Okay, so got in the air again today! Long post ahoy!
New instructor this time. Andrew. Wait. Yeah, another Andrew. He seemed very preoccupied with things this morning so he gave me the keys to do the pre-flight check around the 172 myself. Wasn't overly difficult. I checked everything bar the trim control for the elevator (which I missed). The rest was fine which means I did my homework I suppose
. It is really a case of check absolutely everything you can see or know about... then some more. Did have to ask a question just about the fuel tank gauge on the right showing vastly different from what I checked with the tank dipstick but it wasn't anything serious, both tanks were even and on record with what was known.
Hopped in, seemed a lot more comfortable this time even if I could barely see out the fogged up window. Spent about 10 minutes taxiing after startup and checks which I knew for the most part but was happy to let him guide me. Getting used to the controls on ground. I was progressively getting there but I most certainly took it slower than before. It really is like learning to drive all over again. The differential brakes help with getting around tighter corners and I was able to do most of it without too much trouble. Had to be more careful today than normal since the ground was really damp and heading off the gravel would be an instant bog in the mud.
Takeoff was... well, takeoff. Didn't seem that challenging but the first few hundred feet, you do move around a lot once you are off the ground. No flaps to worry about although I will need him to repeat to me what he did with the brakes to enable them for the wheels. Pretty easy ascent. This 172 has a rudder trim too which makes the takeoff and cruising a bit nicer.
The majority of the flight went really smoothly and considering most of it was over the coast and nearer the water, it was REALLY smooth and perfect weather today (the airport area not so much). Got a good idea on the controls and the trim especially. Learning just how much the plane not only dips down, but yaws to the right when you reduce the throttle is very intriguing (and the reverse when increasing). Turning with a lot of rudder and no ailerons is freaky too, really unstable feeling where the nose just starts to point anywhere but where you like. Seemed the instructor was happy with my banking, control of rudder in the air and the trim, which takes a bit more time to get used to.
Using the flaps in the air for the first time is somewhat challenging. Slowing down, keeping level, adjusting flaps, keeping level while you adjust trim and maintain ~75-80KIAS, flaps, level, trim, etc until full flaps. Watching the nose point down with little descent. It makes so much sense now.
One thing I will note that going from cruise of 100 to about 55-60 in the air feels like you just stopped in the middle of the air.
To increase the fear level, Andrew introduces me to the mixture knob. I already knew its uses so he decided to freak me out by pulling it to lean quickly... then quickly back to full rich. I swear to God I was on edge for that moment in time.
At the end, we were going across the airfield at 1,500ft, going to enter the circuit, which he was introducing to me since he seemed pretty confident. Or at least that's what I thought. He told me to continue forward until the service station. Why? Well, he had a friend who had lost his car into the middle of the freeway so he wanted to get a photo. He took control until we found it... then I took control, banking around the car back towards the airport while he took a photo. If I was allowed to show you the picture from my action camera, I would.
I was in a laughing fit. I think I might enjoy this more now.
Anyway, joined back onto the circuit on the crosswind leg, descent was not as terrifying this time now that I had a lot more clue into what was going on control wise. One thing that I do need to pick up on more is increasing the nose to slow down is just as necessary as pulling the revs back. Managed to get through the flaps a lot smoother. Line up for the runway wasn't perfect and I was a touch higher than I should have been. It's a strange feeling pointing the nose down yet keeping speed/slowing slightly. Feels very foreign to me. Andrew had controls for the last moments of the final and landing, although he was very near letting me do it (if I wasn't as high on approach)
Got onto the runway just fine, really gentle landing. Rolling down the runway, I had control until we had to turn off the taxiway. Going fine keeping it centered until driving instinct kicked in and Andrew quickly called command to correct me before we got bogged. See, I thought because we were stopping to apply the brakes. These are differential brakes and I was applying more left foot than right, which was leading me a fair way from the centre line.
Ah well. After that scare, the taxi back to the fuel bowser was fine. I'll get used to it.
After the final magneto check and engine being switched off. Andrew asked if I had any questions. It was "when I can go again?"
So exciting. After the flight, I got a whole bunch of text books and study material so I can be better equipped for what is going on.
Damn that was fun. Hopefully the weather is good for Monday.