Whew - ASI died in flight

"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message
...

"Marc CYBW" wrote in message
news:tCxpg.85912$I61.77082@clgrps13...

Fortunately the tower (CYBW) was most helpful and called out my ground
speed (no wind today thank goodness) and I carefully stabilized my full
flaps descent at 60 Kts (by the Tower) and landed uneventfully.


Neat! I didn't know that they could do that. In that situation, trim
is your friend. Set the trim where it is supposed to be and fly the
trimmed speed by feel, and you won't go far wrong. The view out the front
is also important, keep the horizon in the right place and your airspeed
will be correct.

Did your CFI ever have you land with a covered ASI? My primary CFI
was always covering something.

Vaughn

Took off one bright and beautiful morning after an uneventual runup -
glanced at the oil pressure at about 50' and the little devil was setting on
zero - a lot more effective than a cup of coffee to wake you up. Did a wrap
around and landed downwind. Our A&P found that the indicator tube was
clogged. (This was years ago in an old 7AC).

Did I miss it on runup? Or did it clog on lift-off (probably not!)? Anyhow,
I never missed a gage check in many of years of flying thereafter.

Moral of the story: A CFI telling you something and staring at a crisis at a
critical time is more likely to attract attention and is sometimes necessary
for some of us dumbasses to get the message. But it sure ain't good
airmanship.



I shouldn't tell this, but it was many years ago, and I don't know any of
you folks, I hope.

My home base was a grass strip about 2500'. Half way down the runway was the
turnoff to the hanger area. Hitting the numbers and turning off at the exit
was somehow a macho thing among the locals, and if I floated too far, a go
around was habitual. Additionally, the local CFI was a P-51 pilot who could
land on a dime, and his humorous comments were to be avoided. Anyway, after
a long flight, I was coming into the VPI strip in Blacksberg airport, with
passengers, - a strip of at least 6000' - can't remember exactly - and being
kind of numb I crossed the threshold at 30-40' elevation---and automatically
did a go-around! After landing, the operations man came to help me with the
tie-down, etc., and asked if I had encountered a problem. All I could think
of - Naw, just checking the runway.

Old habits are sometimes embarrassing.