LSA-55 Revisited

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Now that I have my Cert, I went back and flew an LSA-55 which I had previously flown with about 15 hours up my sleeve. Back then I couldnt land it, or even reliably takeoff without the instructor either wishing he was in the hangar, or "helping" me on the controls.

 

This time it was much, much better. Taxying was fine, radio calls fine (even remembered the name of the CTAF correctly - it's a different field to where I normally fly). The first takeoff I got a little help as I didnt bloody realise the thing would rocket up to Vfe speed so fast, it felt very different to the 230 I normally fly. Once I got that in my head, we went for a fly about the training area, did some power on stalls, pottered around for a bit then back to the field for circuits. Some nice touch n go's ensued before coffee time. Best of all - I got told I could Hire n Fly it anytime, so I cant have been that bad!!

 

I found it amazing what a difference the extra time and experience makes, even though it was on a different type. So all in all a great day :big_grin:

 

 

[Hildy]

they're quick little things, eh?

 

what's the best climb you've ever gotten out of them? I think I hit 1700fpm once.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

They sure are, cheap to buy too. Just dont tell my wife. With two of us (180kg) and 40L of fuel, the little bugger still climbs like a... like a...hmm I cant think of a metaphor. Climbs fast!. I was amazed at the attitude of the nose relative to horizon - quite steep. We did some speed-to-height maneuvers, gaining around 300ft very quickly. Look forward to flying one by myself. Interestingly, when I took an instructor up in the 230 for my Pax Endorsement, it had been quite a time since having someone in the a/c with me - I completely forgot to take into account the extra weight, and rotated too early. Or tried to. Suffice to say I let eased off the stick until it was ready to fly! So now on my own little checklist I have a line that reads "PAX - Watch your speeds"

 

 

[Hildy]

I did that it reverse the other day - rotated a bit late by myself. if you don't watch it like a hawk you're over Vfe.

 

by myself I have to have it super steep or else it wants to go above Vy let alone Vx.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

I guess the main thing is to learn from mistakes. I try to learn something new everytime I fly - like when I took my wife for her first flight, did the Safety Briefing, showed her how to operate the harness etc, showed her how the door works. What I didnt tell her was to keep her elbow away from the door release - sure enough during Taxi she rests her elbow on the latch and the door comes open. A small thing but something I now will include in my Pax briefing.

 

 

[Guest aussie carl]

Done a couple of lessons in a cross hired LSA-55. It is fun to fly as there is never a dull moment. The adverse yaw is so prominent and the max flap speed is so close to the best aproach speed.

 

My instructor likens the LSA-55 to a bowl of jelly. I liken it to a bucket with wings.

 

 

[Thirsty]

I've been checked out in the 160 since I got my cert but I prefer the LSA. Much more fun to fly and heaps better performance.

 

 

[Hildy]

a bucket with very big wings. around MTOW it can be tricky to lose height because the clean plane is so slippery.