On 20 Jan 2008 20:44:55 GMT, Judah wrote:

New Pilot wrote in
news
The turning effect seems to happen over about 8 to 10 seconds to turn
the aircraft 15 degrees.

Once turned it seems to remain stable now pointing in a different
direction. I then see that the balance ball is a little off centre.
I did try turning the ruddder trim knob to the right and left but it
did not seem to have much if any effect.

Sounds awfully slow and consistent to be weathervaning to me. As others
have said, weathervaning happens with wind gusts and you'd feel the plane
being "pushed" a few degrees left or right as it was happening.

More than likely it's a coordination issue. Either the rudder and/or
aileron trim is off, or you're letting your feet and fingers do things that
your head isn't paying attention to. You're the pilot, man. Control the
plane! Watch the ball!

Steep turns 45 degees or more to the right are fine,
Have some trouble with turns to the left usually kicks in after one
full circuit almost if the fluid in my ears is delayed in some way -
Thogh i fight the sensation and can do satisfactory steep turns to the
left.
maybe having just done a few 45degree turns to the right and then
pretty much banking to the left without stopping at the straight and
level for a rest may not help.

Have you tried starting with a left turn? I don't think it's completely
outrageous for you to have a momentary queasy sensation as you do the 90*
switch (from right 45 to left 45). It doesn't happen to me, but I can see
how it might be uncomfortable for some.

Loosing height quickly is no problem the ears do equalise to the
pressure change - gaining height quickly in a worn PA28 does not
really happen max = 750 feet/minute thats with just me fueled to tabs
and no baggage.

The concept of the short approach is that you're going to be doing an
aggressive descent in a 30* bank turn...

I'm guessing you may have some "queasiness" issues (my sister has them) and
may want to talk to your AME about it. I think your "weathervaning" issues
are really just letting yourself be the passenger instead of the pilot.

Thanks for that, could well be just me being a passenger.
The nearest to the short approach sometimes is a base leg join where I
have to loose 800 feet in a short time and turning. but thats not
really agressive.

In response to another poster mentioning the UK weather and costs that
is absolutly right. weather here has been awful on the south coast and
the cost of flying
Hire for 1 hour of a PA28 wet is about $250 at loose approximation US
dollars
Landing fee at my local airport is now $35
Touch and go is $16 and they now charge $16 for a missed approach
-they waive that fee if ATC instruct a go around,