Blog – FLWOP With CFI 27/07/2024
Today’s mission was to demonstrate consistency to the CFI in forced landings. I had a great session last time so I was hopeful that I could repeat the task for the CFI again.
After a nice standard take-off on 06 seal, we climbed up to 3000ft heading to the low flying area.
My CFI demonstrated the procedure, then I repeated it on the same paddock. Nice one!
We then flew to an area I had not been to before to set up the forced landing.
I again had no problem selecting a field then advising my CFI of the 1500 foot area and 1000ft marks. I worked hard on ensuring I had plenty of spacing on each forced landing and that I was hitting my marks at correct speed and height. I had all the checks and radio calls dialled in at the correct time as well.
I was also actioning all those little issues from my last flight: checking my speed, trimming well, relaxing my grip on the stick, checking that I was “within the white arc” for speed before deploying flap and deploy flap in stages.
On every attempt I could make the field too, so my CFI was very impressed.
Once we had completed several FLWOP, I radioed intensions and set up for an overhead join back at the airfield.
As we were north west of the field, I could fly quite a simple path , descending to 12000 feet agl and joining “crosswind”.
I turned nicely onto downwind, and abeam the 06 threshold I slowed the aircraft to 60 knots.
This is where things got a bit wobbly.
I failed to deploy first stage of flap and was on base before I deployed two stages of flap. I was also too high.
It seems I was so used to glide approaches that I forgot procedure and then mucked up final approach. Urgh!
After going around, I set up again for a standard pattern. This was much better, however I ended up low and about 6 knots slow over the threshold. In my defence the landing was great.
Another, challenging session. Things are getting better, and I achieved a consistent result for th second straight time. My CFI was very happy with my forced landings again today.
This was a big improvement seen by my CFI. I still need to watch speed & trim, relax my grip on the stick., check speed before deploying flap and deploy flap in stages. Simple things but essential.
My next mission is to do this with my FI onboard, to recheck my standard landings to confirm that today’s wonky final was just a one off and to show him some more great forced landings as well.
Until next time…..
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Blog – FLWOP With CFI 27/07/2024