- Plane: Cessna 172 (739BN)
- Lesson: pattern work, landings
- Duration: 3 hours
Today was the first day we started working on landings. I thought it went well.
Note: All previous lessons were in a 152. Today was the first day in the 172.
During past lessons, Robert always had me focus on airspeed when we came in on final. He did everything else. He wanted me to learn the importance of airspeed. That no matter what, I hold it at 60. (65 in the 172)
Now I had to start doing it all, control air speed, and the throttle. I memorized the steps he gave me yesterday, that I have in the drawing, so I had it down. (See lesson nine) I thought the steps would be easy, I knew what to do and when. What I didn’t think I would be able to do is control the throttle and air speed as we came in on final. Turns out I was wrong. I had the steps mostly down, but I kept making a mistake. When a beam the numbers, the steps are carb heat, throttle down to 1700, maintain altitude, and then when it the white arc apply one notch of flaps.
In my head I had it down. Things are harder to do in reality. When I got a beam the numbers I put on carb heat, throttled down, and then I immediately tried to put on flaps. Multiple times he had to stop me from putting in a notch of flaps early. I wasn’t waiting until the white arc. That felt like my biggest mistake of the day. I just kept forgetting.
As far as coming in on final, and controlling air speed and the throttle for altitude, I felt like I actually did a good job of it. I didn’t think I would, but when it came time, I felt in control. It was a good feeling.’
It was a good day.