Unal and I flew five or six circuits for one hour today. I had to do some of the radio calls, and had control of the plane the whole time. There was a 10 knot crosswind that made judging the circuit not perfectly easy with no real experience at this location/in this plane.
The circuit for runway 22 is: fly straight until around 750-800 feet, then turn towards Shirley's Bay. After flying 1 mile, we turn towards Mooney's Bay. This stretch is called the downwind, and is where I complete some quick checks of the plane, and contact the Tower, letting them know I intend to land. Over Mooney's Bay, we turn perpendicular to the runway, and begin our descent. After that, we simply have to turn to line up with the runway, recieve landing clearance, and land.
Since we were doing touch-and-gos, as soon as the plane touches down, we add full power and take off again.
I had trouble concentrating for some reason, and consistently flew too fast on the base and final legs of the circuit. I am supposed to fly 70 knots, but I stayed around 75. The last time around, I finally flew a better approach, though.
Also, because of the crosswind, I got some practice in crosswind landings - crabbing until short final (almost ready to land), then side-slipping almost onto the runway, and finally landing with the into-wind wing low. Overall, a great flight!
Comments
That's hilarious, "Loose
Sun, 03/30/2008 - 08:00 — Bluestone (not verified)That's hilarious, "Loose Cannon" -- sounds like you've had some military experience yourself. Miss it?
I found that song. Not quite
Mon, 03/17/2008 - 08:00 — Loose Canon (not verified)I found that song. Not quite a thrilling as I remember it but it might be something to sing when you're up there feeling all comfortable and such. "Blood On The Risers". Sung, apparently to the Battle Hymn of the Republic (chorus) GORY, GORY, WHAT A HEKUVA WAY TO DIE, GORY, GORY, WHAT A HEKUVA WAY TO DIE,. GORY, GORY, WHAT A HEKUVA WAY TO DIE,. HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE ! He was just a rookie and he surely shook with fright; He checked all his equipment, made sure his pack was tight; He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar; "YOU AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE" (chorus) "Is everybody happy" cried the sergeant looking up. Our hero feebly answered "yes" and then they stood him up; He jumped into the icy blast his static line unhooked, AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. (chorus) He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock, He felt the wind he felt the cold, he felt that awful drop, The silk from his reserve spilled out and wrapped around his legs AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. (chorus) The risers swung around his neck, connectors cracked his dome, Suspension lines were tied in knots around his skinny bones; The canopy became his shroud; he hurtled to the ground. AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. (chorus) The days he lived, loved and laughed kept running through his mind, He thought about his supper back home, and all he left behind, He thought about the medics and wondered what they'd find, AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE. (chorus) The ambulance was on the spot the jeeps were running wild, The medics jumped and shouted with glee rolled up their sleeves and smiled For it had been a week or more since the last chute had failed, AND HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE.