Thread: Its starting to come together!

With all the great advice I've got from the members here, I finally had a sit down with my instructor and hammered out some of my gripes and he was totally understanding. We were going to fly a second x country that day but weather was bad so we just sat at the fbo for 3 hours and he was quizzing me, going over xc planning, weather, etc and only charged 1 hr of his time. I also (thanks to Scott J) have my checkride scheduled with Barb Mack who will come to my home airport and administer the checkride on May 20th. I'm very nervous and hope I get at least 5 or 6 more hours in before the test.

It was the advice of the members of this site that kept me from quitting and I want to thank all of you for putting up with my complaining and frustration.

I hope I pass or I'll be right back here crying like a baby...LOL

Thx,
James

James,

Glad to hear that it is going better for you. If your CFI signs you off to take the checkride, he is confident you can pass it. Have the same confidence in yourself. Study and train to be ready for it, but it's nothing to panic over.

Glad to hear James!
You will be fine. The PTS has everything you need to know, if you can meet those standards consistantly with your instructor you have it made.

Good luck

Eric Swisher
Copper City Aviation Services

Thanks guys! My biggest concern is precision at this point. I still find myself drifting off altitude (usually climbing) if I try to fly by sight picture alone for too long. What do you guys think gives a better sight picture, sitting higher or lower? At first I was using 2 cushons and now only 1.

Thx,
James

It's not so much site picture. Make sure you get it trimmed out for level flight and use a very light touch on the stick. If you wrap your hand around the stick you will pull it back ever so slightly causing the climb. Tom

Originally Posted by James253CT

Thanks guys! My biggest concern is precision at this point. I still find myself drifting off altitude (usually climbing) if I try to fly by sight picture alone for too long. What do you guys think gives a better sight picture, sitting higher or lower? At first I was using 2 cushons and now only 1.




Thx,
James

The "usually climbing" is the clue that the airplane is not trimmed up. If trimmed up correctly the errors above and below will be about equal.

It the plane is trimmed for climb then anytime the attention is drawn elsewhere the airplane will climb. And vice versa.

Good luck!

Russ (LSA CFI)

Originally Posted by 3Dreaming

It's not so much site picture. Make sure you get it trimmed out for level flight and use a very light touch on the stick. If you wrap your hand around the stick you will pull it back ever so slightly causing the climb. Tom

Thanks for the advice, next time I go up I"m going to experiment with trim and power settings. I usually trim up for take off and landing and once I reach altitude I try to get it to fly level with hands off the stick. That is why I was thinking maybe my sight picture isn't right. I usually try find a bug or mark on the windshield that lines up with the horzion and that works ok somewhat. Its more of a problem once distractions are applied...

Hi James,

Sight picture will vary depending on how you are seated, but in general in straight and level cruise -6 flaps the horizon should be about midway in the wind screen, for climbs at Vy with 0 or -6 flaps the horizon will be about the intersection of the instrument panel and the windscreen. For descent about 500 fpm with 15 flaps the horizon will be about the top of the door posts. It will get you close then you can make small adjustments from there. When trimming hold the attitude you need, let the airspeed stabilize then adjust the trim to relief the pressure so it flies hands off.

Regards
Eric Swisher
Copper City Aviation Services

I got the best news of all yesterday. My old CFI I started flying with struck a deal with the FBO/CT owner and now I will have another CFI and access to the plane on SAT afternoons and Sundays. I've been trying to make this happen for almost a year. I'm very excited that I am going to be able to get some time with him and have a second CFIs perspective.

All of my CFI signoffs (particularly PP-glider) were much harder than my checkrides. If you get the signoff, you are prepared to pass the checkride. No CFI wants to have a student fail.

Doug