PILOT SPIN
Pilot Zone => Pilot Zone => Topic started by: Username on July 28, 2020, 05:40:57 AM
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Perfect day for flying on Friday. Not too hot, breeze right down the long runway, just enough clouds to make it interesting. Did some sightseeing, watching the boats far below. Had to turn around with the clouds getting a little too close to the airport. Stuck the 3-point landing perfectly. Just one of those days where everything went right. Great to get away from all the chaos below and just enjoy the freedom of flight. Everything looks good from 2000 feet. 0.8 hours of aviation therapy.
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It is helpful isn't it? What do you fly?
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It is helpful isn't it? What do you fly?
Cessna 170. I have some 15 hours in it so far and I'm still working up the learning curve. Taking things slowly, adding challenges a little at a time. I've only ground-looped it once. Taxiing out in a strong wind (with the instructor!) and going across the empty transient area. Wind caught the tail and before I knew it I was spinning around and pointing in the wrong direction. Big attention getter. And way more fun when the little wheel is in the back.
This aviation therapy is great.
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Cessna 170. I have some 15 hours in it so far and I'm still working up the learning curve. Taking things slowly, adding challenges a little at a time. I've only ground-looped it once. Taxiing out in a strong wind (with the instructor!) and going across the empty transient area. Wind caught the tail and before I knew it I was spinning around and pointing in the wrong direction. Big attention getter. And way more fun when the little wheel is in the back.
This aviation therapy is great.
I'm envious! I've never flown a tail wheel airplane as I couldn't justify the rental expense as an aircraft owner. The C-170 is probably one of the better ones to learn on. Great airplane for sure. My perspective is that things happen very quickly so you must be spring loaded on the rudder to counteract the winds. You pretty much confirmed that.
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Spring loaded is right. Things do happen very quickly if you're not paying attention. My flying has always been reactive... notice something not right and fix it. That works pretty well when things go wrong slowly. When things go wrong quickly it doesn't matter how tight the spring is, you'll be too late. What the ground loop taught me is to always pay attention and don't tolerate anything that is off. If it's just a little off, it will only get worse. Fix it now. Better yet, fix it before it gets off at all. I'm getting to the point where it feels natural to anticipate what's going on and it's getting more unconscious. And now I REALLY have to concentrate to make sure that natural != complacent. It's an amazing learning experience.
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Spring loaded is right. Things do happen very quickly if you're not paying attention. My flying has always been reactive... notice something not right and fix it. That works pretty well when things go wrong slowly. When things go wrong quickly it doesn't matter how tight the spring is, you'll be too late. What the ground loop taught me is to always pay attention and don't tolerate anything that is off. If it's just a little off, it will only get worse. Fix it now. Better yet, fix it before it gets off at all. I'm getting to the point where it feels natural to anticipate what's going on and it's getting more unconscious. And now I REALLY have to concentrate to make sure that natural != complacent. It's an amazing learning experience.
Totally awesome! Congratulations. I haven’t flown a tailwheel for about 14 months but hope to get back to our CAF Wisconsin Wing’s 1943 Fairchild PT-26 Cornell one we receive our new magneto.
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I'm envious! I've never flown a tail wheel airplane as I couldn't justify the rental expense as an aircraft owner. The C-170 is probably one of the better ones to learn on. Great airplane for sure. My perspective is that things happen very quickly so you must be spring loaded on the rudder to counteract the winds. You pretty much confirmed that.
Anthony, have you considered the Commemorative Air Force? The Delaware Valley Wing flies out of Princeton Airport in NJ, and has a Stinson Model 10/L-9. I’m not sure if they are looking for more pilots, but if they are, this is the cheapest way to get into a tailwheel Warbird.
Check out www.delawarevalleywing-caf.org.
I’d be happy to talk to you more about it offline.
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Anthony, have you considered the Commemorative Air Force?
I'm still annoyed with them for changing their name.
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I'm still annoyed with them for changing their name.
That was about 18 years ago. Let it go.
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Anthony, have you considered the Commemorative Air Force? The Delaware Valley Wing flies out of Princeton Airport in NJ, and has a Stinson Model 10/L-9. I’m not sure if they are looking for more pilots, but if they are, this is the cheapest way to get into a tailwheel Warbird.
Check out www.delawarevalleywing-caf.org.
I’d be happy to talk to you more about it offline.
Thanks Stan. I may consider that at some point, however, I prefer something closer with more dispatch availability. Princeton is about an hour and a half drive for me. I have to decide where I want to go. I still like the travelling capabilities but at some point I'd like to try low and slow also.