Cessna C172SP Refresher
Around three years ago I got checked out on a Cessna C172 SP with the Garmin G1000 “glass cockpit” presentation of all flight data, navigation information, and radios. My reason for doing so was that I had heard that reasonably soon I would have access to the Diamond DA42 Twinstar which utilises the same Garmin setup. Clearly, if I could become proficient in a single engine Cessna with the new systems, then the transition to the Twinstar would be easier. This plan worked nicely and I flew around 15 hours in the Cessna and felt comfortable with the aircraft and the avionics.
Following my currency renewal on the Cirrus SR20 at Blackpool a couple of weeks ago, my thoughts turned again to Barton and that Cessna. A call to a friendly instructor who also occasionally checks me out in the Twinstar and it was set up. We would do a checkout whilst flying out for lunch to Caernarfon.
Saturday morning arrived and the weather was looking a little mixed with good visibility but with the prospect of low cloud and reducing visibility later. Keith talked me through the pre flight checks and we were soon in the air off runway 09 Left heading for Burtonwood and a transit through Liverpool’s airspace. Routing to the Wallasey VOR/DME at 1500 feet we turned left towards the Welsh coast and tracked in a Westerly direction. There were clouds ahead and high ground to the left so our options were to descend under or climb up through and above them. We heard another aircraft a few miles ahead abort their trip as the clouds were too low and visibility poor. I checked that Keith was happy for us to go IFR and we started a climb into the clouds, clearing the tops at around 4000 feet. Ahead the weather looked very good and we continued to Caernarfon with no problems. The value of an IMC Rating demonstrated again.
I was feeling happy with flying the aircraft and after joining downwind right hand for runway 02 made a smooth landing and taxied in for some breakfast. And what a breakfast! The Caernarfon ‘All Day Breakfast’ was just £5, including a mug of coffee. Egg, bacon, sausage, beans, tomatoes, black pudding and toast. Lovely (except for the black pudding which I gave to Keith).
My worries about being overweight for the take off following our food were dismissed by Keith and we were soon in the air again heading towards Llandudno at 1500 feet. This is where things got interesting as the cloud ahead looked to be low and we did not have the option of climbing this time due to airspace restrictions. We were about a mile out to sea and at one stage were at 900 feet to stay out of the clouds. The cloud became patchy and we were able to climb to 1200 feet and asked for a clearance again through Liverpool. The visibility was poor at Liverpool with 4500 metres in haze and scattered/broken cloud around 1500 feet. The controller cleared us Special VFR from Wallasey to Burtonwood as I flew the leg on instruments, with Keith providing the lookout. As we descended to 1200 feet for crossing the low level corridor, the visibility improved and we headed back to Barton. This was another occasion where the IMC Rating saved the day.
We joined the Barton circuit on final and did a couple of circuits which were fine. I felt totally at ease in the Cessna and hope to go out in it again soon.
Cessna at Caernarfon
Following my currency renewal on the Cirrus SR20 at Blackpool a couple of weeks ago, my thoughts turned again to Barton and that Cessna. A call to a friendly instructor who also occasionally checks me out in the Twinstar and it was set up. We would do a checkout whilst flying out for lunch to Caernarfon.
Saturday morning arrived and the weather was looking a little mixed with good visibility but with the prospect of low cloud and reducing visibility later. Keith talked me through the pre flight checks and we were soon in the air off runway 09 Left heading for Burtonwood and a transit through Liverpool’s airspace. Routing to the Wallasey VOR/DME at 1500 feet we turned left towards the Welsh coast and tracked in a Westerly direction. There were clouds ahead and high ground to the left so our options were to descend under or climb up through and above them. We heard another aircraft a few miles ahead abort their trip as the clouds were too low and visibility poor. I checked that Keith was happy for us to go IFR and we started a climb into the clouds, clearing the tops at around 4000 feet. Ahead the weather looked very good and we continued to Caernarfon with no problems. The value of an IMC Rating demonstrated again.
I was feeling happy with flying the aircraft and after joining downwind right hand for runway 02 made a smooth landing and taxied in for some breakfast. And what a breakfast! The Caernarfon ‘All Day Breakfast’ was just £5, including a mug of coffee. Egg, bacon, sausage, beans, tomatoes, black pudding and toast. Lovely (except for the black pudding which I gave to Keith).
My worries about being overweight for the take off following our food were dismissed by Keith and we were soon in the air again heading towards Llandudno at 1500 feet. This is where things got interesting as the cloud ahead looked to be low and we did not have the option of climbing this time due to airspace restrictions. We were about a mile out to sea and at one stage were at 900 feet to stay out of the clouds. The cloud became patchy and we were able to climb to 1200 feet and asked for a clearance again through Liverpool. The visibility was poor at Liverpool with 4500 metres in haze and scattered/broken cloud around 1500 feet. The controller cleared us Special VFR from Wallasey to Burtonwood as I flew the leg on instruments, with Keith providing the lookout. As we descended to 1200 feet for crossing the low level corridor, the visibility improved and we headed back to Barton. This was another occasion where the IMC Rating saved the day.
We joined the Barton circuit on final and did a couple of circuits which were fine. I felt totally at ease in the Cessna and hope to go out in it again soon.
Cessna at Caernarfon
posted by David M at 7:48 PM
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