RICK MARTIN
04-01-2005, 06:56 PM
Well I was out at Wauchula again today practicing (let’s hear it for Spring Break). My instructor Dave Seace has me working on S-turns and simulated engine-outs. He wisely told me to get comfortable with the engine-outs before I fly around the pattern. Both scenarios result in having to land near the end of the runway. So on one simulated engine-out, I suddenly realize I’ve misjudged my glide slope and I’ve run out of runway. Oops! Nothing left to do except give it the juice and go around. When I gave the order, the 447 was glad to help. The next thing I know I’m over the orange groves. I stayed calm, resisted the urge to pull up, and concentrated on gaining airspeed and altitue. Then my brain said “Which way is the wind blowing?” and “Where are you going to land if the engine quits?” I kept asking myself these questions until I was lined up on final, close enough to glide in. I landed, got out, sat down and then my brain said “YEA BABY!!!!”. I think I’ll make every landing a simulated engine-out for a while.
The other cool thing was that there was a Bensen Day’s’ early bird there. He is a gyro CFI from Long Island with a beautifully clean blue RAF (sub 2.5 and no H-stab). I had talked to him earlier in the day and he knew I had not flown the pattern yet. When I landed he had a big smile on his face and a “congratulations”. But what was really cool is that when I went for another session about an hour before sunset, he postponed going into town for dinner in order to say at the airport while I flew, just in case I really had an engine out. Pretty nice huh? Of course I thanked him, but I’ve forgotten his name (Do I have a problem with names?). Can anybody tell me who he is? It would be less embarrassing when I see him again tomorrow.
Oh and by the way………..YEEHA!!
The other cool thing was that there was a Bensen Day’s’ early bird there. He is a gyro CFI from Long Island with a beautifully clean blue RAF (sub 2.5 and no H-stab). I had talked to him earlier in the day and he knew I had not flown the pattern yet. When I landed he had a big smile on his face and a “congratulations”. But what was really cool is that when I went for another session about an hour before sunset, he postponed going into town for dinner in order to say at the airport while I flew, just in case I really had an engine out. Pretty nice huh? Of course I thanked him, but I’ve forgotten his name (Do I have a problem with names?). Can anybody tell me who he is? It would be less embarrassing when I see him again tomorrow.
Oh and by the way………..YEEHA!!