Why does nobody talk about the old trick for checking flap track alignment with a laser level?

For years I just used a straight edge and a flashlight on Cessna 172s, but my boss in Tampa showed me his laser method last month. It cut my check time from about 45 minutes down to maybe 15, and the readings are way more consistent. Anyone else have a better trick for this, or is the laser the way to go now?

2 comments

2 Comments

danielm153d ago

Wait, you used to spend 45 minutes on a 172 with a straight edge? That sounds like a nightmare. The laser trick is basically standard now for a reason, it's so much faster.

simonreed2d ago

Seriously, the laser is a game changer. I still see guys using the old string and ruler method, and it's like watching someone dig a hole with a spoon. The key is getting a decent self-leveling laser, not the cheap hardware store kind. That way you're not fighting to keep it straight while you take the reading.