Flags stood straight from their poles, plastered in place by blustery winds. It was a good day to grab Frederick, Maryland, instructor Torn O'Neill and conduct a research flight in search of practical tips to use for battling rough air. The plan was to do takeoffs and landings in what turned out to be rotten conditions. The parking lot was empty when I arrived at the flight school, and I had a wide choice of rental aircraft, two observations that told me pilots had voted against flying. Student pilot solo activity had been shut down by the school. As I taxied to the runway in the flight school's Cessna 172 winds dropped to 10 knots, gusting to 16, and were only 20 degrees off the runway heading.
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