How to Take Off in a Cessna 152

The most common airplane to learn to fly on is the Cessna 152. This plane is a slower plane that allows the student to get the feel of an airplane, and Cessna has built it to withstand the beatings a student will give it.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Push down the small needlelike button located on the top left of the yoke (steering wheel). If there is a tower at your airport, ask the tower for permission to take off. A sample request would be: "Tower, this is Cessna (insert end number) requesting take off on runway (enter runway number written on the runway)." The tower will tell you that you are "cleared for takeoff."

2. 
   On runway center line

   Put the carburetor heat to cold. This lever is located on the control panel next to the yoke. You can put it on either heat or cold. Grasp the large handle to the right of the pilot seat and pull it up till it clicks once. This will be 10 degrees of flaps. You will see and hear the flaps on the wings go down. Push the larger black handle on the control panel (the throttle) forward very lightly to get the aircraft moving. Controlling the plane with the foot pedals, push the left pedal lightly until the plane moves onto the center line of the runway. You'll know that you are on the center line because it will line up with the center crease on the cowling.

3. 
   Taking off

   Push the throttle all the way forward. Sit back, and let the plane accelerate. When the airspeed indicator on the control panel says 56 knots, pull the yoke back slightly. The nose of the plane will rise, and then the plane will become airborne.

Tips & Warnings

• The tower or Air Traffic Control might tell you that you can't take off because of "traffic"--other planes taking off. They can also tell you to take off quickly because of planes coming in.
• When they tell you that you are cleared for takeoff, look to see that there are no planes for yourself. ATC is not perfect.
• Be careful how hard you push the throttle when you're moving the plane on the ground.
• When you become airborne, push the yoke in slightly until the airspeed indicator says 70 knots.