My Flight Journal

Saturday, July 5, 2003 6:58pm

Finally got back into the air this morning. All the 172s were checked out and only a 152 was left. My instructor and I did the weight and balance calculations, and came up with that we were 33lb over gross. Luckily, someone had just flown the 152 and hadn't refueled it yet. With an hour burned off it, we were just within weight limits.

Wow, I LIKE the 152. Very twitchy little airplane compared to the 172. Also climbs like a dog compared (duh). We were planning on doing a short cross-country (XC) but since we ended up with the 152 and the weather was looking iffy, we decided to do pattern work instead. Logged another 4 landings.

On one circuit, my instructor said, "ok, you just lost the electrical system". Ok, so I try my first no-flaps landing. Geeeeze did I overshoot it (woulda still made the runway but I wouldn't have wanted to touch and go on that one). Luckily, at around 150ft my instructor knew he'd gotten his point across and said, "ok, electrical is back" and dumped full flaps. We made the T&G.

On my third landing, right as I'm rounding out my instructor friggin stomped on the right pedal. I managed to get the beast back under control and on the runway fairly nicely considering. He told me I hadn't had a really bad landing yet and wanted me to see what one looked like!

I think I'm gonna be solo real soon.