The rule passed down from a father active in aviation to boys of teen age learning to fly an 85-hp Cessna 140: Never tie down or hangar the plane after a flight without topping off the tanks. It was good advice for the two of us flying the same plane: courtesy, good habits and prevention of water condensation in hot, humid Kansas.
A near-emergency due to low fuel underscored the critical importance of always dipsticking fuel tanks during pre-flight, as sight gauges can be misleading and reliance on previous pilots is ill-advised.
An emergency power-off landing practice turned real when the engine failed due to an overly lean mixture, emphasizing the need for careful engine management, clearing the engine during descents, and leaving a margin for error during practice maneuvers.
The article stresses the overall importance of meticulous pre-flight checks, not trusting visual indicators or previous pilots, and maintaining careful engine management, particularly when transitioning between flight practices.
The rule passed down from a father active in aviation to boys of teen age learning to fly an 85-hp Cessna 140: “Never tie down or hangar the plane after a flight without topping off the tanks.” It was good advice for the two of us flying the same plane: courtesy, good habits and prevention of water condensation in hot, humid Kansas.
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