On Jun 29, 1:30*pm, Rory Oconor wrote:
I seem to spend a lot of time scratching (due to incompetance), but I
rarely get below 500ft and almost never below 400ft. When scratching below
800ft coordination (yaw string) and airspeed (ASI) are alway high on my
agenda, and the workload goes up.

When mountain flying (much of flight can be within 500ft of surface), and
circling up the side of cliffs, not hitting the mountain and control
responsiveness also become important.

On the rare occasions when I mess up and find myself doing a ground level
turn, I do look down the wing in order to ensure that I dont stick the end
in a tree or the ground, I expect my rudder control and coordination is
maintained due to the many hours of scratching.

When doing some two seater xcountry flying recent, my complaint to all the
P2s was about their coordination.

I must try to work out about pivot heights. My wing always goes backwards..
*What is the pivot height for a glider flying a 45 deg banked turn at 55
knots? A formula would be nice.

Rory

My experience is that airspeed and coordination need to be monitored
when flying low. If those are within safe bounds, there's no need to
fear stall/spins. There are many optical illusions that can trick you
when flying below pivotal altitude - your instruments can be your best
friend.

Long ago a retired WWII Marine Corp Instructor Pilot taught me
something he had learned landing F4U Corsairs on straight deck
carriers. If you try, he said, you can train your brain to use a part
of your peripheral vision to monitor airspeed even while your gaze is
outside the cockpit.

At first, with your eyes out of the cockpit, all you can do is locate
the ASI but not read it. Still, that helps guide quick glances to the
instrument. Soon, those quick glances will not only pick up airspeed,
they will also see the trend. In time, it will seem as if you are
seeing the ASI full-time with your eyes outside and maybe you are.
Even with sunglasses, your pupils are very small in bright light
giving you what photographers call a large "depth of field". What
you are learning to do is focus your eyes on the "hyper-focal"
distance so both the distant horizon and the panel are just within the
"depth of field".

Try it while thermalling. Human brains are very plastic and can be
trained to do this. It's useful not only in landings but also when
the natural horizon isn't visible as in canyons or near a ridge.