Dec 11, 2010 - Circuits, Landing and Takeoffs
A bit soupy today, so we were resigned to the cicuit. This turned out to be just as it should be: The wind was very light, i.e. no turbulance, and there was significant traffic; this combination of factors presented just the right amount of challenge/safety for me to actually practise and learn.
I remember in GS, covering "the circuit", and having NO idea what is was all about. Reading later enlightened me only somewhat. Lunch with a professional pilot solidified some of the language, but I still had no real grasp of the whole thing. Today really solidified a few basic concepts, for example, "short final", which is that last small bit as you are approaching the runway, keeping the numbers in sight, and then transferring your gaze towards the end of the runway. I also learned some new terminology, for example, "flaring", that is, flying very low over the runway, but not actually touching down. The idea was to get a sense of what the speed, attitude, and everything should feel like just prior to landing.
I was surprised at how much you have to pull back on the yoke as you are landing. I think maybe I should have trimmed more, too -- that is one of the ten zillion things I so frequently forget to do when I am flying. But I did begin to have a better sense of wing flaps and so on. Also we got to try two different runways, as there was some Porter and other local traffic, so that was good too.
Repeating the climbout, turning to crosswind, followed by downwind (over the beach where Spencer is not RIP, lol!) then turning base and coming in on final over and over and over really gave me some confidence. I wish I could do that for every exercise. Stick to one thing, and really solidify it.
No doubt Lari was whistling the tune to "I Go 'Round in Circles, A-Ha" in his head, but me, I felt nothing short of pure exhilaration!
Too bad I am too busy and broke to fly for the next 10 days.
1 step forward, 2 steps back, it seems.
I remember in GS, covering "the circuit", and having NO idea what is was all about. Reading later enlightened me only somewhat. Lunch with a professional pilot solidified some of the language, but I still had no real grasp of the whole thing. Today really solidified a few basic concepts, for example, "short final", which is that last small bit as you are approaching the runway, keeping the numbers in sight, and then transferring your gaze towards the end of the runway. I also learned some new terminology, for example, "flaring", that is, flying very low over the runway, but not actually touching down. The idea was to get a sense of what the speed, attitude, and everything should feel like just prior to landing.
I was surprised at how much you have to pull back on the yoke as you are landing. I think maybe I should have trimmed more, too -- that is one of the ten zillion things I so frequently forget to do when I am flying. But I did begin to have a better sense of wing flaps and so on. Also we got to try two different runways, as there was some Porter and other local traffic, so that was good too.
Repeating the climbout, turning to crosswind, followed by downwind (over the beach where Spencer is not RIP, lol!) then turning base and coming in on final over and over and over really gave me some confidence. I wish I could do that for every exercise. Stick to one thing, and really solidify it.
No doubt Lari was whistling the tune to "I Go 'Round in Circles, A-Ha" in his head, but me, I felt nothing short of pure exhilaration!
Too bad I am too busy and broke to fly for the next 10 days.
1 step forward, 2 steps back, it seems.
