If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
First Two Aero Lessons This Weekend (Long)
Well I just returned from my second acro lesson in as many days and
all I can say is that I'm wiped out. Having an opportunity to fly with Rich Stowell on two occasions and performing a number of spins and other maneuvers certainly helped with endurance. The airport that I flew from is Van Sant in Erwinna PA, just across the Delaware River from Frenchtown NJ and about 50 miles north of Philly. This is a gorgeous area with numerous 18th and 19th century homes and old mills dotting the riverside. The airport is inhabited by a number of beautiful planes including a Great Lakes, Cub, Super Cub, a couple of Stearmans, and a number of planes I didn't recognize. I also witnessed my first glider tows, followed by another, then another. The gliders are extremely graceful and it was almost impossible to resist looking as they soared skyward following the tow plane as it provided it with its precious source of energy. I too wanted to go for a glider ride, but today my destiny was with the Super Decathlon, a plane that I had flown before. I met Azar the owner and after talking for a few we discussed my goals and he reviewed my logbook and the maneuvers that I had already had flown. After that we headed out to the plane and performed a preflight, followed by a safety discussion regarding the chutes and other matters. It wasn't long before we had the plane started and were taxiing over the very rough and hilly field on the way to the runway, which itself was as bumpy as the "taxiway" we had taken to get there. After takeoff we headed out over the Delaware where Azar asked me to perform a loop. No big deal, as I had performed one recently with Rich and they were still fresh in my head. Just about 4G's and my final altitude was within 100' of my starting altitude. Azar told me that it felt right, so I didn't complain. He walked me through an aileron roll, which I proceeded to botch. The problem was that I wasn't giving it full aileron due to the cramped conditions and my legs getting in the way, plus I wasn't pushing the stick gradually forward near knife edge and therefore pushing too hard while inverted, which isn't the most comfortable feeling. Azar demonstrated a few after which I followed, and they started to improve. He also performed a two point roll, stopping at inverted to show me where the nose should be. I then realized that inverted flight would take some getting used to. After a few additional loops and steadily improving aileron rolls we strung together a loop followed immediately by an aileron roll, which was cool. That was followed by a half Cuban 8 which I managed to execute without too much butchering. Before heading back he demonstrated a couple of barrel rolls, which are a nice gentle maneuver and a good way to start winding down the first lesson. On the way back to the airport Azar asked me to demonstrate a few spins, which I did with no problem. The first was only a one turn spin so on the second he asked me to make it a two-turn so that I could really see it spin up. Again I recovered with no problem and I think he was pleased with the spins and the session overall. I made a good three-point landing on the grass with 1 hour on the Hobbs. Today we started with loops, but spent most of the time doing ailerons rolls and two point rolls to really help me get used to being upside down. Hanging by the straps is certainly something I will have to get acclimated to, I'm just glad I listened and tightened the straps. To help convince me that I wouldn't fall out of my seat Azar put the plane on its back for a few seconds and then had me place my hands on my head. Those straps really do work huh? As with the previous day we combined a loop with an aileron roll, but instead of doing a half Cuban 8 we combined two a did a full Cuban 8. Again, very nice. He also introduced the Immelmann, which became the maneuver of choice when we wanted to reverse direction. Yesterday we also performed a hammerhead and while it was my second time doing one, it was much worse than my first attempt. But today we worked on those as well and I managed to get it under better control. What I found most difficult with the Immelmann and the half Cuban was determining when to push forward on the stick to arrest the loop before rolling without some coaching. With regards to aileron rolls it's a matter of not being timid with the aileron deflection and getting the stick forward before reaching inverted in order to prevent large negative G. In summary I had a great time and look forward to continuing. Azar's plan was to introduce most of the maneuvers within the first few lessons and then start to fine tune them. I've therefore pulled Goulian's "Basic Aerobatics", Kershner's aerobatics manual, and Rich's aerobatics tape from their respective storage units and will chair fly given my experience from the last two days. Thanks to Tom Parsons for his help and to Rich for helping start the addiction. Dave |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
"I Want To FLY!"-(Youth) My store to raise funds for flying lessons | Curtl33 | Aerobatics | 0 | December 12th 03 12:00 AM |