Flying Lesson Twenty Seven

  • Plane: Cessna 172 (4877J)
  • Lesson: Gusty Landings
  • Duration: 2.5 hours

This was my first Lesson with my new CFI, David.

I haven’t had a lesson since January 6th due to bad weather. Today is January 21st. I feel rusty.

We flew from Flying Cloud to Buffalo (KCFE). Worked on landings, slow flight, GPS navigation.

This was a very gusty day with crosswinds.

Almost everything David does when it comes to landings is different from the way Robert teaches landings.

Carb heat: Robert – Abeam the numbers. David – Before abeam the numbers.

First Flap: Robert – Wait until in the white arc after pulling back throttle. David, -As soon as you pull back the throttle. Don’t wait for the white arc.

Second Flap: Robert – As soon as you finish your turn to base. David – Right before you turn to base.

Third Flap: Robert – As soon as you finish your turn to final. David – Right before you turn to final.

Papis: Robert – It’s okay to be a little higher than what the papis are telling you. David – Don’t be higher then what the Papis say, maybe even slightly lower on short final.

Look down the runway: Robert – Doesn’t look down the runway. David – Tells me to look down the runway.

Throttle in ground effect: Robert – Pull the throttle all the way back when the runway is made and you’re in ground effect. David – Don’t pull the throttle all the way back when in ground effect over the runway. Pull the throttle all the way back just before touch down.

I just spent weeks learning how to land a plane, and paying thousands of dollars to do it. Now I need to unlearn what I have been taught, and learn the new way. It’s frustrating. I’m trying to stay positive about it, though. In the long run it will make me a better polite. In the short run it’s just going to cost me money and time.