- Plane: Cessna 172 (4877J)
- Lesson: pattern work, landings
- Duration: 2 hours
My last two lessons were cancelled because of IMC, because of this I scheduled two lessons today. A morning lesson and an afternoon lesson.
I was working on pattern work and landings again. Unlike last lesson, I had a clear head today. I felt good.
I spoke to tower for the first time today. Just a little though. I communicated to ground and the tower while we were on the ground, though Robert responded. Robert took over all communication once we were in the air. This felt like a good way to start. I have no problem talking to ATC, just hearing them. 🙂 While learning landings and pattern work, I’m glad Robert does the radio communications. I have enough to learn. I would be over saturated otherwise. Soon though.
On downwind, once a beam the runway numbers, the steps are to put on carb heat, pull the throttle back to 1700, keep my altitude, and choose a landmark so I don’t drift off my heading, once airspeed is in the white arc apply the first notch of flaps, then pitch for 80. Last lesson, I had these steps memorized and did them well, right up to the point where I needed to keep my altitude, and then pitch for 80 after flaps. I was struggling mostly with pitching to 80. I was always too nose high. This morning though, I got that part down. I remembered from last time. I did not make the mistake again. It seems that from each lesson, one struggle will stick out in my head, so I practice it in my head between lesson, so I’m sure to not make the same mistake. One step at a time to proficiency.