Circuits

[BrendAn]

Fantastic morning for flying out of Latrobe valley this morning. I did 8 landings without much assistance.

My best attempt so far. We tried a few landings without flaps which i found easier than trying to manage flap settings while trying to remember everything else. Getting close to solo now . It's great when it starts coming together naturally. I was starting to think I would never progress .  

Edited November 18, 2023 by BrendAn

[facthunter]

What are you flying?  Nev

[BrendAn]

Technam p92  Nev.

Club also has a eurofox as well.

I have my own xair rag and tube which I will transition to after I go solo.

[facthunter]

OK from memory, that plane needs a fair bit of compensation for flap extension. Nev

[Moneybox]

On 18/11/2023 at 2:52 PM, BrendAn said:

Fantastic morning for flying out of Latrobe valley this morning. I did 8 landings without much assistance.

My best attempt so far. We tried a few landings without flaps which i found easier than trying to manage flap settings while trying to remember everything else. Getting close to solo now . It's great when it starts coming together naturally. I was starting to think I would never progress .  

 

Brendan, I'm at about the same stage. I'm comfortable bringing the plane in but recently we've had such strong cross winds that he won't let me go solo. I did a few landings in 12 to 15kt cross winds but they were untidy and he wants me to land and keep it within 1.5m of the centre line. I can't do that consistently in a crosswind so I gave it away and came home to work on the plane. I understand what you're saying about the flaps, it's just another thing to add when your hands and feet are busy.

 

On the last day we had low clouds, frequent showers and a strong crosswind so we headed down to the training area away from the circuits. We practised steep turns, 45°, spiral decents and spiral stall recovery. It was a lot of fun and a great way to finish off my couple of weeks in Perth.

[skippydiesel]

"I did a few landings in 12 to 15kt cross winds but they were untidy and he wants me to land and keep it within 1.5m of the centre line."

 

This may come as a surprise to you & your instructor - humans can not see the wind.

 

The practical result of this disability (for pilots) is that cross winds, particularly of the blustery variety, will always be a challenge, no matter the skill/experince level. Sure, the experienced pilot will generally make a better fist of the situaton, but "keep it within 1.5m of the centre line." is an aspiration we all strive for  and all too often have to accept an untidy but safe alternative.

[facthunter]

Having the Plane under control is better than fluking a good landing. Most planes have a stated x wind limit. That's only a guide. You have to work much harder with a cross wind and never let the down wind wing get low, or put another way never let the wind get under your into wind wing.. Gusts are an extra hazard. Varying power is a necessity. and be ready to do a go around IF you are not sure and don't muck that up.  Nev

[Thruster88]

6 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

"I did a few landings in 12 to 15kt cross winds but they were untidy and he wants me to land and keep it within 1.5m of the centre line."

 

This may come as a surprise to you & your instructor - humans can not see the wind.

 

The practical result of this disability (for pilots) is that cross winds, particularly of the blustery variety, will always be a challenge, no matter the skill/experince level. Sure, the experienced pilot will generally make a better fist of the situaton, but "keep it within 1.5m of the centre line." is an aspiration we all strive for  and all too often have to accept an untidy but safe alternative.

I disagree about being able to see a cross wind. If you fly a wings level approach countering the cross wind with a crab while maintaining the extended center line the angle of the crab which we can all see will be proportional to the cross wind. Big angle big cross wind. 

[facthunter]

You don't actually see it but can gauge the extent of it from windsocks,  the surface of ponds or the crab required at your airspeed.   Nev

[Moneybox]

8 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

"I did a few landings in 12 to 15kt cross winds but they were untidy and he wants me to land and keep it within 1.5m of the centre line."

 

This may come as a surprise to you & your instructor - humans can not see the wind.

 

The practical result of this disability (for pilots) is that cross winds, particularly of the blustery variety, will always be a challenge, no matter the skill/experince level. Sure, the experienced pilot will generally make a better fist of the situaton, but "keep it within 1.5m of the centre line." is an aspiration we all strive for  and all too often have to accept an untidy but safe alternative.

 

 

This guy put on quite a show (without hitting the wall) apparently fighting a strong crosswind.