Another lesson learned, another step taken.
The next lesson after my big "First Solo" day, was learning how to take off and land in different situations. I learned how to take-off and land in a short-field situation, which means a short runway. I also learned how to take-off and land in a soft field situation, which, one might guess, is a runway made out of grass!
Different techniques are involved in each situation. Without getting too technical, the take-offs in these situations are made with 10 degrees of flaps, and with back pressure on the controls, as well as a few other technical details. This causes the airplane to become airborne at a slower speed - just before 50 knots, while the normal speed for the airplane to become airborne is around 60knots.
Because 50 knots is close to a stalling speed, we use a technique of floating across the runway in order to gain more speed once the airplane is airborne. So, basically, once the airplane becomes airborne, we glide across the runway at about 10 feet height in order to gain sufficient speed in order to go into a safe climb. Once we reach about 68 knots, I can then put some more back-pressure on the controls to get into a normal climb.
While one needs to remain extremely focused in this situation, these types of take-offs are loads of fun to preform.
The landings are a bit different as well. They are preformed with 40 degrees of flaps, and an approach speed of 52 knots. This is also near the stalling speed, and one must remain very diligent not to go below 52 knots in this situation. The normal approach speed of the airplane I fly is around 60 knots... depending on how many degrees of flaps I have extended.
I didn't get to land at 52 knots this lesson yet, because I just began practicing these types of landings, but the more I practice them, the more I'll feel comfortable going at a slower speed on the approach.
You can find more information about short-field and soft-field techniques HERE.
Speaking of practice, yesterday I took another big step in my training, but not before making a bit of a fool of myself.
After a few Short & Soft field take-offs and landings, Eric, my instructor, told me to go park the airplane. Once I did, he explained to me that from now on I can schedule an airplane when I want, and, weather permitting, go up by myself and practice circuits to my hearts content - and to my wallet's discontent...
We walked into the airport dispatch desk to fill out some paper-work relating to me being able to rent an airplane on my own. Once we filled everything out, and he explained everything to me, I was off to fly my first practice flight on my own!
I got to the airplane we just flew, and here's where things get a little embarrassing for me. But I will have to preface this with an explanation.
Modern cars have something called an "automatic fuel injection system". As far as I understand, this system injects fuel into the engine when one starts up a car. In the old days, one had to pump the gas pedal in order to inject fuel into the engine while starting it up. Well, the Cessna 150 is from the old days. It has a manual pump called a "prime", that one has to pump a couple of times before attempting to start the engine.
Since we just flew the airplane, and the airplane was still warm, it's safe to assume that the engine needed very little priming. I, instead, gave it the usual number of pumps. The engine wouldn't start. I tried a couple of times, but no dice.
Well, it was the walk of shame back to the dispatch desk. I told them what happened, and they explained to me that I probably flooded the engine. It's not that much of a big deal, it does happen. There are different techniques to try to start the engine when it's flooded, which I did not attempt, because I knew well that there's a chance of starting an engine fire when the engine's flooded. Now, I could live with a flooded engine, but starting an engine fire is not something anyone wants to do, let alone do the first time they are laden with the responsibility of flying an airplane on their own for the first time.
I'll give it a go on my next booking. It should be a lot of fun to practice circuits on my own!
Next lesson I have with Eric, I will learn how to take-off and land with obstacles on the approach and take-off paths!
See you back here soon!
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