1.3hrs – Forward slips, crab angle, standard landings, power off landing, power on landing with no flaps, turns around a point, and go-arounds.
1.2hrs ground – Aircraft systems, and communications.
After departing Twin Oaks (7S3), we headed to Aurora (AUO) for some landing practice with intro to landing in various configurations. In route, we discussed slips and power off landings, wind correction, communication, and determining the preferred runway.
At AUO my CFI demonstrated a forward slip. A side slip is used to lose altitude without gaining airspeed and is entered by lowering a wing with the ailerons, and applying just enough opposite rudder to prevent a turn. Side slips are useful in forced landings, landings when flaps are inoperative, or the aircraft does not have flaps. Side slips feel a bit unatural at first, because one wing is down, and your looking at the runway more through the side window than the front. Also, it feels a bit like you will slide out the door (if your on the low side).
I then took off, flew the pattern. Descent took a little more work without flaps, and on final, my CFI helped a little with the slip and landing flair.
The next trip around I performed the slip. I didn’t have quite enough left aileron, and got off to the right of the runway, but was able to correct, and transition into the flair for a pretty decent landing.
Next up was power off landing. In a power off landing, the throttle is brought back to idle while in the patter. My CFI demonstrated the first. My turn became a power on with no flaps due to the need for an extended downwind to adjust for other traffic. Different, but ended smoothly.
We also practiced best angle of climb, and an engine out after departure.
For the first time in my training there was some noticeable wind, so we practiced using crab angle, and turns around a point. Wind correction came pretty easy, probably from my days of dealing with current in sea kayaking and boating. Turns around a point appear much easier than they actually are, but I got the basics.
Back at 7S3, due to the sloping runway, the calm wind runway for takeoff is 20, with landing on 02 (up to about 8 knots). Landing on 02 thus gave us a tailwind here, and resulted in a go-around. We set up for landing on 20 (my first on 20). About half way down on final, it just didn’t look right, so around we went again. I felt really good about this go-around; it didn’t look right to ME, and I made the call and completed the maneuver, without my CFI making the calls. By this time it was beginning to get a little dark, with some light rain, but I was able to make a nice pattern, and a very acceptable landing.
So now it’s all beginning to come together. I’m feeling much more relaxed (even have an appetite on days with a lesson), and am thoroughly enjoying each minute in the air, or at the airport.
My hours are now in the double digits! (11hrs logged)
No comments:
Post a Comment