View Single Post
Old 11-18-2007 | 06:47 AM
  #1  
JoeyMeatballs
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 0
From: A-320
Default Back in a 172 :)

So I went up yesterday in 172, first time in 2.5 years. I went up with an older CFI friend of mine. Well The pre-flight walk around was nice and quick Taxing was jerky and weird, the intercom was scratchy and loud, hard to hear the controllers, and found it difficult to answer back with the N# rather then "Jetlink". The T/O was not to bad, I rotated at 80kts and climbed out at about 90kts, with weak right rudder of course. On the T/O it was an awkward feeling, at one point in my life I felt like there wasnt anything I could do it a 172, yet here I was climbing out wondering if it was "safe". I forgot how unstable they can be and how the controls have so much play. I also remembered feeling very uncomfortable with the rudder pedals, they are extremely narrow down there. The turn to base & final weren't to bad, never got below 80 kts until short final and I was kinda high the whole approach. The flare of course I flared high, and its hard to remember that the wheels are underneath you, not behind you 50ft. I landed flat but wasn't too bad. After the 4th or 5th circuit around the pattern, I held centerline on T/O and departure with the appropriate amount of right rudder, and my landings were fine, actually pretty smooth. So I figured Id tell ya guys whats its like to go back to a 172, especially for those of you that haven't gone back in years. I went up for an hr and it was just over $100.00 If any of you guys have been thinking about, you have to do it, I remembered how much fun it was, and if anybody in NJ wants to go up for an hr and go get breakfast somewhere, PM me! nothing more funny to see then 2 airline guys in a 172
Reply