Day 3 – lesson straight and level and lessons 1,2,4,5,6

I have started getting to Lashams earlier and earlier as the lessons and syllabus progress. I like being there and I love the countryside of Hamsphire. It is especially nice when the weather has been like it has for the last week. I think this weekend however may change so be aware, have your rain coats ready….

During my car journey there, i started off listening to Radio 4 but changed from Womens hour to the CD player which had LStar…My friend Gary Winner introduced me to Lstar when i visited him recently in Forest Hill.

Lstar is an amazing fresh talent who speaks and raps about positive stuff….check out his myspace site which is http://www.myspace.com/lstarproductions

I knew that Paul would be taking a different student up first. I arrived just as they were about to start the engine. I waited and saw them take off then took myself to my favourite spot outside Lashams Cafe..to revise up on notes on the previous lessons and to complete the new notes which i had as homework for today aims:-

Me climbing out of PA28 after a flight with Alan October 2006 – I don’t have my digital camera at the moment as my sister has it in Geneva…so this will do for now.

In fact I got to see Alan today and we got have a quick chat before he was discussing gliding with an ex RAF and now a BA pilot and I was by then with Paul having doing some prep for the days flying…I had already fitted the handcontrol to the rudder and left my pillow on my seat..trying to save time ahh..

AIM:
Straight and level (1) in balance at constant speed / straight and level (2) in balance at a selected aiirspeed..

Preparing The Aircraft

The aircraft must be thoroughly checked prior to conducting any flight. The checks are broken down into 5 areas and the items to be checked will be listed in the aircraft POH:

1. The external inspection of the aircraft
2. The internal inspection of the aircraft
3. The pre and post start checks
4. The Power checks
5. The pre takeoff checks

External Inspection

Below is a typical external inspection route (this may differ depending upon the aircraft you are training in…

1 General Overview
2. Enter Cockpit, check mag switches are off, fuel contents are indicated, control locks are off, flaps are lowered and brakes to park
3. Wing flaps, aileron and left wing
4. Wingtip and Port position light
5. Wing leading edge (landing light) and pitot tube
6. Fuel tank drain, port tyre and brakes
7. Static Vent
8. Properller, spinner, air intakes and taxi light (landing light if applicable)
9. Nose Gear and tyre, engine (general) and oil level
10. Fuel tank drain, Starboard tyre and brakes
11. Wing leading edge
12. Wingtip and Starboard position light
13. Wing flaps, aileron and right wing
14. Rear fuselage
15. Empennage, rotating beacon, rear facing position light, elevator, rudder and trim tab (if fitted)
16. Check that chocks, tie-downs and ropes are removed
17. Rear fuselage
18. Enter the cockpit

I did this myself today and I forgot to check the fuel tanks – VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO DO THIS – I was annoyed as i could not open the screw to checl the oil level and it distracted my focus – NOTE – EVEN IF YOU GET DISTRACTED – JUST MAKE SURE IN YOUR OWN HEAD YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED – YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO TAKE RISKS IN THE AIR
Luckily for me it was my first attempt and i had the safety of Paul to verify to him what i had done or not..

It was also the first day that i did all the other checks with him shadowing me as opposed to me shadow him do them. These checks were – COCKPIT PREP – LEAD TO START (good feeling this starting a plane for the first time – much more to do the a car but you still need a key), AFTER START, TAXIING TO DEPARTURE POINT OF RUNWAY (ONLY WITH RADIO PERMISSION), POWER CHECKS, PRE TAKE OFF, TAKE OFF, AFTER TAKE OFF.

Paul also got me to start using the radio so with a deep breath and a little practice, i pushed the radio button for the first ttime and said the following words

“Lasham Radio, this is G(olf) – A(alpha) X(x-ray) J(Juliette) V(victor) [G-AXJV) taxiing from Lashams club house along the north runway to departure point” i was expecting it to be weird but it was comfortable talking to Lashams Radio as i feel so at home there. I made a tiny mistake which i corrected swifty…

I taxied us to the departure and we ran through our pre take off checks..and once clearance to take off was given, paul asked me to throttle to full and steer the plane down the runway…i was concentrating so hard on keeping the plane in a straight lined up straight that i forgot which was left and right on the hand control and i reckon it made paul more worried then me and i forgot to watch the ASI (air speed indicator). All was fine and we took off heading 270 towards Popham with Basingstoke to our right…

I learned about Straight and level in balance at constant speed and straight and level in balance at a selected aiirspeed..

flying straight = constant heading – using ailerons to level wing

flying balanced = the equilibrum between steady and straight and level and in trim with the combined use of the rudder

AIRMANSHIP – ALWAYS LOOK OUT BEFORE DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, CHECK LOCATION – PERFORM F,M,T, P AND CH (fuel, mixture, temp, pressure and carb heat)CHECKS