azpilot
Line Up and Wait
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- Jul 27, 2015
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azpilot
I flew another 1.1 hours in the Archer today. I took off from KCHD, which was pretty busy and flew down to Ak-Chin (A39) and basically had the whole airport to myself. I did 5 T&G and then came back to Chandler. I double checked the book, and like most people commented on my other thread, the recommended approach speed with full flaps is 66 KIAS. I worked hard on hitting that speed on final each time.
My third landing at A39 was fantastic. I came in righ at 66 KIAS. I was on a very stable approach. I gave the yoke just the right amount of back pressure at just the right time. I kept the yoke coming back and it felt like glass as the mains touched down followed by the nose shortly after that. Lucky for me I didn't take my Go-Pro today,so there is no second guessing me, and you'll all just have to take my word for it.
My last landing of the day wasn't so pretty. I think the fact that the wing is on the wrong side of the airplane (bottom vs. top - am I going to start a fight?), is messing with my perception of where the runway is. The runway at A39 is 50 feet wide. I was landing on 4L at KCHD where the runway is 75 feet wide. Let's just say it's a good thing the main landing gear has struts on the Archer, because for that last landing I sure needed it. I have had friends comment that it is common to flare high on wider runways. I never noticed that being a problem for me in the 172, but it did happen to me today right after transitioning from the narrow runway (50' at A39), to the wider runway (75' at KCHD).
Then again it's also entirely possible that since I only have a total of 2.3 hours in the Archer and 9 landings, I just am not that good at it yet.
Anyway, it was a fun day flying. I'm taking my parents on a short cross country next week. This'll be the first time I take them flying. It should be a lot of fun! I'll probably post some video from that one.
My third landing at A39 was fantastic. I came in righ at 66 KIAS. I was on a very stable approach. I gave the yoke just the right amount of back pressure at just the right time. I kept the yoke coming back and it felt like glass as the mains touched down followed by the nose shortly after that. Lucky for me I didn't take my Go-Pro today,so there is no second guessing me, and you'll all just have to take my word for it.
My last landing of the day wasn't so pretty. I think the fact that the wing is on the wrong side of the airplane (bottom vs. top - am I going to start a fight?), is messing with my perception of where the runway is. The runway at A39 is 50 feet wide. I was landing on 4L at KCHD where the runway is 75 feet wide. Let's just say it's a good thing the main landing gear has struts on the Archer, because for that last landing I sure needed it. I have had friends comment that it is common to flare high on wider runways. I never noticed that being a problem for me in the 172, but it did happen to me today right after transitioning from the narrow runway (50' at A39), to the wider runway (75' at KCHD).
Then again it's also entirely possible that since I only have a total of 2.3 hours in the Archer and 9 landings, I just am not that good at it yet.
Anyway, it was a fun day flying. I'm taking my parents on a short cross country next week. This'll be the first time I take them flying. It should be a lot of fun! I'll probably post some video from that one.
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