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Flying Lesson 12
Landings continue to improve. I still however lose it a bit on a landing here and there, it's like I forget what I was doing for just a moment and then the landing goes to heck. I am feeling quite a bit more confident flying in the rectangular pattern around the airport. The pattern as it is called differs from airport to airport. My home airport incidently uses a left turn traffic pattern meaning all turns around the airport are made to the left. After a while you start to memorize the landscape beneath you (surrounding the airport) and it makes it easier to get into position to land. Anyway, we also did a few landings with the throttle at idle to simulate an emergency situation. This was certainly interesting and it was not nearly as bad as I expected. The glide speed of the Cessna 172 is 65 knots. When the instructor pulled the throttle out to the idle position, I immediately trimmed the aircraft to the maximum trim position. The plane magically slowed to approximately 65 knots.
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I was able to get the plane pointed back toward the airport and my instructor told me to do my best to set it down back on the runway. It wasn't pretty but the plane seems to almost float at this speed without any power from the engine. It was an experience that was necessary to prepare for a real emergency. I actually put the plane down very easy even with an approach from a 45 degree angle. I was proud of myself. This was great emergency landing practice. It gives a feeling of accomplishment when you can safely set a plane back on the ground.
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My written pre-solo test was a success I guess. This was not a graded test but a learning experience. All the facts and indformation that the FAA requires prior to soloing an airplane are included in the test. The presolo test remains in your file with the CFI as proof that you've completed it and demonstrated your knowledge of solo flight.
If you've never had an opportunity to get behind the yoke of a small plane, you don't know what you are missing. If anything, these successful landings make me thankful I took my introductory lesson. I look forward to my first landing without the flight instructor at my side.
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