|
|
Jerry's NonLessonToday I had a chance to see how the other (tri-gear ) half lives. I went and took a ride with my friend Richard in his C172. I say "ride" instead of "lesson" because Richard is not a CFI, just a licensed pilot. Well, he's also instrument rated, multi-engine rated, and Commercial rated, but still not a CFI. But he'd like to *become* a CFI, and desired some right seat time with an idiot student. Being an idiot student, I was happy to supply him with my presence :-). We met at San Jose International, where Richard's 172 lives. At first glance, I was struck by it's size. Compared to the C120, the thing was enormous. And the instrument panel baroque. We had a discussion about the use of the flaps, trim, and airspeeds. It was agreed that I would climb at 80 ( knots ), and approach at 75. I did the preflight and the engine start list. Richard let me taxi. Nosewheel steering did seem more positive than the tailwheel/rudder kind. I got lost in the SJC taxiway maze, and was reduced to "do I turn left here, or go straight?". We flew out to Marina airport. This used to be a military base, but the base was closed, and the strip given to GA. Nice place. Uncontrolled, very little activity. A fog bank covering the countryside stopped cold a few miles west of the airport, leaving the strip itself bright and sunny. At Marina we did touch and goes. I lost count of how many. The flaps... now there was something new! The C120 doesn't have flaps. I pushed the button down, the plane bucked up. "Push the nose down!" "Oh, OK." About the second or third time around, I got used to pushing the nose down as the flaps bucked it up. The C172 definitely had slower response than the C120 - not necessarily a bad thing. It was relatively easy to get it to settle down and fly "hands off" straight and level. Oh, and those ascending right turns.... took a healthy poke on the rudder pedals to get coordinated. I'm not sure how much I like those flap thingies. In principle, I guess they give you more choice as to glide slope - but the A/C would get kind of wallowy with lots of flap. It was also disconcerting when I chopped power - it would drop like a rock. Do people always use them? I daresay it won't take much to get used to them..... And what about the famous C172 prohibition against slips with flaps? Does that apply to sideslips for staying centered as well as forward slips? Life in the final approach, roundout and flare was pretty similar to the ole' 120. With one exception; there was this horn that kept going off every time I flared. Sounded like a carnival or something. And I kept on flaring just a bit high. Bonk! Coming back to SJC, Richard arranged for me to fly the ILS approach "strictly as a novelty". Merrily I chased the needles. Then I landed us and the ride was over. - Jerry |