Lesson 3 and 4

[Tomo]

10th Feb, 3rd lesson:

 

Arrived at the hanger at 0630, had a half hour briefing on different speeds (using elevator to control speed, not throttle). Then went into a bit about stalls/incipient spins, etc…

 

Out to the aircraft, did the pre-flight inspections to make sure it was air worthy. Climbed in, strapped up, started the engine up. Checked wind direction and decided to use runway 31, so did my taxi call, and taxied to the holding point. Pulled up to do our run-up checks. Entered the runway, and took off, doing most of it myself… we then did a climbing orbit to the left to head out to the northern training area.

 

Once established at our height (3000ft), we then went through the speed control thing that we talked about before the flight. (Elevator controls speed, not throttle), so to demonstrate that, at full throttle I pulled the nose up until we were only doing 40kts, then with the throttle off, push the nose down to do 70kts…

 

I was then required to do a few 360 degree turns back to my original heading, doing that both ways until I was able to roll out at the right spot. We then did a few gliding descents, to get me used to the approach speed and angle for landing…

 

Bob then showed me some steep turns, and there affect on changing the stall speed dramatically. But before we commenced any of the stalls, we had to do our checks, and that is in the order of “HASEL†– Height, Area, Security, Engine, and Lookout - (consisting of 180deg turn one way, and then another 90deg turn back the other). Then the stalls began… doing them at various power settings, and turning angles, also showing how excessive rudder in a stall turn will start an incipient spin… (The reason for doing all this stall stuff is to show me the behaviour of the aircraft just before it stalls, and also to show me how to recover from the stall with minimum height loss…)

 

After doing all the above for a while, we then headed back toward Dalby, and the aerodrome to do some circuits. Also to try my hand at some touch and go’s. I only did three circuits before we had to land for a full stop, and head back to the hanger. Had a de-brief on all the manoeuvres we had performed in the last hour and a bit.

 

Filled in my logbook, to which I now have a grand total of 3.4hrs!

 

Total Hours of flight: 1.10

 

17th Feb, 4th Lesson:

 

Turned up at 7.30, due to a few showers about, and not knowing if it will clear up enough for us to get up, but thankfully it did…

 

Checked off the Drifter, fuelled up, did a fuel drain to check for water, strapped in, and started up. Made a taxi call to runway 04, (before entering we did our run ups and checked both mag’s, etc…) We entered and made our backtracking on 22 call, to which we then tracked to 13, backtracking on that as well. Did our pre-take off checks (which in the Drifter only consists of, boast pump on, and check harness is firm) eased the power on to full power, relaxed stick pressure to allow tail to rise up, and then lift off and climb out at 50kts. Did a left hand climbing turn and headed east climbing up to about 2500ft.

 

We then did climbing and descending turns. After a bit of that I was then required to do practise landing approaches, getting the gliding at 55kts into my head, so that it comes second nature… doing imaginary circuits over paddocks.

 

It was then time to go and try it out for real at the airport. My first circuit went not to bad, but I flared a bit high for the landing, and if it weren’t for quick power application and control from Bob, we would have been bouncing all over the place… whoopps!! Added power to commence takeoff, and found out that you’ve got to hold a lot more left rudder then I have been doing previously, kept it a lot straighter once I discovered that…

 

We did another touch and go, turned out a lot better than the first, but not real flash on the takeoff this time, I released the left rudder on take off, (forgetting that you’ve got to hold it on the whole time!! Not like in a turn when you centralise it!) Which had us heading all over the runway. (Thankfully it’s reassembly wide!)

 

My full stop landing went surprisingly well; even felt a lot better, pity it was time to stop…

 

I only did .90 of an hour this time due to the weather situation, but I am getting much more relaxed with everything. Looking forward to the next lesson very much.

 

Total lesson time: 0.90 hr

 

Total logbook time: 4.30 hrs

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

 

[RetiredRacer]

Good onya Tomo it sounds like you'r doing well. :thumb_up:

 

 

[markendee]

Great report Tomo, was reliving my own training with you.

 

Bob sounds like a good instructor who can cement the lessons in your head.

 

A nice skill to have.

 

Mark

 

 

[Tomo]

Thanks Guys...

 

Yes Bob is a great instructor...