Fourth Lesson

The saga continues...

Two lessons in one week - woo hoo!

This time for takeoff we had about a 7 knot crosswind, pretty much
right across the runway. My instructor explained what I should do
with the ailerons on takeoff given the crosswind. This is one of
those situations as a newbie where you find it hard to multi-task.
Thankfully I didn't have my usual problem with putting in full
throttle, so I didn't have to focus on that. As we were rolling down
the runway I kept focusing on what I was doing with the ailerons.
Picking up speed - better take out a little of the left aileron.
Oops, we are starting to drift away from the center of the runway.
Over corrected there, need to get back to the center. Take out some
more aileron. Rats, drifting again...

You wouldn't think it would be that hard to divide your attention
between two things like that, but add in nervousness/excitement and my
lack of skill and experience, and it wasn't easy.

In the air we did steep turns, turns around a point on the ground, and
S turns. I did pretty well with the steep turns, and so-so on the
ground reference maneuvers. There was a pretty good wind and it was a
little bumpy, but I managed to maintain altitude pretty well. My
instructor said I was handling the plane very well considering it was
just my fourth lesson. That was music to my ears!

I have to say one other thing about this experience of flight
training. I have always wanted to be a pilot, but when I have gone to
general aviation airports in the past I have always felt like an
outsider there because I wasn't a pilot. Now when I drive into that
parking lot and see those planes parked on the ramp, I feel like I
belong there. Even though I am not a pilot yet, I don't feel like
some kind of interloper anymore. I have been outside the fence
looking in for so long, it sure feels good to feel like I belong
inside.

On Jun 16, 2:49 pm, "Bob Gardner" <bob...@> wrote:
> Don't be so quick to remove the aileron...worst thing that can happen is
> that the wing will dip a little as you lift off. You should go from full
> aileron deflection as you begin the roll, to some aileron as you lift off.
> Never get rid of all of it. On landing, the situation is reversed...the
> amount of aileron deflection needed will increase as you decelerate.
>
> Bob Gardner
>

That is what I was attempting to do. I started with full deflection,
and then as I accelerated I removed more and more aileron. It was
just hard to do that and steer the plane at the same time. I am able
to walk and chew gum at the same time, but I have a lot more practice
at that! :-)

On 06/16/07 10:35, Phil wrote:
> The saga continues...
>
> Two lessons in one week - woo hoo!
>
> This time for takeoff we had about a 7 knot crosswind, pretty much
> right across the runway. My instructor explained what I should do
> with the ailerons on takeoff given the crosswind. This is one of
> those situations as a newbie where you find it hard to multi-task.
> Thankfully I didn't have my usual problem with putting in full
> throttle, so I didn't have to focus on that. As we were rolling down
> the runway I kept focusing on what I was doing with the ailerons.
> Picking up speed - better take out a little of the left aileron.
> Oops, we are starting to drift away from the center of the runway.
> Over corrected there, need to get back to the center. Take out some
> more aileron. Rats, drifting again...
>
> You wouldn't think it would be that hard to divide your attention
> between two things like that, but add in nervousness/excitement and my
> lack of skill and experience, and it wasn't easy.
>
> In the air we did steep turns, turns around a point on the ground, and
> S turns. I did pretty well with the steep turns, and so-so on the
> ground reference maneuvers. There was a pretty good wind and it was a
> little bumpy, but I managed to maintain altitude pretty well. My
> instructor said I was handling the plane very well considering it was
> just my fourth lesson. That was music to my ears!
>
> I have to say one other thing about this experience of flight
> training. I have always wanted to be a pilot, but when I have gone to
> general aviation airports in the past I have always felt like an
> outsider there because I wasn't a pilot. Now when I drive into that
> parking lot and see those planes parked on the ramp, I feel like I
> belong there. Even though I am not a pilot yet, I don't feel like
> some kind of interloper anymore. I have been outside the fence
> looking in for so long, it sure feels good to feel like I belong
> inside.
>

Who says you're not a Pilot? You're flying an airplane, so you're a pilot!
Now, you just need to improve your skills and knowledge to the point where
you can get a piece of paper from the examiner, but as soon as you sat in
that airplane and caused it to take flight, you became a pilot.

It does feel wonderful, doesn't it? I pity those who have never experienced
it for themselves.

Best Regards,

--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane, USUA Ultralight Pilot
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA

I remember when I was first taking flying lessons in Vancouver, WA (which
is on the north edge of the Portland metropolitan area). It wasn't until
after I had taken many, many lessons/flights that I noticed the beautiful
city skyline. Until that point, I had been so focused on what I was doing
to fly the airplane, I had never thought to notice the beauty just outside
the window.