Flying Lessons

Lesson 14: Simulated IFR

September 22, 2004,Maule M7

The weather is bad so George shows up in the Maule and proposes some simulated instrument work. I do fairly well, only blowing past a target course as I fixated on other instruments. Getting that scan wired is critical.

Lesson 15: Cub Checkout

September 28, 2004, J-3 Cub

George has me do everything to see if I'm ready to take the cub out by myself. I again try stalls while in a slip and can say that this airplane shows no tendency to go into a spin. We also do some really steep turns.

We practice landings at a couple of airports. I misjudge the approach to Port Orchard and land fairly far down the runway. No wind today so landings are fairly easy.

At the end George says he wants to see me do some more cross wind landings.

Lesson 16: Cub Checkout

October 21, 2004, J-3 Cub

I've been away to the Sierras for hiking and Menlo Park for work I'm glad to be going out with George one more time after being away for a while.

No wind today so we go up to Paine Field where George has me do an exercise that uses the same co-ordination as a cross wind landing. On the takeoff roll I bring the tail off the ground then lift one wing, hold it up, and keep the airplane going straight. Lower the wing then lift the other. I can do 3 before it's time to lift off. After I lift a wing there is a short delay then the plane wants to drift sideway. A little rudder yaws it into a mild slip straight down the runway. Setting the wheel back down causes a yaw to the other side. I work at putting the wheel down as gently as possible and preventing the yaw.

George cautions me to not practice these when he's not in the airplane.

He also has me work on setting the airplane down on the numbers. There are lights right at the threshold and I'm nervous about taking them out on a low approach. I look forward to flying my own plane enough to be really familiar with it's handling.

On the way back to Boeing Field and even on approach to landing I see George nodding off to sleep. I take this as a sign of confidence. I try to think of a way to joke about not paying him for time sleeping but don't come up with anything that would sound like the pure joke I mean.

So, I'm good to go in the Cub. 16 lessons and 25 hours, covering tail wheel landings and maneuvering at edge conditions, including spins. I'll fly solo a couple times then, if comfortable, start taking friends. I still have a lot to learn about landing tail-wheel aircraft, but now I'm able to go practice myself.

Flying the Cub

November 6, 2004

It is a fun plane to fly though very slow to get anywhere. Best if you want to enjoy the scenery.

My first practice session was a beautiful fall day, not too cold, late afternoon light and fall colors on the trees. I went to Crest Airpark. Landing to the north there is a dog leg from the clear approach to the runway. I would slip it in, roll out 50 ft above ground, then make the gentle turn to the runway about 20ft up. I felt like a pretty hot flyer until my wheels touched down and the plane proceeded to bounce.

My main struggle has been judging touchdown correctly. I was often too low, let the main wheels hit, then proceeded to bounce down the runway. My last outting I did much better, generally having the stick all the way back and the plane fully stalled before touchdown. I feel a little more confident with wheel landings: I have a good view forward and can much better judge position of the airplane. My oppinion of this may change as I work on more cross wind landings.

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