DarkSarcasm Posted July 18, 2009 Author Posted July 18, 2009 Do instructors have a secret handshake like the Masons too?
Guest Decca Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 How long are you 3 staying up tonight, whispering sweet nothings?
Guest Decca Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 Nah, I'm going to bed, fall asleep listening to the cricket, & dream of an impossible victory. 2 openers down now, Go Ozzies.
facthunter Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 Instructor's Handshake. It's generally fear. It used to be masked by smoking Marlborough. Nev. PS. DS.... aeroplanes fly by pushing air around primarily. That costs money...
farri Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 Do you think, as part of learning how to be an instructor, they have to practice how to look uninterested but also watch at the same time? Just think of it - "Lesson 4: appropriate instructor facial expressions". That could also include how to not look completely terrified at things some students do... Absolutely. Frank.
storchy neil Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 :ah_oh:your walk around is just a reason not to go flying neil
Guest Baphomet Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 I can't believe I'm reading stuff like this "I don't know how your instructor works but some have been known ( and its a good technique ) to put faults there for you to find. It also gives them an idea how well you are preflighting" Lets get this straight. It is NOT a good idea to induce a fault condition to test if it's been picked up at pre-flight. This so-called good technique has killed people in the past, and will probably do so again. I would run a million miles from anyone using this training methodology.
Yenn Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 I think it was a bit off fot someone to suggest you change instructor. It was clear from my reading of your posts that you are not super confident and may have missed something. When you ask the instructor what to do, make sure he explains it in a way that you understand, ask again if it isn't clear. When you get a little more sure of yourself I am sure it will all work out and you will suddenly get the big picture. Whatever happens enjoy it and keep at it.
DarkSarcasm Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 Yenn, that is EXACTLY right. I am not super confident (I'm attempting to get to half-way confident at the moment). I am in no way a mechanically/scientifically minded person so it's going to take me some time to work up to being confident about preflighting. Sometimes it takes time for things like this to click for me, I realise that. The main reason I started this thread was to check that I'm not actually inventing problems with my preflight (e.g. thinking I need to check things that I don't need to), I never imagined there would be this much discussion about it!
GraemeK Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 One thing I found useful for my preflight checks was the Jabiru POH - if you haven't already downloaded it it's a good reference for preflights. Some instructors forget things like checking the wheel struts for free play - the book has it all!
DarkSarcasm Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 Oooh, awesome, I'll take a look at that :) thanks
Ultralights Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 a good preflight should always be based on the POH. also, dont forget a lot goes on behind the scenes during the night, well we do anyway, every morning before any students arrive we go over our aircraft as per the POH and also to check for other things that we know will wear eventually, and make sure all the big things are done, like battery levels, brake fluid levels, tyre pressures, engine mount security, exhaust leaks etc. the students we let do the short preflight and walk around, once they have their licence, then we show them the big first flight of the day preflight. sadly we have noticed that doing a big pre flight check before every flight usually results in more damage to aircraft.
DarkSarcasm Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 I figured there must be some sort of 'pre-student' preflight! It seems kind of logical that doing a big preflight each time would damage the aircraft...having students playing around with things like tyre pressures etc does seem a little risky really... The POH will definitely help. I think I do pretty much all of the things listed, although I intend to ask about dipping the fuel tanks. I was told to check the brakes for wear (which I do), are there any 'rules of thumb' (I guess) to tell when they're too worn? I think the instructor who showed me the preflight (not my normal instructor) mentioned something about the two parts being 1 inch away from each other? I'm not certain about that though. What's the 'static source'? (number 4 in preflight list in Jab POH)
GraemeK Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 ... every morning before any students arrive we go over our aircraft as per the POH and also to check for other things that we know will wear eventually, and make sure all the big things are done ... Yep - sometimes I try to get to the field early (I usually aim for morning flights) so I can go through that with the instructor. That, plus the hairdryers and other paraphernalia needed to get the Jabs started in this freezing weather! :stirring pot:
DarkSarcasm Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 So I should pack my hairdryer for my upcoming morning lesson? :)
GraemeK Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 What's the 'static source'? (number 4 in preflight list in Jab POH) Static source is the tube poking forward from the top of the vertical stabiliser - to check it, you push the tail down and make sure you can see through the holes (drilled at right angles to the tube). Static source is vital to both the ASI and altimeter - also the Dynon EFIS depends on static and pitot pressure for all its indications - including its artificial horizon. So pretty important!
DarkSarcasm Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 Oooooooooooh, I thought it might be that tube. It works together with the pitot tube for airspeed yeah? So, I push the tail down towards the ground, and try and look through the little holes and if I can then it's all good? *has images of pushing the tail down and having something messy happen to the plane* That will be interesting to try. Perhaps it will be the moment when I find out whether my instructor really is sneakily watching me preflight or if he's just reading a book
GraemeK Posted July 19, 2009 Posted July 19, 2009 Yeah - not everyone does it (in fact, I don't remember seeing anyone else doing it) but my instructor showed me how. Just don't try it if he's sitting in the plane!
DarkSarcasm Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 I have several amusing mental images now
GraemeK Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Hi DS Were you out at YLIL with Jeremy today? I think I was doing my preflight on 5231 as you guys came in from the training area. Cheers
Guest Mad Dave Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Was everyone out there today? I was there around 1.00
GraemeK Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Nice place to be! I had a 10 o'clock with Kerry, out of there by 12 - would have been nice out over the valley but I'm still stuck in circuits .
Guest Mad Dave Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Wasn't much good out Ballarat / Maryborough way!
Guest Decca Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Hey you guys, pm Decca if you're coming out Ballarat way. Even on the off-chance you have to divert. Failing that drop into the aero club for a cuppa. Safe flying, Decca.
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