE experienced.
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