Thoughts on Turns and Stalls
There's so much I want to do better. I'm so glad I'm flying tomorrow, because I can have a chance to improve what I've learned and do something new, instead of just doing something new and letting the old stuff slip. I need to get used to turbulence, and the feel of being in the air. I need to be more gutsy with the controls, especially the throttle and the rudder. The engine's not going to stop; we test for that before take-off when we do the engine run-up. More right rudder, pretty much always.
I realized yesterday that there's a LONG way between the first stall warning and the actual stall. A very long way. It was hard to even get the plane to stall fully -- the thing is pretty stable, and wants to keep flying in most conditions.
It's funny, I didn't even write about some of the other stuff he demonstrated yesterday -- 60 degree turns that put you in 2 G's (try lifting your hand when it weighs twice as much), and the zero-G maneuver (down really fast!) where you're weightless for a moment. These were actually very fun -- I guess I must trust my instructor quite a bit!
I'm really looking forward to being able to handle a landing by myself. I feel like I'm about halfway there -- I think I understand the mechanics of the approach. First, cut power to 1500 (or less), flaps at 10 degrees, and keep the airspeed at 65. DO NOT go slower, point the nose down if you're slowing. Add power to lengthen the glide. At some point (when? not sure) the flaps come all the way out. With all this knowledge, I can get myself very close to the runway -- but getting onto the runway is a different question altogether. I did participate in the landing, but I can't actually remember any of it since it was all happening so fast. I remember Kevin saying "Don't let it land, don't let it land!" right before the runway, I think to get me to pull back, which of course causes the plane to drop gently onto the runway.
This was only my third flight; I've logged about 3.4 hours I think. By the time I get my license I will have logged at least 60 hours -- it is incredible to think of all that I still have to learn. All in good time!
I realized yesterday that there's a LONG way between the first stall warning and the actual stall. A very long way. It was hard to even get the plane to stall fully -- the thing is pretty stable, and wants to keep flying in most conditions.
It's funny, I didn't even write about some of the other stuff he demonstrated yesterday -- 60 degree turns that put you in 2 G's (try lifting your hand when it weighs twice as much), and the zero-G maneuver (down really fast!) where you're weightless for a moment. These were actually very fun -- I guess I must trust my instructor quite a bit!
I'm really looking forward to being able to handle a landing by myself. I feel like I'm about halfway there -- I think I understand the mechanics of the approach. First, cut power to 1500 (or less), flaps at 10 degrees, and keep the airspeed at 65. DO NOT go slower, point the nose down if you're slowing. Add power to lengthen the glide. At some point (when? not sure) the flaps come all the way out. With all this knowledge, I can get myself very close to the runway -- but getting onto the runway is a different question altogether. I did participate in the landing, but I can't actually remember any of it since it was all happening so fast. I remember Kevin saying "Don't let it land, don't let it land!" right before the runway, I think to get me to pull back, which of course causes the plane to drop gently onto the runway.
This was only my third flight; I've logged about 3.4 hours I think. By the time I get my license I will have logged at least 60 hours -- it is incredible to think of all that I still have to learn. All in good time!
posted by MKT at 10:39 AM
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