Thanks for all your advice on nosewheel tires and engine oil. I
bought both this week.
The nosewheel I got was a Condor (made by Michelin) and it was only
$45 from Dresser Tire (I think that was it) on the web. This
included
shipping Fedex. Pretty good deal, I figure, plus the tire is much
more stout than the McCreary that I had on there. The old tire had a
rounded front that seemed to catch in grooves in the runway and start
a shimmy- this tire is flatter and stiffer (BTW reducing the pressure
to 15-17 psi helped the shimmy LOTS!)
I bought a case of Aeroshell W100 just like many of you suggested.
Only $20.80 which is quite a bit better than buying it by the quart
for $3 a pop.
Wednesday my instructor and I did a bunch of high wind landings
(cross
wind and regular) and it went really well. Boy the approach is sure
steeper in high wind but all in all I found landings easier due to
the
reduced ground speed. Just kept thinking about what I've been
reading
in "Stick and Rudder" about watching the horizon and not the runway
to
get my glide- works pretty well. I'm finally getting the feel of
rounding out at the right height and then keeping my attitude until
the airspeed bleeds off enough to touch down nice and smooth.
Our cross wind landings went really well too. One thing I learned on
the first one was to make sure to get that stick forward as soon as
one wheel touches down "plant it". I don't even think my instructor
knew this one because our first landing (about 20 knots 45 deg.
crosswind) we touched our wheel and I held the nose off too long and
we started heading for the weeds. Luckily I got the nose down and we
straightened out before I had to add power to get the heck out of
there!
I was suppose to solo yesterday but the doggone wind came up and now
I
have to wait till Monday. I'm so excited. I know I've always wanted
to fly since I was a real young kid but now it just feels so natural
and like something I was born to do. I absolutely love it!
Sorry so long winded... can you tell I'm excited??? ;)
Joa
N94432 9.5 hours TT
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