"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
What aspects of slow-speed or minimum-speed flight should I practice?

I've managed to fly for indefinite periods at just above stall speed,
straight
and level and in standard-rate turns, holding altitude steady. I've
managed
to do this both with full flaps and no flaps, gear extended and retracted.
What things should I try at these low speeds? The aircraft (Baron 58, in
this
case) seems very unstable at low speeds.

I've read that maintaining altitude via the VSI is a bad idea, and that it
leads to "chasing the VSI." I almost never look at the VSI unless I
absolutely need a specific rate of climb or descent. Usually I just watch
the
altimeter instead; when it starts to move, I adjust to compensate. Is
this a
good or bad idea when trying to hold altitude? What about for climbs and
descents? Apart from an ILS approach, why would I need to care about a
specific rate of descent, especially if I have visual indicators on the
runway
telling me whether or not I'm on the glide path?

I've heard that being below the glide slope is a bad thing that examiners
don't like. But if you are far enough out, you're always below the glide
slope. At what distance from the airport (or in what configuration) am I
expected to stay on or above the glide slope? And does being above the
glide
slope count strongly against me?

If I am flying by hand, how well should I be able to hold altitude in
level
flight? I'm not talking about regulatory restrictions, I'm talking about
how
well a decent pilot should be able to do this. Within 100 feet? Fifty
feet?
Five feet? And I mean without trimming first. What about when making a
turn?

How steeply should I be able to turn coordinated and without losing
altitude?
I can do standard turns well enough, but how much steeper do I have to go?

--


BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Hope this helps.

--------------------------------------------
DW