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How to Pass Your Flight Review March 15th 2008
This picture appeared in the most recent EAA Chapter 475 Newsletter. However, there is always more to the story!
Here is the real story!! I (Back Seat Dog) was riding in the back seat. Angie Janssen (Red Dog Two), on the left, was getting her Flight Review from Tim Mickel (Red Dog One) just barely visible in the right seat.
The day before, “Two” had flown with “Dr. J” (her dad, just imagine ) for an hour or so in preparation for her Flight Review. Then, on this morning “Two” and “One” had started the flight review in Champion N8950R on skis. “Two” tuned up her toes doing Dutch rolls, steep turns, turns around a point, S turns, stalls and all the other maneuvers in the Champ. However, the snow was lousy to finish the take off and landing part of the review, so they switched to “Two’s” airplane, Cherokee N16430. I, Back Seat Dog, was a witness to what happened next.
In the above photo, “One” has instructed “Two” to make a short field landing that is, stop before the turn off to the ramp. “Two” says, “Not a problem” with a big smile on her face. As a riding dog, I couldn’t believe the performance. The plane came down approach with full flaps, at target airspeed, and went ker-plunk right in the middle of that big “6” painted on the runway. With full back stick and moderate braking N16430 came to a halt well short of the 1000 foot markers painted on the runway. I could see the markers myself out in from of us from the back seat!! It was a great performance, less than 1000 feet in a Cherokee 180.
With a twinkle in her eye, “Two” asked “One” if he might like to try a short field landing to match that one?? “Well sure….” says “One”, as he took the controls, advanced the throttle, and the Cherokee climbed for pattern altitude.
Around we came, then down final approach with full flaps. Alas, “One” had forgotten he was in “Two’s” airplane, not his own Cherokee. “Two’s” Cherokee has slightly longer wings, a bigger tail and other small refinements. Crossing the end of the runway I watched as we sailed by that big “6” painted on the runway. I could hear “One” muttering to himself. Finally, the Cherokee BANGED down on the runway. With full back stick and severe braking (ouch, are those tires squealing??) we rolled up into the middle of those 1000 foot markers. Red Dog One had been beaten!!
I held my breath……..oh my god, what is going to happen? The air was still, the moment tense, when all of a sudden both “One” and “Two” started laughing.
Finally, “One” says…….hrrumph…….ah, good job…..ahm, this flight review is over…….AND YOU PASSED!!”