How Low to Spin??

On Sat, 4 Sep 2004 16:16:30 UTC, "F.L. Whiteley"
wrote:

: Personally I can't believe a UK basic instructor is saying this publicly.
: Are you still giving ab-initio lessons? Perhaps you should chant this, or
: something like WULFSTALL, in the circuit and think about what each item is
: and what the implications are if you don't do each one.

There is a lot of honest debate about how many of these are truly
necessary. For example, is your "W" for wind? If so, it should have
been checked a hell of a long time before trying to join the
"circuit". And if it has been, and the circuit planned to take account
of it, why specifically check again? Doesn't the practice of good
airmanship imply that this will be done anyway?

Similarly with T for Trim. Surely anyone who has been reasonably
trained with use the trimmer without thinking about it for any long
term change in speed? Why make it a separate item in a check list at a
time when maximum attention should be gven to lookout?

I have had experienced full cat instructors tell me that they didn't
advocate any down wind checks at all, per se, as they claimed that
every single one should be a consequence of good airmanship. I don't
go that far myself, but the only ones which is seems to me might be
seens as circuit extras are Undercarriage (check only, should be down
already), Speed, Airbrakes (in case frozen). Everything else should
have been done before or is plain bleeding obvious. Do you really,
truly, know people who wouldn't check the intended landing area unless
they had a mnemonic? If so, should they be flying? [I think I know
one, and I don't think he should be.]

Ian

PS If the F is for Flaps for the small proportion of gliders with 'em,
what about the other W for Water? Mind you, I had one instructor who
used the F for "Fag (extinguish and chuck out of DV panel)"...
--

"Ian Johnston" wrote in message
news:cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-V8pRq3LwYqPX@localhost...


Similarly with T for Trim. Surely anyone who has been reasonably
trained with use the trimmer without thinking about it for any long
term change in speed? Why make it a separate item in a check list at a
time when maximum attention should be gven to lookout?


Ian

PS If the F is for Flaps for the small proportion of gliders with 'em,
what about the other W for Water? Mind you, I had one instructor who
used the F for "Fag (extinguish and chuck out of DV panel)"...
--


I tend to set trim a bit nose heavy for the landing pattern. That way if my
attention is diverted from airspeed control for a second of two, at least
the glider will want to increase airspeed on its own. That's a different
use of trim than the usual trimming for the exact airspeed.

The way I think some pilots may get into trouble is if the trim is set for
thermalling while scratching for that last thermal but then they give up and
turn in to land, and forget to re-trim, that leaves the glider trimmed a bit
nose up for the normal pattern speed. If their attention is diverted, the
airspeed may drop toward stall.

Bill Daniels

Ian Johnston wrote:

circuit extras are Undercarriage (check only, should be down
already), Speed, Airbrakes (in case frozen).

USA! I love it. U (because I've seen several gear-ups).

S (because it reminds one to turn early or late on
downwind, and compensate for headwind/look at the sock),
also, many landing accidents are undershoots.

A (less important, but worthy of a check to ensure you
don't have a flap handle (L-13), and that they actually
unlock)

Everything else should
have been done before or is plain bleeding obvious.

Yep, the rest could be further down the list...

I had one instructor who
used the F for "Fag (extinguish and chuck out of DV panel)"...

LOL! I had to read this one twice...


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Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA