Pattern work

I got to go flying Sunday night. I went up with my instructor, because I really hadn't been happy with my landings the last two times out and I wanted to get some advice.

So, we took off the first time and went around, carefully minding the position of the biplane that was flying the wrong pattern, using the grass, and just generally doing wierd stuff.

First landing: I came in a bit low, and I hit a bit hard, but not much. Flaps up, carb heat in, throttle up, and off we go again.

Second landing: Glide slope is better. My instructor advises flaring a bit earlier, which I do. I balloon a little, but then I get a nice stall horn with a soft touchdown. That's the first time I've heard the stall horn in weeks. Flaps up, carb heat in, throttle up, and off we go again.

Third landing: I'm a bit steep. I get down there, arrest my sink rate, balloon a bit. The stall horn goes off, but I'm still a couple feet above the runway. My instructor is in the middle of telling me to give it a bit of power to cushion the landing when we fall the last couple feet with a small bump. Oops. Flaps up, carb heat in, throttle up, and off we go again.

Fourth landing: Good pattern, better flare, stall horn goes off again, but I'm a little crooked when I land.

After 10 landings, we taxi back to the barn. After clearing the runway, my instructor turns to me and says, "I thought that would be a lot worse, from what you were saying." All I can say is that if things had been going that way all the time, I would have been OK with it. I guess I just need to practice by myself more to get used to the handling with the lighter weight.