October 11, 2011 - Lousy Flight
What a terrible lesson! My performance was complete crap, it was like I had forgotten some of the most basic elements of flight. Granted, I was tired after a long day at work and not enough sleep, and the weather was not ideal, with hazy horizons making things difficult. But...!
Korkka still on holidays, so Tatiana and I flew out to the practice area to work stalls and spiral dives. The latter I haven't done for some time, and never with Tatiana, and even when I did them, my recovery was always slow and sloppy. I seem to have some trouble pretending that we are about to crash into the ground, as opposed to losing a couple hundred feet at 3300! I suppose more practise will help...
On the way home, we were directed to fly north of the CN tower for a touch and go on 08. I was high, and way too fast. How to slow down, wondered Tatiana aloud. My response: "Slip?"!!!! SERIOUSLY???!!!
As if I didn't remember Robyn's sage advice to me early on in my circuit practice... "As you turn base, just remember, control height with throttle, and airspeed with attitude, Vera!"
As if I hadn't been practising that every time I fly!
As if I was some kind of a brand new student!!! ARRRGGHHH!
And then, after I fixed it, I found myself too low, but didn't notice until it was almost too late. We landed the plane, and the aircraft was fine and we were alive, but it was disappointing, nonetheless. The second circuit was not much better. Guess I'll have to do more practise with that, too....
About the only good thing about the flight was the take off, really! That, and the incredible display of muted oranges and golds in the evening sky as we returned to the city from the practice area. :-)
Korkka still on holidays, so Tatiana and I flew out to the practice area to work stalls and spiral dives. The latter I haven't done for some time, and never with Tatiana, and even when I did them, my recovery was always slow and sloppy. I seem to have some trouble pretending that we are about to crash into the ground, as opposed to losing a couple hundred feet at 3300! I suppose more practise will help...
On the way home, we were directed to fly north of the CN tower for a touch and go on 08. I was high, and way too fast. How to slow down, wondered Tatiana aloud. My response: "Slip?"!!!! SERIOUSLY???!!!
As if I didn't remember Robyn's sage advice to me early on in my circuit practice... "As you turn base, just remember, control height with throttle, and airspeed with attitude, Vera!"
As if I hadn't been practising that every time I fly!
As if I was some kind of a brand new student!!! ARRRGGHHH!
And then, after I fixed it, I found myself too low, but didn't notice until it was almost too late. We landed the plane, and the aircraft was fine and we were alive, but it was disappointing, nonetheless. The second circuit was not much better. Guess I'll have to do more practise with that, too....
About the only good thing about the flight was the take off, really! That, and the incredible display of muted oranges and golds in the evening sky as we returned to the city from the practice area. :-)