Flight 15
05-04-95

1985 C-172P
ORL
Local

3500
SCT; 240/05; 70F

0.5 dual
1 landing

"Sightseeing, turns to hdgs nice approach & landing!"

Well, before a suitable day for a flight to N07 presented itself, I went off to Florida for a vacation, staying at my friend Mitch's place in Orlando. I decide to do a little flying... looks like my first landing at another airport will be a bit farther from TEB than Lincoln Park!
Orlando Executive is very close to the apartment, so I head over there and wander into what turns out to be an excellent FBO/flight school. G. will be my instructor for this lesson, in a newish Skyhawk. Mitch has bravely decided to join us- he's a staunch friend.

I find myself struggling a bit on takeoff- the view over the nose is not quite right. But soon enough I get things sorted out, and we level off, heading north. G. navigates and handles the radio chores- this is more a sightseeing flight than a real lesson, as I want to take it easy and just enjoy myself. The practice certainly won't hurt, though... it's a compromise between really working on my training and enjoying my vacation.
I've only got a half-hour, so the plan is to just head up to Lake Apopka and back. I manage to find the airport easily on the way back, just after being cleared into the airspace, and I find myself finally making a very good approach. Turning to base, I feel at first that I've cut my downwind short, but as I roll onto final... why, it's perfect- right on the money!
We sail down the glideslope, power way back, flaps extended. There's a pond at the approach end of 25, and for a moment  I feel I'm too low as 2FS glides over the water... but no... hot diggity, this is gonna be a good one... I've got just the right angle now as I nudge the throttle a hair to maintain the descent rate... I touch down well, just past the numbers.

Mitch has only one comment after we roll clear of the runway:
"My heart rate only went up a little..."

What a pal. He didn't scream, or throw up, or anything.

In retrospect, I think I avoided my usual high-and-hot approach by having another person's weight aboard (and ol' Mitch has put on a few pounds since he moved to Florida), along with the higher density altitude (much warmer and more humid than on any of my flights so far). Perhaps I was unconsciously dealing with the thinner air, making the right choices without thinking about it...
So, in essence, I flew well, but thought poorly. Not good, really. But I enjoyed that flight, and I'll never forget how that beautiful approach looked and felt!

Next: Flight 16

My first good looking approach was a few weeks ago. I still have not been able to solo.(stupid weather ) Just had another lesson cancelled today. I love learning from your experiences. Keep these great stories coming.

matt2190 wrote on Jan 28^th, 2007 at 9:43am:


Learn to be philosophical about weather delays... it won't stop after you get your ticket. What I do nowadays is ask myself, as I get ready for bed the night before: "What will I do tomorrow if I have to cancel?" I try to come up with something fun or relaxing as opposed to taking care of whatever chore I'd intended to escape by going flying.