Thu Jun 15, 2017 9:35 pm
#1541162
Against past reluctance to do any flying in gusty windy conditions I made a decision today based upon past gliding experience and hours built with my PPL instructor - and a quick session of circuits the day before.
The previous day I thought it wise to do a few short field 40 deg flap & flapless landings on our grass strip as well as a couple of bad weather circuits to get used to throwing around the old C172 just to prove there are sometimes no kid gloves when keeping control of the flight in 'less friendly' conditions - a useful lesson. And something useful to push me out of my comfort zone.
So why was I doing my QXC solo today when it was gusting above my past experience leaving, and light showers outbound, and high wind gust conditions on the way back? Because it's a series of progressions: I had a safety factor outbound to cancel and a path to return (the A1), but as the day continued and I met those challenges. Gusty landing: techniques to cope. Cross wind here, no problem. And this is why the QXC exists - it gets you out of your comfort zone of circuits and into the real world of aviation.
Quoting the Gamston photographer at my arrival; "That was an interesting landing." Yes, it's landing a C172 like a Super Cub in gusty winds..."
Also would like to say a big thank you to Humberside Radar for their helpful professionalism and also to Conningsby Zone through whose and others CMATZ I had to swim.
Home at last, but don't let the fluffy clouds fool you...
The previous day I thought it wise to do a few short field 40 deg flap & flapless landings on our grass strip as well as a couple of bad weather circuits to get used to throwing around the old C172 just to prove there are sometimes no kid gloves when keeping control of the flight in 'less friendly' conditions - a useful lesson. And something useful to push me out of my comfort zone.
So why was I doing my QXC solo today when it was gusting above my past experience leaving, and light showers outbound, and high wind gust conditions on the way back? Because it's a series of progressions: I had a safety factor outbound to cancel and a path to return (the A1), but as the day continued and I met those challenges. Gusty landing: techniques to cope. Cross wind here, no problem. And this is why the QXC exists - it gets you out of your comfort zone of circuits and into the real world of aviation.
Quoting the Gamston photographer at my arrival; "That was an interesting landing." Yes, it's landing a C172 like a Super Cub in gusty winds..."
Also would like to say a big thank you to Humberside Radar for their helpful professionalism and also to Conningsby Zone through whose and others CMATZ I had to swim.
Home at last, but don't let the fluffy clouds fool you...
Last edited by BirdsEyeView on Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
FLYER Club Member
.
