March End, 2011 - Circuits with Anthony
Lari has gone away on holidays and left me to pursue further solos with another instructor.
Sunday, March 24
Windy as usual, so definately no soloes. To make matters worse, we were booked into a plane I had never flown before, which had additional instruments, a different radio stack, and funny wing flaps. Also, flying with a new instructor was a little nerve-wracking. Korkka knows my quirks and is patient with me, and I am more or less comfortable with him now. Someone new to discover what a complete idiot I am when it comes to flying was not something I was particularly looking forward to.
Nevertheless, I was determined not to let my slowly improving skills in the plane slide while Lari was away, so up I went with Anthony who is -- it turns out -- rather a good instructor! He takes notes while we fly, so he has something concrete to refer to when we debrief. Although it's marginally intimidating (hard to be subtle about anecdotal observation notes in a Cessna -- unlike a classroom with 28 grade 6 kids, there are only two of us in the plane, and nowhere to "hide" the notes or the process of taking them hehe), it's an excellent way to confirm gaps, questions and future goals.
So, here's what he wrote and what I am trying to remember for next time:
1. Mixture check during run-up: Watch for spike, which indicates best power ratio. (I'd always been listening for the"drop" sounds that immediately follows this, but had never watched for the preceeding visul cue. Hmmm... thinking about it now, why do we even do this? What is the point? There must be a point. Dare I ask at my next lesson and look like a moron? I guess it's probably supposed to be obvious. But not to me!)
2. Taxiing in Wind: 57 times I've been told what to do by at least 4 different helpful people, but I am still pretty clunky with this. I'm just so spatially inept, lol! Anyway, so the deal is the if the wind is coming from the front, you put your aileron control into the wind, wheras if the wind is coming from behind, you "dive away", i.e. aileron away from the wind, and elevator forward. My issue is always pausing to think "where am I going now in relation to where the wind is coming from???" 3. Briefing: Anthony's a stickler for all the details in a pre-flight briefing. (Must be a "newer instructor" thing... Korkka and I have talked about all this, but never really do it in real life.) So, here's what I missed |
apparently: Mention the x-wind, and what corrective action will be taken. Also, indicate that you'll be checking the gauges -- during the take-off roll: the temp/pressure in the green, RPMs around 2450, A/S alive. Note specifics of different engine failure scenarios -- on rwy, airbourne and height, best glide (60 in a C150) and who has control in such a case.
4. Take off Roll: Apparently I should have the elevator slightly back. (I was pushing it forward, which could cause the plane to wheelbarrow. Who knew?!)
5. Downwind Checks: Since I became more comfortable with them, I have been doing them silently. Anthony likes his students to call them out. So, I shall in future.
I am still having huge issues maintaining the centre line in Cross wind landings, but all things considered, it was not a terrible lesson. With any luck the weather on Sunday will be decent and we can solidify some of the learning.
Sunday March 27
The good news is that I remembered to watch for the rise in RPMs with the mixture check during run-up. I also did a more comprehensive briefing, including the what happens if we have an engine failure blah blah blah. I even noted what we'd be doing with the controls to correct for crosswind during take off roll. Ahhhh.... now if only I remembered to actually DO what I said I would, lol!
Take offs and landings seemed to be a real issue today again -- lots and lots of wind -- 33 is closed, so we had to deal with pretty significant Crosswind on 26. I really am such a wimp, still kind of tense with bumpy rides, and the "new" teacher doesn't help my anxiety. (Why the hell am I doing this again? Do I really need to learn how to fly? Maybe I'll go get my PhD in Education instead, and feel brilliant and smart, instead of like a complete moron all the time!!!)
The most basic of things seemed to go out the window, like, um Altitude during downwind (should be at 1250 -- do you think I could keep it there??!! Good grief, I've been flying for nearly 30 hours, you'd think I'd have this mastered by now!!) and I also kept forgetting to check engine temp and pressure during D/W. Basic memorization, and I can't seem to get it right.
Lining up the approach was not stellar 3 out of 4 times. I was pretty stressed with the wind and everything else going on.
Maybe this really is too much for me.
There's a nice little house on the ocean in PEI with my name on it. Looks out over a sand dune. And Chapters-Indigo is hiring. Maybe I could sell children's books -- nice and easy job with no homework at night. No one would know I'm a teacher... I could just do my job by day, go home at night and cook dinner for my kids like a normal mother, and maybe play in a band once a week or something to stay out of trouble. ???
Or I could stay in Toronto, teach, and keep trying to conquer this flying a plane nightmare.... I tried to book a lesson for Tuesday between work and GS, but of all people, a friend from the fall GS had already booked Anthony for that time!! No WAY I am flying with someone else and let them see how much I suck!!! So, maybe next Saturday then... (Oh I am counting the minutes until Korkka's return April 4 -- the evil you know... hehe.)
By Sat. I'll be 38. Maybe 38-year-olds fly better than 37 year olds?!
4. Take off Roll: Apparently I should have the elevator slightly back. (I was pushing it forward, which could cause the plane to wheelbarrow. Who knew?!)
5. Downwind Checks: Since I became more comfortable with them, I have been doing them silently. Anthony likes his students to call them out. So, I shall in future.
I am still having huge issues maintaining the centre line in Cross wind landings, but all things considered, it was not a terrible lesson. With any luck the weather on Sunday will be decent and we can solidify some of the learning.
Sunday March 27
The good news is that I remembered to watch for the rise in RPMs with the mixture check during run-up. I also did a more comprehensive briefing, including the what happens if we have an engine failure blah blah blah. I even noted what we'd be doing with the controls to correct for crosswind during take off roll. Ahhhh.... now if only I remembered to actually DO what I said I would, lol!
Take offs and landings seemed to be a real issue today again -- lots and lots of wind -- 33 is closed, so we had to deal with pretty significant Crosswind on 26. I really am such a wimp, still kind of tense with bumpy rides, and the "new" teacher doesn't help my anxiety. (Why the hell am I doing this again? Do I really need to learn how to fly? Maybe I'll go get my PhD in Education instead, and feel brilliant and smart, instead of like a complete moron all the time!!!)
The most basic of things seemed to go out the window, like, um Altitude during downwind (should be at 1250 -- do you think I could keep it there??!! Good grief, I've been flying for nearly 30 hours, you'd think I'd have this mastered by now!!) and I also kept forgetting to check engine temp and pressure during D/W. Basic memorization, and I can't seem to get it right.
Lining up the approach was not stellar 3 out of 4 times. I was pretty stressed with the wind and everything else going on.
Maybe this really is too much for me.
There's a nice little house on the ocean in PEI with my name on it. Looks out over a sand dune. And Chapters-Indigo is hiring. Maybe I could sell children's books -- nice and easy job with no homework at night. No one would know I'm a teacher... I could just do my job by day, go home at night and cook dinner for my kids like a normal mother, and maybe play in a band once a week or something to stay out of trouble. ???
Or I could stay in Toronto, teach, and keep trying to conquer this flying a plane nightmare.... I tried to book a lesson for Tuesday between work and GS, but of all people, a friend from the fall GS had already booked Anthony for that time!! No WAY I am flying with someone else and let them see how much I suck!!! So, maybe next Saturday then... (Oh I am counting the minutes until Korkka's return April 4 -- the evil you know... hehe.)
By Sat. I'll be 38. Maybe 38-year-olds fly better than 37 year olds?!