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a58r(at)verizon.net
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 Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 11:48 am Post subject: Nows a good time to talk about all them MV fliers! aka SOLO |
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My first solo in '40:
My instructor, weighing some 231 lbs, announced one Fall day that
"...you oughta take it around by yerself." So he levers his fatness
outa the hopped up J-3 (hopped up to a Big 50 hp from the then-
standard 40), carefully avoiding the ticking prop. "Don't leave the
airport, and try to get 'er down like you've done before, full stall
landing" I climbed into the rear seat, buckled the seat belt (no
shoulder straps then), checked the mags, eyeballed the bouncing gas-
gage-on-a-stick, and advanced the throttle. WOW, the tail came up,
and too-soon I was off the sod and climbing at a very steep angle.
With Mister Grover's 231 lbs missing it was like I had JATO! Easing
off on the stick, less throttle I was quickly at 600'. After the
slight terror of my steep ascent, a great sense of calm came over
me... I was actually alone, still alive, and enjoying the fruits of
my several...and many Dilbert lessons. (The Dilbert here isn't the
present-day goofball...he's the old Navy AvCad who did almost
everything wrong)
OK, enough euphoria. Time "to get 'er down." Checking the windsock,
which hung limp, probably due to my mother's intercession with her
Devine Person, I made the gentle turn towards the same beaten-down
tire tracks in the grass, carb heat on, back on the throttle. Watch
the airspeed. Watch the altimeter, which was then always set for zero
on the grass. Back on the stick. Keep looking ahead and left a bit,
and at the place you hoped to encounter the grass. Back, Baack, back
somemore. Wheeeel landing. Cue the slight shakes.
Mister Grover kinda waddled over, his belt and suspenders (very
careful guy) holding his beer tank against gravity. "Well, Bob, plane
looks useable! Nice wheel landing, but how about the full stall
landing I asked for?" Sir, I had the stick all the way back... Mister
Grover stuck his head into the cockpit and pointed to the front edge
of my seat, where my seat pack parachute had inched forward and
blocked the stick! He laughed, then I laughed. "OK, Bob, do another
without the 'chute." He meant without the 'chute impeding the stick.
That second solo had all the thrills of kissing yer sister.
regards,
Bob N.
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy/
do not archive
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slyck(at)frontiernet.net
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| Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:30 pm Post subject: Nows a good time to talk about all them MV fliers! aka SOLO |
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Nice story Bob.
In the more recent past (1970) I was taking PP lessons at Hawthorne
airport near LAX. Package deal. Somewhat beat up C 150s.
An instructor who was not even close to my wavelength but by the
time I figured that out I was too far into the deal to change matters.
I guess I was a slow learner. I don't remember which landing
it was but I asked him if he had ever had a student bounce more than
I had just done. He informed me that I had set a record.
Somehow I got my license.
I did love flying in the basin though. Santa Paula and its antiques and
homebuilts, an excursion to Kern Valley with my wife that turned out
to be without gas -and a return to Bakersfield through zero slant
visibility
and a gas tank on empty. Going out over the ocean past Pres,
"tricky Dick's" place to avoid San Clemente. Doing my version of
aerobatics off Palos Verdes with Catalina island out the window.
Coming back in to LA over the San Jacinto mts. at night with the lights
spread out in front.
A bit slower pace these days.
-BB do not archive
On 21, May 2006, at 3:46 PM, Robert Noyer wrote:
| Quote: |
My first solo in '40:
My instructor, weighing some 231 lbs, announced one Fall day that
"...you oughta take it around by yerself." So he levers his fatness
outa the hopped up J-3 (hopped up to a Big 50 hp from the then-
standard 40), carefully avoiding the ticking prop. "Don't leave the
airport, and try to get 'er down like you've done before, full stall
landing" I climbed into the rear seat, buckled the seat belt (no
shoulder straps then), checked the mags, eyeballed the bouncing gas-
gage-on-a-stick, and advanced the throttle. WOW, the tail came up,
and too-soon I was off the sod and climbing at a very steep angle.
With Mister Grover's 231 lbs missing it was like I had JATO! Easing
off on the stick, less throttle I was quickly at 600'. After the
slight terror of my steep ascent, a great sense of calm came over
me... I was actually alone, still alive, and enjoying the fruits of
my several...and many Dilbert lessons. (The Dilbert here isn't the
present-day goofball...he's the old Navy AvCad who did almost
everything wrong)
OK, enough euphoria. Time "to get 'er down." Checking the windsock,
which hung limp, probably due to my mother's intercession with her
Devine Person, I made the gentle turn towards the same beaten-down
tire tracks in the grass, carb heat on, back on the throttle. Watch
the airspeed. Watch the altimeter, which was then always set for zero
on the grass. Back on the stick. Keep looking ahead and left a bit,
and at the place you hoped to encounter the grass. Back, Baack, back
somemore. Wheeeel landing. Cue the slight shakes.
Mister Grover kinda waddled over, his belt and suspenders (very
careful guy) holding his beer tank against gravity. "Well, Bob, plane
looks useable! Nice wheel landing, but how about the full stall
landing I asked for?" Sir, I had the stick all the way back... Mister
Grover stuck his head into the cockpit and pointed to the front edge
of my seat, where my seat pack parachute had inched forward and
blocked the stick! He laughed, then I laughed. "OK, Bob, do another
without the 'chute." He meant without the 'chute impeding the stick.
That second solo had all the thrills of kissing yer sister.
regards,
Bob N.
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy/
do not archive
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a58r(at)verizon.net
Guest
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| Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject: Nows a good time to talk about all them MV fliers! aka SOLO |
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yeah, Bob,
Had many delightful hrs In The LA Basin, '67-69, based at VNY.
Landing at Catalina Is. brought me back to Navy days. Used to take
guests up to Santa Ynez and rent-a-wreck for $5 to go 4 mi. to
Solvang for Danish "culture." Landed at Barstow in July, oiled
gravel strip. Dang near didn't get off with pax and couple suitcases.
Strip felt like a water bed.
Had to file IFR with Burbank to depart VNY when smog around. " Climb
to 4000 over VNY, report VFR if able, Cancel IFR" and there was
usually the top of the smog layer.
regards,
Bob N.
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy/
do not archive
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