First Flight In 150... | FerrariChat
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First Flight In 150...

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by rob lay, Jan 10, 2008.

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  1. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    Dec 1, 2000
    63,970
    Southlake, TX
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    Rob Lay
    #1 rob lay, Jan 10, 2008
    I've been wanting to fly my FBO's 150 and heard rumor they might not have much longer, so I picked tonight to take up. If you are checked out on the Skyhawk, then you are checked out on the 150. I thought it would be a fun challenge and exercise to take a plane up solo I hadn't been in before. Everything as simple as it could be. I have carb experience with the Citabria. Tons of flaps available and the up/neutral/continuous down lever a little different. Straight forward runup and takeoff easy, that plane REALLY wants to fly and gained a ton of altitude before even crossing the opposite numbers. I learned fairly quick that my mic wasn't working, i heard everyone else fine. Away from airport I checked my headset and the plug-ins, but nothing helped. Decided to take a big opening in the pattern and just land it. With 30 degrees of flaps and 10 kt. headwind that might be one of the slowest ground speed approaches I've ever done and I think the ground roll could have been 150 ft. if I pushed it. :) Took forever to keep going down to the pumps for turnoff. They've had some problems with that radio and the fix that no one told me about was a battery switch down on the radio in the floor. Glad I flew it and can add a 150 to logbook. Really a more fun and forgiving plane than the Skyhawk. My short flight cost $28. :)
     
  2. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Nov 29, 2003
    8,017
    Shoreline,Washington
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    Robert Parks
    #2 Bob Parks, Jan 10, 2008
    Rob, I imagine that everyone gets bored by my looking back at my ancient history but your description of your first flight in a 150 brought back the memory of my first flight in a Pietenpol Air Camper back in 1967. The owner, Pete Bowers, walked by me and said, " Why don't you take the Pietenpol for a flight!"
    A " checkout" followed, " Don't let go of the stick, it's aerodynamically tail-heavy." Okay. He propped it up after I climbed in and went to get a cup of tea. The airplane was pure 1930 homebuilt, wire wheels, no brakes, tail skid, old 6 inch instruments( three), a toggle switch for the ignition, and a carb heat control which was absolutely essential.
    taxiing down-wind was like a sailboat running before the wind, fast and getting faster. I had to purposely ground -loop it twice to slow down.
    Take off was smooth and as soon as I got to altitude I tried to see what would happen if I let go of the stick and sure enough an immediate spiraling turn developed. The stabilizer had some up-trim twisted into it.
    The radio didn't work because it wasn't there but everything else was great, nice turns, honest stall , and nice wing-overs.
    Approach was steady and I made the mistake of leaning out to see around the radiator and got smacked in the face by a chunk of ice when I pulled on carb heat.
    Landing in the grass was smooth and the end of a great experience. I flew it many times after that and loved it.
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  3. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
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    Russ Turner
    #3 snj5, Jan 10, 2008
    very cool
    My first 'learn-to-fly' demo flight was in a 152 as a medical student in 1984. Changed my life forever.
     
  4. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Nov 29, 2003
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    Robert Parks
    #4 Bob Parks, Jan 10, 2008
    I failed to mention that the engine was a 1930 Model A Ford.
     
  5. planeflyr

    planeflyr Karting

    May 27, 2006
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    #5 planeflyr, Jan 10, 2008
    Was that the Pete Bowers who was a long time aviation writer, or photographer?
    (don't remember which)

    Planeflyr
     
  6. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Nov 29, 2003
    8,017
    Shoreline,Washington
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    Robert Parks
    #6 Bob Parks, Jan 10, 2008
    Yes, that was Pete. He was both historian, photographer, antiquer, pilot, and homebuilt the Fly Baby. I flew with him a lot. he died a couple of years ago of cancer and we all miss him.
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