Up, Up and Away

Hey! What are these pedals for!?!?!

Late last night, I decided that I could probably work in a lesson this morning. I had caught up on most of my outstanding issues at work and, what they hey? I needed the break. So, I emailed Kary (Heretoafter referred to as "LittleMac", but I digress) and scheduled us to be at LUG at 8:15 this morning.

The weather was calling for 10mph winds from the NNW, but I figured that I needed to get in the air no matter where it blew me (well, to a point). So, I woke up a little early this morning and turned on the weather. Predicting 15 mph winds by 9:00. I call up AWOS and it's 270 @ 4.
Hrmm. I'll bet I might be able to get this thing in. So, after calling up LittleMac (see below), we decided to give it a try. When I get to the airport, the wind is 290 @ 8. Still nothing too bad, so I go out, preflight the plane in the hanger.

When Kary arrived, I got the pleasure of meeting his father who was in town visiting from Georgia. As we pulled out the plane, I had a chance to talk to him a bit and get the scoop on Kary and some of his exploits. Apparently Mr. McNeal doesn't enjoy flying "little planes" quite as much as his son, but I did pick up on the fact that he never called him "Kary"....only Little Mack. Of course, there is no way I'm going to let this one slide.

So, LittleMac and I get in the plane and start it up. Well, wouldn't you know it. I tune in AWOS and now we're gusting to 15. "Let's give it a try" LittleMac says, so here we go.

Actually, compared to my last crosswind experience, it wasn't bad at all. The gusts were manageable and I dare say I never saw a 15 knot one. We took off, flew out to do some turns about a point and some S-Turns in the wind. I managed to lose the airport for about 3 minutes, and was juusssst about to figure it out when LittleMac managed to keep me from blowing through the departure end of the runway. (Seriously, I wasn't lost....just didn't know where I was :) We were on about the 280 radial from Shelbyville and were flying TO the VOR, so I was in the process of deducting that the 262 FROM radial should be off to my right when LittleMac distracted me with the information that the Citation that was leaving LUG might run over us. )

So, we entered the downwind and figured we'd try to do a landing or two. Actually, it was fun, in a sick demented sort of way. The wind was a bit stronger than my norm and was blowing slightly from the left. It was just enough to make me have to work a little for it.

I managed 3 landings (and one go around for the sadist in the cockpit) and each was a good lesson on moving my feet. Keeping the airplane in line isn't that hard until you push a bit on the rudder, then the plane lines up, but it screws up the aileron you already have in. Sooooo, landing was a learning experience, but a good one. Other than the last landing, none were....er...concerning.

The last one got hairy due to PIMA (pilot induced moronic activity). All was well until I was about 5 ft off the ground, then I just lost my mind and decided I should test the structural integrity of the gear. Only a little bounce, but enough to irritate me.

At any rate, my confidence is good, LittleMac's confidence in me is good and if I can ever get a calm day scheduled around my work and LM's work....I might do this thing alone........we'll see. Now...to find that shirt my wife bought for me last Christmas....MAN I hate that thing.......

jf

posted by Jeff Franks @ 7:35 PM