Calm Winds and a New Plane to Fly

I have very carefully NOT followed my own advice from my last writing as to flying frequently and so it has been over a month since I have had a lesson.  It has been, however, less than perfect weather in North Carolina over the last month or so. Record cold temperatures, snow, and gusty winds have prevented most people at our local airport from flying very often.

I will say that I have made good use of my non-flying time however. I've been working diligently on SheFlies.com, looking for great products, adding articles, and improving the site overall, so keep checking back to see the changes as they develop. And yes, I've been riding Bugs.

The other exciting thing that has transpired during this time is that a friend who is not able to use his plane right now has loaned me his 1965 Piper Cherokee 180c for my training.  I acquired the necessary insurance, she just came out of annual last week, and is now parked in a hanger at my home airport KLHZ. 

Today was my first flight in her.  Lorin, my instructor, was a tad nervous as the Cherokee only has brakes on the left. Needless to say we spent a considerable amount of time on the ground taxiing and making sure I could stop. We also used ground time to get familiar with the instrumentation and go through the check lists.

Finally it was time to take off. I taxied up to runway 23, did the run-up, and then continued on to the runway for take off. We hit 60 and I rotated, it seemed like it took forever for her to come up, (all in my head), and we were climbing steadily as we left the pattern.

We climbed to 3500 and flew a few basic maneuvers to get the feel of the Cherokee. The air was smooth and she was really nice to fly.  For some reason I feel more comfortable in the Cherokee than I ever did in the flight school's Cessna. I am guessing it is because my husband's Piper Turbo Lance, which I am the right seat fixture in, is a low wing, as is the Cherokee.

Lorin had me descend to 1500 and we flew above a long line of power lines, following the path they cut through the landscape below, working on flying straight and level. The wind was pushing us a little so I learned how to give it some rudder to the right and the some left aileron to keep on course, we turned around and followed them back the other direction and logically, this time I needed left rudder and some right aileron.

We turned a heading back toward the airport and entered the pattern on a 45 for landing. Lorin helped out with the throttle and trim, I turned base, then final and found that she came right down were she needed to be. A little help from Lorin and a little flare and we were on the ground. I taxied back to the hanger where my now relieved husband was waiting and completed my first flight in a plane almost as old as me.

I tended to over correct today when I was losing or gaining altitude. I have to remember to make small corrections and give the plane a chance to settle in before I correct again. I did do a fair job at maintaining my altitude during turns though.

They are calling for snow here in our area again tomorrow, so I will probably be grounded. But, now that I don't have to try to squeeze into the flight school schedule to rent their Cessna I will be able to fly much more often and look forward to flying again this week.