Looking To The Sky

Getting Better

Flight number two after getting back into things.  The flight today started pretty smooth with a great flight prep, and take-off, however I realized pretty soon after that I was quite rusty.

The first thing we did was to practice steep turns again.  Though I thought I would nail this, it took me quite a number of attempts to finally get things going.  It wasn’t until the sixth time when I was finally able to get everything down.  Something I’ll be practicing come solo time.

We followed this with practicing turns.  My turns are usually pretty great, however it was pointed out to me that I need to use the rudder when I’m making a turn and not just using the ailerons.  This keeps my airplane coordinated, and though I usually am coordinated, it isn’t until after I start my turn that I make the corrections needed.  Another thing I’ll be practicing.

Following my new knowledge of using rudder during turns, we went back into power-off stalls (arrival stalls). We worked on both imminent and full power-off stalls.  Some were straight and level flight where others were turn based.  I was rusty on these also, but after a while I got them down again.

We then worked on some lost procedures to find out where I was using one or more VORs.  Once I found out where I was and how long it would take to get back, I was able to get in the right direction of Troutdale airport to work on landings.

Landings have always been one of my major weaknesses when it comes to flying.  Though I do land, they’re not always the prettiest.  Today however I learned some valuable things to keep in mind during the landing.

• Give myself enough space to make a good landing.
• Use my flaps sooner and get lower quicker.
• On base I should be 800 feet above ground, and on final I should be 500 feet above.
• Fly, level off, flair!
• Normal landing should be 400 feet of target,short field should be 200 feet.

One type of landing I had to do today that I hadn’t done before was a “Short Approach Landing.”  This is a landing where you are getting in for a landing as soon as possible. Avoid these at busy runways, however if there is an aircraft far enough out, this is a way to get on the ground without having to wait for the aircraft to come in on their extended final.

Though I felt most of the flight went rough, I am getting better and things are coming back which gives me high hopes that I’ll get this knocked out!

Next flight: Wednesday (August 6th @ 7:30pm)

Homework: Navigation Points, Weather Briefing, and keep studying.

– Jason

Categories: Private Pilot Completion

Tags: Cessna 172, flying, KTTD, N5201H, Slow Flight, Stalls, steep turns, Steve, Turns, VFR, VOR

Back In The Saddle Bummer…