Went to KTPF today to get checked out in one of their 172Ns... wind was a bit variable, but basically 20 degrees off Runway 17 and gusting near 20 knots as I drove up.
I was almost an hour early, and the CFI, a very nice fellow, was delighted because his wife wanted him home early.
I was a tad nervous because I haven't flown in 2 months and haven't flown in a strange plane at a strange airport in a long time.
The wind didn't scare me- I've flown in worse, and fairy recently.
But it can safely be said I was not at my best...
First error: after deciding to wait on checking the oil until I finished the preflight (the engine was still quite warm from the last flight), I completed my startup checklist with "...and the oil door is open..."
The instructor closed it, after deciding that there should be sufficient oil (he'd just been up in it for a brief intro flight). Never again, I decided, will I change the sequence of my preflight. Sure, it'll read a little low when it's hot, but it wouldn't have been much cooler less than 5 minutes later... should have checked it when I meant to.
Takeoff was fair if a bit shallow- I really should have more carefully considered that I was taking off right over the bay, and should have taken pains to climb more steeply and keep it close.
We headed out eastward towards the edge of the 1200-foot shelf, and I had my usual problem of trimming a 172 in mild bumps... grazed the class B at one point (if I have 1200 feet, I'll look for 1195...
).
The totally alien landscape was distracting, but it was cool having a look at this beautiful city from the air... some spoonbills or something flew past about 300 feet below; pretty much the only traffic we saw, which surprised me.
Did some steep turns, MCA, and an approach stall: pretty sloppy by my standards, but not terrible. This particular 'hawk really wanted to yaw right as it approached the stall, but I was ready. Lost more altitude in the recovery than I would have liked, but again, it was within safe limits.
Then we returned for a landing... I got too close on downwind and rolled onto final pathetically late; worse than I've done in some time. Didn't have to fight to get back on center or anything, but it was embarrassing. Just set up a good crab and poured on the coal to drag it back across into the wind, then made what started as a very good flare but turned into a real thumper. No bounce, just a bit hard.
He had me take off from the landing roll, and I proceeded to make a rather crooked crosswind leg and ended up a bit farther away on downwind than I should have. Next landing was much better, although it ballooned briefly at the start of the flare.
One more and I would have had it perfect, I'm sure of it.
But our 0.5 was up, so back to the ramp.
I was signed off as fit to rent there, bought some current area charts, and chatted a bit with the young lady minding the desk, who turned out to be from Parsippany, NJ and learned to fly at KMMU and CDW. Also spoke with a lady outside who told me her son runs or works for the Wallaby Ranch, a nearby outfit that gives tandem hang-gliding instruction, towing them aloft with an ultralight.
Almost decided to go up solo in the 172 right then and there, but figured I'd be alright until next weekend... I have other things I want to spend money on in the next coupla weeks (a planned longer trip, and/or maybe hang gliding, or a warbird ride).
But if the wx looks bad for my planned flight Sunday, I may try to get in some time after work.
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