ozone
Well-Known Member
Before people starting dropping napalm on this thread, I just want to emphasize that the experience I am having with the Beverly Squadron in MA is really good. So, please, I am BEGGING you, just let the CAP abuse rest for just this one thread.
Out here, I did my first check flight with the civil air patrol. They are way more strict than the 141 school I went to in Denver. It was nothing i couldn't handle, but it was an interesting experience. For example, one of the things I learned about in training is how to do a power-off landing. Where I trained, this was simply done with a pretend landing spot and you let the plane drift down to 500 feet above the ground and put the power back in. Not in the CAP! The instructor had me cut the power 2000 feet above the ground and had me land at a local airport runway (2B2 in case you are curious). The first two tries, I overshot the runway (darn 172's glide forever at 68 knots). But, on the third attempt, I landed it! It was really cool to know that i can land the plane safely with no propeller....good skill to know.
Then, we had some added fun by flying at minimal controllable airspeed. I got that sucker down below the end of the white arc with the stall horn blaring and I was able to do a decent 5 degree turn for 180 degrees without stalling. I was surprised that i didnt even have to put power in to maintain altitude (must be all this thick sea air in MA). Again, not something that was done as part of my PPL, but very useful to know just how slow you can go in a 172R (180 conversion).
Finally, we did a BUNCH of landings at KBVY as the wind managed to shift below us and I ended up landing on three out of 4 possible runways (13 landings total...not my record for an afternoon; but darn close). Again, not something i ever saw in Colorado.....there, the wind seemed to stay put (relatively).
And finally: all this entertainment and learning cost me 2.3 on the hobbs and about $140 (less than a 1 hour, no-instructor, rental across the field...ha!).
So, that's it, I just wanted to share about my GOOD experience with CAP and I now know a few more tricks that I didnt know before. And now i know what everyone means about the PPL just giving you a license to learn.
Now, where do i buy one of those cool nomex suits?
Out here, I did my first check flight with the civil air patrol. They are way more strict than the 141 school I went to in Denver. It was nothing i couldn't handle, but it was an interesting experience. For example, one of the things I learned about in training is how to do a power-off landing. Where I trained, this was simply done with a pretend landing spot and you let the plane drift down to 500 feet above the ground and put the power back in. Not in the CAP! The instructor had me cut the power 2000 feet above the ground and had me land at a local airport runway (2B2 in case you are curious). The first two tries, I overshot the runway (darn 172's glide forever at 68 knots). But, on the third attempt, I landed it! It was really cool to know that i can land the plane safely with no propeller....good skill to know.
Then, we had some added fun by flying at minimal controllable airspeed. I got that sucker down below the end of the white arc with the stall horn blaring and I was able to do a decent 5 degree turn for 180 degrees without stalling. I was surprised that i didnt even have to put power in to maintain altitude (must be all this thick sea air in MA). Again, not something that was done as part of my PPL, but very useful to know just how slow you can go in a 172R (180 conversion).
Finally, we did a BUNCH of landings at KBVY as the wind managed to shift below us and I ended up landing on three out of 4 possible runways (13 landings total...not my record for an afternoon; but darn close). Again, not something i ever saw in Colorado.....there, the wind seemed to stay put (relatively).
And finally: all this entertainment and learning cost me 2.3 on the hobbs and about $140 (less than a 1 hour, no-instructor, rental across the field...ha!).
So, that's it, I just wanted to share about my GOOD experience with CAP and I now know a few more tricks that I didnt know before. And now i know what everyone means about the PPL just giving you a license to learn.
Now, where do i buy one of those cool nomex suits?
