While doing my CPL training I had a young instructor who worked at night on a second job. We were flying the Cherokee on a cross-country on a clear day when he told me that the 'cloudbase' had lowered and we would have to fly at 500' AGL, to practice low-level nav. I complied but said I wasn't happy with low level over 8 oktas of trees. "It's a certified engine, don't worry" he said!
It was a warm day and 10 mins later I noticed gentle snoring from the RH seat.
I waited till we had a nice paddock ahead, and manoevred to leave it left of the a/c as we passed (just in case). I then pulled the mixture quickly out and back in. The engine gave a convincing splutter, and the instructor jerked awake with his eyes out on stalks
looking for a non-existent landing area. By that stage, the engine was running smoothly and I was looking as if nothing had happened. We exchanged meaningful looks, and he suggested that as the 'weather' had improved we could climb back to 2000'. He remained wide awake for the rest of the sortie!
