Out over the ocean

Today’s weather was a bit more accommodating. 10 miles visibility, wind at 10 gusting to 17, but right down the runway. Marv figured that it would be too bumpy over the Gorman pass (where we go to do air work) so we headed to the ocean. Flew through the LAX special flight rules area – a specific heading and altitude DIRECTLY over LAX that allows you to traverse the busiest airspace in the country without having to talk to anyone. Flew out over the ocean and started to work.

Started with a review of slow flight, which I nailed the first time. Then we got right into approach-to-landing stalls. These are the stalls you basically are doing when you land. Complicated. I think I was so concerned with what happens when the plane actually DOES stall, that I didn’t pay enough attention early on. I got the last one just about right. So many things to do after the stall – lower the nose, full power, carb heat off, raise the flaps, right rudder, maintain altitude, etc. By the last one I was close, but I’ll NAIL them next time. Next were steep turns. Marv said I did steep turns as good as any student he’s ever seen.

Back to Van Nuys for a straight in landing, which I have a lot finer grasp of now, thanks to the stalls. Scheduled my next flight for next Wednesday!

1.5 hours/4.7 total