Takeoffs Are Optional

The title of an old Gene Autry tune came to mind as I fired up the Ercoupe yesterday afternoon. In my younger days I did get to ride horseback occasionally  - and, it’s true, you never really forget how, you just get a bit rusty. So, just how rusty was I likely to be with just over 90 days of NOT flying as PIC? Well, the Regs say that I need to do a series of takeoffs and landings before I am again “current” and legally able to carry a passenger.

My last flight in the Ercoupe was just before Christmas, then a few “life events” seemed to get in the way. The Monday before Christmas was settlement day on our new “second home” at the beach. “Moving in” over the holidays and weekends thereafter kept me away from the airport. Then a business trip to Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas (in January) took me away for almost a week.

The winter of 08-09 was a bad one - not snow wise, but the temperatures were colder than average and there were prolonged periods of high, gusty winds. Then in late january we had an ice storm - one icy step in our back yard didn’t like me - and caused a fractured ankle. I hobbled on crutches into the FBO and made arrangements to have the Annual Inspection on the Ercoupe moved up to NOW. I figured, correctly, that an unscheduled Annual and taking care of a couple of Squawks would have the bird being finished up about the time I could climb back onto the wing. Well, the timing was about right and the weather cooperated yesterday - so takeoff I did - up I went - back in the saddle again.

The flying really felt good. The earlier breeze and bumps had calmed down and I had smooth air at 2500 AGL. I wanted to get away from the airport for a bit and flew north to test the newly installed elevator trim cable (one of the squawks), which had all but frozen after I bought the airplane. The trim worked perfectly, I could set it up to hold altitude quite well, a poor-man’s autopilot for sure.  The ‘Coupe tries to make a slight left turn - not because it’s out of rig, but because my butt takes up 40% of our useful load. If I move to the other side, the tend is turning toward the right. With a passenger, hands off flight should now be “straight and level.” Yay…

Then it was back to the airport for five landings. However, a close friend was doing some pattern work with his (our) CFI in preparation for his anticipated solo flight. So after two pattern trips and two nice landings I decided to tie down and watch my pal fly. I also didn’t want to distract him by being in the pattern and making CTAF calls in opposition to his. I know he needs to learn to handle a crowded pattern, but thought his solo evening should be as free of distractions as possible. It all worked out - HE DID SOLO - Congratulations!

Next trip I’ll knock out a few more takeoffs and landings. Then I’ll be legal and current. Of course those two attributes do not make a pilot safe and proficient. We (pilots) all need to keep working on those important attributes. But my first two landings in over three months were “chirp-chirp” greasers. (Ya gets lucky every once in a while.) In fact, the CFI called on the radio to say the one he saw (1st one) looked cool - crosswind crab on the short paved runway. He got to see it from above. (Pilots find it interesting to see the ‘Coupe touch down in a crab. LOL) So, I’ll reach around, pat myself on the back, and look forward to getting back in the saddle again in the next few days.