"Kobra" wrote in message
. ..
Flyers,

For absolutely no reason, except that I want it, I have been taking
Multiengine lessons (including Multi-Instrument and Commercial). The
flight school has a Piper Seneca I (PA34-200) circa 1973.

It fly's like a flying Bulldozer on Codeine (sp?). It's a beast...really.
The controls are so stiff my left wrist and both knees ache after a one
hour lesson. Is this normal for a Seneca or any twin? Are there docile
twins out there?

During pre-flight when I have to check the control surfaces for free
movement, the ailerons feel like the hinges are rusted solid and it's like
lifting a fifty pound weight when try and move the stabilator. I always
hesitate to declare them "free".

I have to use two hands to flare and there's a fine, very fine line
between a nose landing and a balloon. Some where in the middle of this
micron sized line is a good landing flare.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

BTW if anyone is interested in the Sporty's DVD - So You Want to Fly
Twins. I have it on eBay:

http://tinyurl.com/36mp5y

Kobra
(apologizing for the cross post)

Make sure the shaft the yoke connects to is clean and lightly lubed (I used
silicone spray). Every Piper I have ever flown had old dried lube on it and
would bind or drag, especially in stabilator travel. Cleaning the shafts
would make a big improvement in my landings. : )

--

*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.