Visibility: fair
Temperature: 20°C
Wind: 210°, 5 knots
QNH: 1016hPa
Location: EDAY (Strausberg)
Equipment: “Kilo Sierra” (Cessna 172, D-EKKS)

The training on the 172 goes well and I like the aircraft. Today I have my first passenger flight!

The flight instructor told me that we have to fly the 172 at its maximum take-off weight (MTOW) at some point. He asked me if I wanted to bring some “ballast” in the form of passengers to the next appointment.

I sure do and both my wife and her mother are game. They are also not too heavy. That is important as the MTOW with four people and fuel is easily reached in the small Cessna.

The plan for the day is pattern work in Neuhardenberg (EDON), a large and mainly deserted airfield east of Strausberg. Before we take off, I do a last check with the passengers. All smiling faces, okay, let’s go!

The start run is a bit longer and Kilo Sierra finally looses ground contact in order to begin a concentrated climb. She feels even more stable today, not being bothered much by the cross wind.

After the short hop over to EDON we enter the pattern in the downwind leg. The first landing requires a lot of comments from the instructor. After that it is getting better. I am surprised at how much power I need on final. The additional weight shows.

After two or three landings I look back to the passengers. There are still some smiles on the faces.

To be continued…

 

(originally posted on June 26, 2012 by tilbo at aloft.blog.com/172-heavy/)