High Winds and Aerobatics

Early this morning I had a flight with my instructor, Harold Green. The wind was nasty, Madison calling it 15 knots gusting to 25, and being out of the north-north-east meant we had a perfect crosswind at Middleton. But it was from the left, and I seldom have problems handling a left-crosswind. Harold knew this, so we headed for Sauk Prairie where the wind would be from the right, something I do have problems with.

The first landing was pretty good. The 2nd was what Harold called "interesting". I will leave it at that, it was interesting, to say the least. The 3rd and final landing was similar to the first, fair to good. We didn't have much time this morning so we headed back for home. Along the way Harold demonstrated a chandelle, a maneuver I need to perfect for my commercial pilots license. It does not seem that hard, but I am certain when I actually start doing them myself I will change my mind.

After landing I spoke with Mike Love about some aerobatic training. Mike has been teaching for over 25 years, has written 3 books, and is considered one of the finest flight instructors around. Everyone has the utmost respect for him. He is also unique in being one of the very few instructors that not only teaches aerobatics, but loves it. Morey Airplane Company has a Cessna 152 Aerobat that is used for akro instruction, as well as parachutes for the pilots to use, and Mike owns his own aerobatic plane himself, but cannot teach in it.

This is something I have wanted to learn for a long time. Not simply to learn so that I can go out and do loops and rolls all day long (though that will be fun), but because it makes you a better pilot. You learn much more precise control of the plane, lose your fear of unusual attitudes, and build a level of confidence you just don't have without the training. Of course, it is also FUN, FUN, FUN!

So that is what I am doing over my lunch break today, going to roll and loop a Cessna with Mike. I am sure I will be starving by dinner time, but skipping lunch before this flight is probably a good idea. Less to come back up, ya know :)