The Soft Field Take-off continued to be a nusiance today. I think part of the problem is the difference between the way I learned to do them and the way my instructor expects to see them demonstrated. I've always converted the high speed that is gained while low to the ground (in ground effect) into altitude by pitching up rather sharply once achieving the proper speed. My instructor wants me to pitch up to much less. This just feels wrong to me. I'll do some more reading and I imagine I will need to change the way I do them from now on.
Steep Turns started a bit rough, but once I entered the turns with coordinated rudder input, bank, and power, the rest came very easily. My problem before was that I was waiting to put in rudder inputs and that set off a chain reaction of corrections that aren't necessary when entered correctly.
My Chandelles are pretty close to standards, but I'm still pitching up a little too soon and not maintaining bank angle during the first 90 degrees of the maneuver. It's just a matter of better coordination on my part and this will be solved, too.
Coming back to the airport, we decided to simulate a bug in the pitot tube by covering the airspeed indicator. I used power settings and pitch attitudes to get the desired performance I needed for each leg of the pattern. I told my instructor we were at 65 knots on short final, based on the feel of the controls. He uncovered the airspeed indicator and I was right at 65 knots. Pretty cool.
I think flight instructing is a lot like walking and chewing gum at the same time. It just doesn't come natural to try to focus on two things at once - flying the maneuver perfectly and talking to the 'student' about the key points of the maneuver and how to correct errors that might occur. It just takes practice. For me, it takes LOTS of practice. :)
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1 comment:
Woo hoo! I am happy for you. I know it will all come together for you. Be patient with yourself, but be diligent in your studies, too.
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