01-15-00

N07-local

C172

1.9 solo; 8 landings

"shorts & softs; trip to 4N1- no landing there (snow on runway)"

clear, lite NW wind, -10C

Scheduled for 8AM. After preheating and preflight, it's 0820. But I've wisely booked an extra hour...

This 'hawk, 06G, is new to me, but it seems OK. Until I  notice the flap switch has no detents. I don't like these, because the gauges that accompany them are rarely accurate. This one is no exception: when I stop it at what seems like 10 degrees, the gauge keeps moving, although the flaps do not. Oh well- best to confirm flap postion visually anyway.

As I begin the takeoff roll, I suddenly notice the ASI is in mph, not knots- I feel stupid, but not worried, as there is a knots window. I trim for Vx, than wonder if 60 KIAS is really Vx in this plane. Did I look at the POH before this flight? No... and that will be the last time I fail to do that with a new plane.

The wind is negligible, and my pattern is OK although 06G seems climb-happy (not a bad thing, really). Before I know it, I've blown thru 1000 feet. Tsk, tsk. But it's easiy corrected, and there's no other traffic.
first approach is not bad, but the turbulence below the treeline catches me napping in the flare, bobbling the plane a bit. Despite the rude surprise, I land her short and get off by the middle taxiway. Good show!

A few more circuits... having trouble keeping speed and VS stable throughout base and final. at one point I'm actually low on approach, but I find it much easier to fix that problem than my usual one (too high).
I keep at it until I have two solid circuits and landings, then shoot over to Greenwood Lake just for the hell of it. I'd originally though of trying for Newton again, but I don't trust myself enough today to tackle a narrow 2000-foot runway.

There's no traffic on the CTAF, which is odd because it's a beautiful, calm, crisp morning, if a bit cold. Overflying the field, I see what could be the reason: the runway is dusted with snow. A dark spot in the middle suggests ice.

I head back to N07 for a few more circuits, polishing up my technique a little more with each landing.For some reason the flaps will not go beyond 20 degrees, but I manage with that much.

I'm pleased that most of today's landings were good-so pleased, in fact that I shut down without using the checklist. I've often done this, but today the reason not to becomes clear- I actually shut off the mags before pulling the mixture! Not ood- this could foul the plugs. But, aside from that, I did OK today.