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Old 1st October 2002 | 07:27
  #8 (permalink)  
Circuit Basher

 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: Dorset
Coke 611 I had problems in the early days with C152s. I'd done 25 hrs training in a C172 in Canada and returned to UK. Tried to find a school with C172s for training and could only find C152s locally. Thought 'This'll be a doddle - just think 2 seats instead of 4' - WRONG!

My landings went from being consistently average in a C172 to being totally unpredictable in the C152. Some absolute greasers and some real Thump'n'Go's (sorry, TnG - like the nickname!). My instructor at the time, who was approaching retirement and very laid back, asked me to think in terms of flaring at 'Elephant Height' [I could ask some of those based at Bournemouth 'Do you know who it is yet?'!]. Once flared, then just keep a trickle of throttle on and aim to fly at the end of the runway, not quite touching the ground. As the aircraft sinks, it should gently land on. I was made to do several low passes over the runway, maintaining 'Elephant Height' for the length of the Bournemouth runway, just to get the picture.

I still wouldn't rate my C152 landings as much better than arrivals, (it's amazing how much the size of elephants vary!!), but they're passable. I don't really have a problem with other a/c and I put it down to the light weight / low inertia of the C152 - it's a bit more susceptible to gusts / ground turbulence than other a/c.

Keep at it and don't let the elephants get too big!!
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