sean1
19th May 2002, 11:46
If anybody is intrested, I would like to share this:
“Clear prop!’ I shouted and after a look around, I toggled the master switch to ‘On’, grasped the ignition key and turned it to the ‘start’ position.. Oscar-Quebec’s 160 horse-power engine fired-up. The familiar heathy growl of the Lycoming was an almost pleasing resonance which cut through the still morning air . A quick check on the engine instruments to verify normal indications and after obtaining clearance from Seletar Ground, we taxied to Whiskey One holding point. After clearance to line up. I entered the active and stopped on the center line. My headphone crackled to life: “Niner Oscar-Quebec, wind zero four zero, 7 knots, Clear for Takeoff”. I replied “Clear takeoff, Niner Oscar-Quebec”. Maximum power was applied, and remembering to kick-in a generous dose of right rudder, yes guys, this was a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, and we were off to the training area. The entire test profile: Stalls, Slow flight, I..F and Steep Turns seemed to whizz by. And after short period dodging clouds we were positioning over the airfield for a PFL. I was instructed to touch down on the second marker which I duly did. The rest of the circuit: Glides, Flapless Low-level, E.F.A.T.O and Go-around went very smoothly. And I was almost disappointed to hear the words filtering in to my headphones from the examiner : “O.K, downwind to land”. Downwind checks done and a MLT put us on base in the landing configuration: flaps 20, Power 1300 rpm and trimmed for 70 knots. I turned to final and waited for the airspeed to settle down to 65 knots. I recalled being briefed during the pre-flight that the requirement was a very stable approach path control, with correct decent profile and stable airspeed. The glide path looked good as I contemplated the sight picture in front of me. 500 feet over the final approach fix, ATC called out: “Niner Oscar-Quebec, wind three zero- zero, 8 knots, Cleared to land”. Over the threshold now and a smooth round-out followed by the required back pressure/ hold-off, and moments later the mainwheels settled on the tarmac”. My headphones came to life: “Niner Oscar-Quebec, whiskey 2 for vacate”. The weather had turned worse than when we took off 1 hour 29 minutes ago, but to me it was a beautiful morning as I had just completed my Flight handling Test in Singapore.
“Clear prop!’ I shouted and after a look around, I toggled the master switch to ‘On’, grasped the ignition key and turned it to the ‘start’ position.. Oscar-Quebec’s 160 horse-power engine fired-up. The familiar heathy growl of the Lycoming was an almost pleasing resonance which cut through the still morning air . A quick check on the engine instruments to verify normal indications and after obtaining clearance from Seletar Ground, we taxied to Whiskey One holding point. After clearance to line up. I entered the active and stopped on the center line. My headphone crackled to life: “Niner Oscar-Quebec, wind zero four zero, 7 knots, Clear for Takeoff”. I replied “Clear takeoff, Niner Oscar-Quebec”. Maximum power was applied, and remembering to kick-in a generous dose of right rudder, yes guys, this was a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, and we were off to the training area. The entire test profile: Stalls, Slow flight, I..F and Steep Turns seemed to whizz by. And after short period dodging clouds we were positioning over the airfield for a PFL. I was instructed to touch down on the second marker which I duly did. The rest of the circuit: Glides, Flapless Low-level, E.F.A.T.O and Go-around went very smoothly. And I was almost disappointed to hear the words filtering in to my headphones from the examiner : “O.K, downwind to land”. Downwind checks done and a MLT put us on base in the landing configuration: flaps 20, Power 1300 rpm and trimmed for 70 knots. I turned to final and waited for the airspeed to settle down to 65 knots. I recalled being briefed during the pre-flight that the requirement was a very stable approach path control, with correct decent profile and stable airspeed. The glide path looked good as I contemplated the sight picture in front of me. 500 feet over the final approach fix, ATC called out: “Niner Oscar-Quebec, wind three zero- zero, 8 knots, Cleared to land”. Over the threshold now and a smooth round-out followed by the required back pressure/ hold-off, and moments later the mainwheels settled on the tarmac”. My headphones came to life: “Niner Oscar-Quebec, whiskey 2 for vacate”. The weather had turned worse than when we took off 1 hour 29 minutes ago, but to me it was a beautiful morning as I had just completed my Flight handling Test in Singapore.