Lesson 22: Because the night belongs to lovers...
07/23/2007 Filed in: Flying
Monday - 07/23/07
If you've been keeping up, you remember my previous night lesson did not go as I hoped. It's no surprise then, I really wasn't looking forward to my night CC flight tonight. I was, however, cautiously optimistic that I could force the suck back into its holding cell.
Moreover, I'm a textbook morning person. At 6am, I feel like I can solve fourth order, non-linear, differential equations in my head. After 6pm I have trouble putting my sandals on the proper feet and remembering to not eat soup with a fork. Most nights I'm dead asleep by 10pm.
The solution? Starbucks! A rarity for me, but I stopped off on the way to MQY and bought a couple of mocha speed-in-a-bottles and two coffee cakes for me and CFI1. I arrive at the FBO and hand over my loot.
Me: Here ya go... dig in!
CFI1: Ah, I see. This is good insurance for you tonight, huh?
Me: I figure if the caffeine doesn't get ya, the sugar will.
CFI1: <laughs>
Me: You'll thank me at 3am when you're still trying to fall asleep.
So I go do the preflight with my nifty new four color LED flashlight and all is well there. File the flight plan and we're wheels up about 9:10pm.
I haven't even left the pattern when a wave of relief pours over me regarding this flight. I can already tell it's going to be a completely different experience from last time. It's amazing how a few distractions banded together can be like Lillputians to your Gulliver.
So I reach the top of climb and start navigating. I'm having way more trouble than usual holding my heading. Every time I look down it's 15-20 degrees off. Not good, but I'm keeping track of it anyway. Finally I see a town that looks like one of my checkpoints, except that it's dead ahead instead of off to the right.
I study it a long time trying to pick out features to match with my tattered map. I'm remembering all too well the last time I confidently proclaimed the identity of a town to CFI1.
Me: Ok, I refuse to believe that isn't Tullahoma.
CFI1: Does that mean you think it *is* Tullahoma?
Me: Pretty much.
CFI1: Yeah, it is.
Score! But I am off track a bit. It's an easy fix, however, and we're back on course in no time.
As I reach the next check point I begin my descent. I admit one error in planning in that I failed to record the AWOS frequency from my sectional. I dial it up on the GPS with a little help from CFI1 and, bada-bing, we got weather.
I enter the pattern at altitude, after no small amount of hand-wringing about uncharted, unlit towers. Then I feel myself noticeably tense up on downwind as it hits me that I not only have to land at a foreign airport, but I'm doing so at night.
Me: My landings at foreign airports have totally sucked lately.
CFI1: Let's see if we can break that streak.
Me: Fair enough. But it's almost like I've forgotten something fundamental. Let me know if you spot anything.
As I turn final I'm able to relax a bit and on short final it's like I've done this a hundred times. I actually perform a decent (!!) landing and taxi on back for another trip around the pattern.
This is really odd, but here is the major foul up of the night. I'm lined right up on the line, full power, some right rudder, and the airplane goes left... left... WAY left. We're heading towards grass. Wtf... abort!
I yank the power back.
CFI1: Good decision, I was going to say abort!
CFI1: What happened there?
Me: I honestly have no idea. I had right rudder in. Let's try it again.
I nudge us back over and power up, with no small measure of trepidation, and perform a textbook takeoff. I can only imagine that somehow I was on one of the brakes which caused us to go so awry the first time, but I honestly think I did everything the way I normally do. I'm still befuddled, but I wasn't going to let it ruin my night.
We do another trip around and, after another pretty damn good landing, as we takeoff, CFI1 yanks back on the go-lever at about 400 ft AGL. I reflexively lower the nose and start looking for *anything*. An undisturbed sea of black fills my windshield. I have nowhere to go.
Me: Uh.... ?
CFI1: I really just wanted to see if you'd pitch down. You can have power back.
Phew! Man, that was uncomfortable. I may have gotten step 1 (lower nose), but if step (2) wasn't "crash", I'd have failed that test for sure. If that were real, I'd just be hosed. One lesson I bring away from that is to study google earth pitcures more in-depth for an airport at which I'll be landing at night. If there's a field, I wanna know about it in advance.
I start heading back. Despite the pattern shenanigans, I find I'm reluctant to see it end so soon. I'm tempted to throttle back and do S turns the whole way home. This is in stark contrast to my previous night lesson.
As I reach the top of the climb, I dim the dome light to nearly nothing and the ambiance up here is very soothing and peaceful.
Me: Ok, let's cuddle.
CFI1: <laughs>
Rejected, I concentrate on the navigation instead. Again my course wavers considerable but I'm able to find us with only a little prodding from CFI1, that tease.
As we come back into MQY we've got a little time to kill so we head around the pattern a few more times. One particularly enlightening experience was when CFI1 yanked the power back on me at 600 ft AGL on takeoff.
CFI1: Now do a 30 degree turn back to the runway.
I was sure there was no way we'd make it. I'd have bet vital body parts on it. Never underestimate the floating power of the Katana. I made the runway, but it certainly solidified the point that you don't want to be any lower than 600 ft to turn back.
We do a few more trips around and call it a night. A great night. And easily my best flying experience to date.
Logged: 1.9
Comments
Dstang65
Member
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: S.FL (KFXE)
Posts: 32
Once again...
Very nice post.
Starting to sound like you really dont need that passenger anymore. When do "you" think you might be ready?
CFI1: Now do a 30 degree back back to the runway.
The sheer paralyzing fear of that right now is just too much to bear.
A couple of times today in the circuit I wondered what I might have done in an engine failure, with 3 aircraft in the pattern and one always behind me turning back seems unlikely no matter what my altitude was on climb out. PMP has NO wide open fields anywhere nearby. And taking off from 33 I am not pointed anywhere near the water... soo...
What does one do when all you have is busy US-1 and then I-95 under you and no power?
Great writeup.
Dan
nathan42100
Student Pilot-Lesson 4
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: KHPN
Posts: 111
When you have a big highway like I-95, I would think you would land there...drivers would be stupid not to pull out of your way...unless of course it was rush-hour.
Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 150
Re: Once again...
Originally posted by Dstang65
Starting to sound like you really dont need that passenger anymore. When do "you" think you might be ready?
I believe the "C" word was first used after this flight. It did not scare me at the time, oddly enough.
I still have a lot of prep to do, but my ride is already scheduled for early August.
The sheer paralyzing fear of that right now is just too much to bear.
Idle engines on climbout are definitely more dramatic. Between the two I faced that night, the first one was by far the more paralyzing though.
...with 3 aircraft in the pattern and one always behind me turning back seems unlikely no matter what my altitude was on climb out.
Might be a good idea to practice a turn back or two with your instructor then. Pick a less busy time for your airport and go for it... I know it helped me a lot.
Thanks for reading...
soulie13
Senior Member
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: KHEF
Posts: 364
Just remember that not all aircraft have the endless floating power of the Katana. I'm willing to bet many a 172 would have come up well short of the runway at 600 AGL.
Told ya you'd like night flying.
__________________
PP-ASEL
5/22/2007
CFtO
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2
Re: Re: Once again...
Originally posted by Sysvr4
I believe the "C" word was first used after this flight. It did not scare me at the time, oddly enough.
I still have a lot of prep to do, but my ride is already scheduled for early August.
Mine's scheduled for middle of August.
Good luck to you!
__________________
Michael
My blog: Cleared for the Option
If you've been keeping up, you remember my previous night lesson did not go as I hoped. It's no surprise then, I really wasn't looking forward to my night CC flight tonight. I was, however, cautiously optimistic that I could force the suck back into its holding cell.
Moreover, I'm a textbook morning person. At 6am, I feel like I can solve fourth order, non-linear, differential equations in my head. After 6pm I have trouble putting my sandals on the proper feet and remembering to not eat soup with a fork. Most nights I'm dead asleep by 10pm.
The solution? Starbucks! A rarity for me, but I stopped off on the way to MQY and bought a couple of mocha speed-in-a-bottles and two coffee cakes for me and CFI1. I arrive at the FBO and hand over my loot.
Me: Here ya go... dig in!
CFI1: Ah, I see. This is good insurance for you tonight, huh?
Me: I figure if the caffeine doesn't get ya, the sugar will.
CFI1: <laughs>
Me: You'll thank me at 3am when you're still trying to fall asleep.
So I go do the preflight with my nifty new four color LED flashlight and all is well there. File the flight plan and we're wheels up about 9:10pm.
I haven't even left the pattern when a wave of relief pours over me regarding this flight. I can already tell it's going to be a completely different experience from last time. It's amazing how a few distractions banded together can be like Lillputians to your Gulliver.
So I reach the top of climb and start navigating. I'm having way more trouble than usual holding my heading. Every time I look down it's 15-20 degrees off. Not good, but I'm keeping track of it anyway. Finally I see a town that looks like one of my checkpoints, except that it's dead ahead instead of off to the right.
I study it a long time trying to pick out features to match with my tattered map. I'm remembering all too well the last time I confidently proclaimed the identity of a town to CFI1.
Me: Ok, I refuse to believe that isn't Tullahoma.
CFI1: Does that mean you think it *is* Tullahoma?
Me: Pretty much.
CFI1: Yeah, it is.
Score! But I am off track a bit. It's an easy fix, however, and we're back on course in no time.
As I reach the next check point I begin my descent. I admit one error in planning in that I failed to record the AWOS frequency from my sectional. I dial it up on the GPS with a little help from CFI1 and, bada-bing, we got weather.
I enter the pattern at altitude, after no small amount of hand-wringing about uncharted, unlit towers. Then I feel myself noticeably tense up on downwind as it hits me that I not only have to land at a foreign airport, but I'm doing so at night.
Me: My landings at foreign airports have totally sucked lately.
CFI1: Let's see if we can break that streak.
Me: Fair enough. But it's almost like I've forgotten something fundamental. Let me know if you spot anything.
As I turn final I'm able to relax a bit and on short final it's like I've done this a hundred times. I actually perform a decent (!!) landing and taxi on back for another trip around the pattern.
This is really odd, but here is the major foul up of the night. I'm lined right up on the line, full power, some right rudder, and the airplane goes left... left... WAY left. We're heading towards grass. Wtf... abort!
I yank the power back.
CFI1: Good decision, I was going to say abort!
CFI1: What happened there?
Me: I honestly have no idea. I had right rudder in. Let's try it again.
I nudge us back over and power up, with no small measure of trepidation, and perform a textbook takeoff. I can only imagine that somehow I was on one of the brakes which caused us to go so awry the first time, but I honestly think I did everything the way I normally do. I'm still befuddled, but I wasn't going to let it ruin my night.
We do another trip around and, after another pretty damn good landing, as we takeoff, CFI1 yanks back on the go-lever at about 400 ft AGL. I reflexively lower the nose and start looking for *anything*. An undisturbed sea of black fills my windshield. I have nowhere to go.
Me: Uh.... ?
CFI1: I really just wanted to see if you'd pitch down. You can have power back.
Phew! Man, that was uncomfortable. I may have gotten step 1 (lower nose), but if step (2) wasn't "crash", I'd have failed that test for sure. If that were real, I'd just be hosed. One lesson I bring away from that is to study google earth pitcures more in-depth for an airport at which I'll be landing at night. If there's a field, I wanna know about it in advance.
I start heading back. Despite the pattern shenanigans, I find I'm reluctant to see it end so soon. I'm tempted to throttle back and do S turns the whole way home. This is in stark contrast to my previous night lesson.
As I reach the top of the climb, I dim the dome light to nearly nothing and the ambiance up here is very soothing and peaceful.
Me: Ok, let's cuddle.
CFI1: <laughs>
Rejected, I concentrate on the navigation instead. Again my course wavers considerable but I'm able to find us with only a little prodding from CFI1, that tease.
As we come back into MQY we've got a little time to kill so we head around the pattern a few more times. One particularly enlightening experience was when CFI1 yanked the power back on me at 600 ft AGL on takeoff.
CFI1: Now do a 30 degree turn back to the runway.
I was sure there was no way we'd make it. I'd have bet vital body parts on it. Never underestimate the floating power of the Katana. I made the runway, but it certainly solidified the point that you don't want to be any lower than 600 ft to turn back.
We do a few more trips around and call it a night. A great night. And easily my best flying experience to date.
Logged: 1.9
Comments
Dstang65
Member
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: S.FL (KFXE)
Posts: 32
Once again...
Very nice post.
Starting to sound like you really dont need that passenger anymore. When do "you" think you might be ready?
CFI1: Now do a 30 degree back back to the runway.
The sheer paralyzing fear of that right now is just too much to bear.
A couple of times today in the circuit I wondered what I might have done in an engine failure, with 3 aircraft in the pattern and one always behind me turning back seems unlikely no matter what my altitude was on climb out. PMP has NO wide open fields anywhere nearby. And taking off from 33 I am not pointed anywhere near the water... soo...
What does one do when all you have is busy US-1 and then I-95 under you and no power?
Great writeup.
Dan
nathan42100
Student Pilot-Lesson 4
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: KHPN
Posts: 111
When you have a big highway like I-95, I would think you would land there...drivers would be stupid not to pull out of your way...unless of course it was rush-hour.
Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 150
Re: Once again...
Originally posted by Dstang65
Starting to sound like you really dont need that passenger anymore. When do "you" think you might be ready?
I believe the "C" word was first used after this flight. It did not scare me at the time, oddly enough.
I still have a lot of prep to do, but my ride is already scheduled for early August.
The sheer paralyzing fear of that right now is just too much to bear.
Idle engines on climbout are definitely more dramatic. Between the two I faced that night, the first one was by far the more paralyzing though.
...with 3 aircraft in the pattern and one always behind me turning back seems unlikely no matter what my altitude was on climb out.
Might be a good idea to practice a turn back or two with your instructor then. Pick a less busy time for your airport and go for it... I know it helped me a lot.
Thanks for reading...
soulie13
Senior Member
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: KHEF
Posts: 364
Just remember that not all aircraft have the endless floating power of the Katana. I'm willing to bet many a 172 would have come up well short of the runway at 600 AGL.
Told ya you'd like night flying.
__________________
PP-ASEL
5/22/2007
CFtO
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2
Re: Re: Once again...
Originally posted by Sysvr4
I believe the "C" word was first used after this flight. It did not scare me at the time, oddly enough.
I still have a lot of prep to do, but my ride is already scheduled for early August.
Mine's scheduled for middle of August.
Good luck to you!
__________________
Michael
My blog: Cleared for the Option