I was still a student pilot, with maybe 20 hours, most of it dual instruction, somewhere between my first solo and the checkride. My primary mount was a Cessna 150 but I had recently been checked out in the FBO’s Cherokee 140. One day, rather than take the 150 for a local flight, I opted for the Piper.
Remember Your Training
I was still a student pilot, with maybe 20 hours, most of it dual instruction, somewhere between my first solo and the checkride. My primary mount was a Cessna 150 but I had recently been checked out in the FBOs Cherokee 140. One day, rather than take the 150 for a local flight, I opted for the Piper.The airplane actually was a bit intimidating: A more powerful engine. Only one door. A low-mounted wing, like a jet fighter. A fuel system demanding that the pilot energize the auxiliary pump for takeoffs and landings (and change tanks every now and then), both of which were features the 150 didnt have. Rear seats! It was definitely a step up from the 150, at least in complexity, and I was itching to solo it.
Key Takeaways:
- A student pilot, with limited hours and recent checkout on a more complex Piper Cherokee 140, decided to take his first solo flight in it instead of his usual Cessna 150.
- Mid-flight, the pilot realized with panic that he had never landed the Cherokee 140 solo and struggled to recall the specific procedures and airspeeds.
- Despite his fear, he overcame the panic by mentally reviewing a simplified, fundamental landing procedure, relying on his general training.
- The pilot successfully landed the aircraft, reinforcing the crucial lesson that fundamental training is applicable and vital even when facing new or intimidating situations.
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