poadeleted3
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2005
- Messages
- 2,055
Today's flight didn't go nearly as well as our others have 
I was a little worried about the weather, but the forecasts were acceptable, and what I could see looked good. Winds were a little challenging, but nothing wild. It was kind of shifty, and kept going from calm to around 14 knots or so. Not really gusty. It would blow for a little bit, the stop for a little bit. Unpredictable enough to make me work a bit on landing. My biggest worry was the reported chance of rain and thunderstorms after 5. We decided instead of playing on the beach, we'd just fly down, do a touch and go, and come back and enjoy the sight seeing.
I haven't flown for a bit more than a month, but wasn't feeling to rusty, until my last landing. Preflighted, and took off. I was a little worried about bumps because Sean hates them, it was an afternoon flight with a whole bunch of nice fluffy cummulous clouds and plenty of opportunity for thermals. There were a few little bumps, but nothing major at all. Philly approach cleared us direct through the Class B to Ocean City. Scenery was beautiful, flying was awesome, then things were great as we reached 3,000. Then I made the horrible mistake of asking Sean how he was doing. He said "I'm a little scared." I said that's ok, you alright? He said he wanted to go back and land. Sigh. I let Philly know we were going back to Wings, apologized for bugging him, and pulled the power. I could have just pressed on, but I wanted Sean to be secure in the knowledge that he had that control.
Approach and landing at Wings was pretty good. I had to work for it a little bit, which I enjoyed. First time in a few flights that I've really had to. It felt good to pull it off, so we talked about it with Sean, and decided we were going to do another landing. Thermals were kicking a bit, and wind was blowing around, but not much worse than the first time around. My approach that time, though, had me feeling the need for more practice. I couldn't get my speed right, couldn't get my glidepath settled down, but none of it bad enough to go around. I though I was set up for a good landing, and ended up making a horrible, horrible one. Hands down the worst one since I've gotten my license, and actually the worst for quite a while before that. Rats My landings have been a point of pride with me. Maybe the plane sensed that, and decided a serving of humble pie was in order. Worse, I don't really know how it ended up that bad. I didn't get a good flare in, the plane quit flying before I expected it too. I'm trying to convince Cathy the wind died on me, but I don't think she's really buying it.
To top everything off, we shut down, and before we can even push back into the parking spot, Sean throws this MASSIVE fit. Now he's p***ed because we came back and landed. We ended up talking about it for a long time, getting him calmed down. The joys of parenthood, I suppose. Cathy said he didn't look scared when we were flying. He was just looking around like usual. Frankly, I don't think I'm going to ask him if he's alright next time. We can tell when he's not. I think we'll just press on, and divert his attention if we think we need to. Meanwhile, I've had to reassure Sean that he is still my co-pilot, and that he will go flying with me next time when I go up to get some landing practice.
A tip of the hat to Ron Levy.. Sean was making sure I checked some of the things you were pointing out during your talk last weekend at Wings. You can teach them at all ages, it seems.
I was a little worried about the weather, but the forecasts were acceptable, and what I could see looked good. Winds were a little challenging, but nothing wild. It was kind of shifty, and kept going from calm to around 14 knots or so. Not really gusty. It would blow for a little bit, the stop for a little bit. Unpredictable enough to make me work a bit on landing. My biggest worry was the reported chance of rain and thunderstorms after 5. We decided instead of playing on the beach, we'd just fly down, do a touch and go, and come back and enjoy the sight seeing.I haven't flown for a bit more than a month, but wasn't feeling to rusty, until my last landing. Preflighted, and took off. I was a little worried about bumps because Sean hates them, it was an afternoon flight with a whole bunch of nice fluffy cummulous clouds and plenty of opportunity for thermals. There were a few little bumps, but nothing major at all. Philly approach cleared us direct through the Class B to Ocean City. Scenery was beautiful, flying was awesome, then things were great as we reached 3,000. Then I made the horrible mistake of asking Sean how he was doing. He said "I'm a little scared." I said that's ok, you alright? He said he wanted to go back and land. Sigh. I let Philly know we were going back to Wings, apologized for bugging him, and pulled the power. I could have just pressed on, but I wanted Sean to be secure in the knowledge that he had that control.
Approach and landing at Wings was pretty good. I had to work for it a little bit, which I enjoyed. First time in a few flights that I've really had to. It felt good to pull it off, so we talked about it with Sean, and decided we were going to do another landing. Thermals were kicking a bit, and wind was blowing around, but not much worse than the first time around. My approach that time, though, had me feeling the need for more practice. I couldn't get my speed right, couldn't get my glidepath settled down, but none of it bad enough to go around. I though I was set up for a good landing, and ended up making a horrible, horrible one. Hands down the worst one since I've gotten my license, and actually the worst for quite a while before that. Rats
My landings have been a point of pride with me. Maybe the plane sensed that, and decided a serving of humble pie was in order. Worse, I don't really know how it ended up that bad. I didn't get a good flare in, the plane quit flying before I expected it too. I'm trying to convince Cathy the wind died on me, but I don't think she's really buying it.To top everything off, we shut down, and before we can even push back into the parking spot, Sean throws this MASSIVE fit. Now he's p***ed because we came back and landed. We ended up talking about it for a long time, getting him calmed down. The joys of parenthood, I suppose. Cathy said he didn't look scared when we were flying. He was just looking around like usual. Frankly, I don't think I'm going to ask him if he's alright next time. We can tell when he's not. I think we'll just press on, and divert his attention if we think we need to. Meanwhile, I've had to reassure Sean that he is still my co-pilot, and that he will go flying with me next time when I go up to get some landing practice.
A tip of the hat to Ron Levy.. Sean was making sure I checked some of the things you were pointing out during your talk last weekend at Wings. You can teach them at all ages, it seems.
