Electric vs Lever

[Jim Cole]

Well likewise here is my .02 worth and my story in regards to electric
flaps. Now I'm not sure if it was the fact that they were electric or
just a worn mechanism but it was on my FIRST solo out to the practice
area near Markham Ontario. I was flying out of Toronto Island and once I
got to the practice area I debated as to what to do on my first solo
flight. I decided to practice slow flight, steep turns etc - all the
same things that the instructor had practiced with me. So I selected 10
degrees (C152 - electric), 20, 30 and finally 40. Then I tried to
retract the flaps - no go - nothing. Now what? After the initial panic -
checked the breakers - still nothing - cycled the flap control -
nothing. So I said to myself, "well I'm flying and it will take me a
while but I'm sure I can make it back to YTZ. It seemed like it took
forever but I finally called the tower over Greenwood (which was the
normal reporting area) and explained that I would be longer than normal
and that I would like a straight in approach on 26. The tower was very
helpful and obviously called the CFI from the school who got on the
radio a couple of minutes later and in a very excited voice started
asking me if I had tried the circuits etc. Now Renzo as I mentioned was
a very excitable gentleman, with English not being his first language,
and it took me a little while to figure out what he was saying - but he
wanted me to reach over, open the passenger window and bang on the
underside of the wing with my fist! (student pilot - first solo out of
the circuit). Well after a little thought I just said "you know Renzo -
I'm flying - I'm fine and we'll look at it when I land." Now I was
pretty green and really didn't realize that if I had to do a missed
approach, there wouldn't be much climbing! Everything was fine and Renzo
was called up in front of the MOT for the way he acted and as well for
the fact that this was probably not the first time that this had
happened with this airplane.. I don't think the tower was very
impressed. (except maybe with the landing??)

When I bought a 1958 - 172 with a flap handle - I was always very very
happy to feel that "direct response" to the flaps over the next 10 years
with the 172.

So if I have a choice - it will be a flap handle all the way!

Cheers
Jim
SR083 Moose




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