Taxied out to the runway. Have to taxi from a concrete pad across grass onto pavement, across a culvert, and onto the taxi way. Real estate is at a premium here, so it was tight. But the taxiing job was much, much better. I don't like castering nose wheel, but I'm getting used to it.
Today I decided I wanted to fly down the coast and enjoy it one more time. Today it's runway 16. He says before takeoff "there's a bump in the runway, I don't want you to be surprised, just stay steady on the controls. We roll, and I'm ready for the longer takeoff, as it's 92 degrees. We hit the bump, and it knocks us up a little, but steady forward. We take off, left pattern, back over mid point of runway and out to the coast.
The rest of the family's idea of fun on vacation is hanging out at the beach. I told my family I would be flying down the coast, so if they see the mighty Skycatcher overhead, make sure they wave. We head down the coast around 2 pm, and descend to about 1,200 ft. There they are, waving up at the plane. Cool! We loop around and head back up the coast. Most of you know how beautiful this is, but for me this week was a first flying low, soaking in the gorgeous sand and water views.
We head back, and now the winds have shifted, so after taking off on 16, we are going to land on 34. This is right hand pattern. We enter from the north, and then come in at a diagonal. Pretty bumpy. I tell my instructor I would like to land, but I'll let him know on base for sure.
Abeam the numbers i pull throttle and carb heat, drop flaps, and drop the nose. We turn to base, and I'm doing much better than Tuesday. This airport is surrounded by homes and trees, so you have to come in a little steeper than normal. I pull second flaps on base. I don't say anything to the instructor, and decide I am landing. I turn to final, and pull third flaps. Crosswind from the left, but not terrible. We come down and I flare. Little too high. I gently bring it down to flare at the proper height. We float, and then the stall horn is squawking. A little rudder to keep us pointed straight. The left wheel touches down, and then the right. Instructor says "Great job!" and I smile as we roll and then turn off the runway.
I was happy with the last two lessons because I got to land an aircraft at a busy GA airport with tougher than normal landing conditions. I got to fly along the beautiful Florida coast. My family got to see me fly, and this helped with some of their nervousness about my new endeavor.
