Well, after a little lull, (Had a trip to Texas and San Diego), I got back up in the air again today. Today’s lesson, more slow flight, basic coordinated flight maneuvers, introduction of the landing pattern, setting up a decent configuration and we did a couple of stalls. (The stalls are required maneuvers that must be accomplished in order to get your pilot certificate.)
After pre-flighting the aircraft (N65637), started up, and called the tower for taxi clearance. (This was my first time on the radio). After we did the run-up at the end of the runway. (a runup is when you advance the throttle and check the various engine gauges for anything wrong). Call the tower for take-off clearance and we were given clearance to takeoff.
Advanced the throttle and away we went. For some reason I did not go to full power and after climb out we (the instructor and I) discussed that. There was no reason, I just didn’t do it. Next time I’ll remember. After flying out to the practice area, we set up for slow flight and then reviewed some of the actions from last lesson. Basically left turns and right turns coordinating the use of the rudder and the ailerons together. I’m still not very good at the that. I have to keep working at that. After that we climbed up to 3500 feet and set up the airplane as if we were landing. I basically flew the rectangular landing pattern. Adding flaps and setting a decent attitude for the airplane, holding airspeed as we basically flew a big rectangle in the sky. We did this several times and then the instructor demonstrated power on stalls and power off stalls.
Power on stalls are most likely to occur on takeoff while power off stalls are more likely to occur during landing. We weren’t stalling the airplane completely but anticipating when the stall was going to occur and then recovering from it. Then it was my turn, first the power on stall. At first I had trouble holding the aircraft in the stall configuration with the wings level. Eventually, the left wing stalled and the aircraft sort-of fell off to the left. Put the nose down and I recovered from the stall. Next we did power off stalls. Put the airplane in landing configuration, flaps down, 65 knots, pull the nose up and the aircraft shudders a little bit as the stall approaches. Push the nose down and increase power, and you recover from the stall. I’m sure I’ll become more familiar with these maneuvers as things go on.
We then headed back in toward the airport. As we were approaching Manassas airport, another plane called in and he was going faster than I so I extended my base leg and he passed and landed in front of me. I turned final and then set the airplane up for landing and aimed at the numbers. Flaired the plane and touched down…another landing..taxied back in and that was it for today.
A couple of things I need to work on. Standard climb rates, standard decent rates, go over the pattern in my head. Read ahead more on the ground school subjects. Anyway that’s it for this lesson. No pictures or maps this time….
later
Barry