Wind is fun

On May 3, 10:15 pm, Dave J wrote:
I went down to the airport (KPAO) the other day, not really knowing
what I was going to do. When I got their the wind was 260 variable
320, 15 gusting 20. I thought about whether doing some pattern work in
that would be manageable, and decided, I was up for it. I rented the
club's rattiest 172 (no sense wasting $s going nowhere) and taxied
out.

I've gotta say, that was the most fun I had in an airplane in a long
time. I think I did 11 T&L's before my stomach was telling me I'd
better pack it in before lunch packed itself out. I won't say any of
my landings were beauties, but it was just so satisfying to get blown
around six ways from Sunday and still be able to put that aircraft
safely on the runway each time. As is my habit, I did a simulated
engine-out short approach last. Nice to know that works even when
you're getting knocked about.

Anyway, being a relatively poor grad student (very very soon to be
unemployed recent graduate), I spend too much time looking at airplane
magazines bummed about all the hardware I'll never fly.

It's nice to be reminded that you can have a lot of fun in a tired old
spamcan, too.

-- dave j

PS -- I just don't understand why everyone doesn't LOVE to fly. MX
does not know what he's missing.

You sound like me! I find it much more fun to fly on a windy day with
a bit of a crosswind...

I recently was checked out in a Diamond DA20. I went up with the
instructor on a day that was blowing 20 gusting to 28, with a 20
degree crosswind angle. FUN FUN FUN!

The DA20 is fun to fly. The light control forces and the stick make
it feel a bit like an RV6 or a Kitfox, except that it doesn't want to
stop flying, it glides like nobody's business.

Dean