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Real Landing (Read 489 times)

Aug 29^th, 2005 at 12:07pm

TacitBlue Offline
Colonel
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Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA

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Posts: 5391

Well, I'm up to seven hours now in my flight training. Saturday I made my first real landing! I think I had one of those break through moments where you go "oooh! that's how its done!", but unfortunately that was the last landing of the day at the end of my hour, so I didn't get to try it again. Anyway, I'm really excited because it's starting settle in that this is something that I really can do, you know? It's like now more than ever I know that I am going to be a pilot. I just thought I would share my elation with you all, because you guys would understand.

A&P Mechanic, Rankin Aircraft 78Y

Aircraft are naturally beautiful because form follows function. -TB

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Reply #1 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 12:16pm

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

Nice one, probably one of the most important moments in a pilot's career...

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Reply #2 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 1:04pm

beaky Offline
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Newark, NJ USA

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How sweet it is... congrats.
Grin

Grin

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Reply #3 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 2:17pm

MarcoAviator Offline
Colonel
Real Life Pilot
NJ, USA

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Posts: 151

Quote:

Well, I'm up to seven hours now in my flight training. Saturday I made my first real landing! I think I had one of those break through moments where you go "oooh! that's how its done!", but unfortunately that was the last landing of the day at the end of my hour, so I didn't get to try it again. Anyway, I'm really excited because it's starting settle in that this is something that I really can do, you know? It's like now more than ever I know that I am going to be a pilot. I just thought I would share my elation with you all, because you guys would understand.

Be ready to "lose" that moment over and over again in the next 200 hours or so of your career.

Many days, even after you get a TON of additional ratings and well past your private pilot license, and hundreds of hours ... you will have days when the only type of landing you seem to be able to make is one that requires spinal surgery at the end ...

Not to disappoint you .. just to prepare you.

Landing is a fickle endeavour. Landing is an art, not a science ... it has a lot to do with feel and if that day you don't "feel" it ... you will feel the landing gears reaching the stops when you thump on the runway.

Then you have those days where you can't seem to get a landing wrong even if you try ... Grin

Grin

It comes and goes. The bad days and the good days.

Keep at it! 8)

The Pilot Lounge (my aviation forum)&&Marco's Hangar (my blog)

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Reply #4 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 2:24pm

TacitBlue Offline
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That's right, I have my
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Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA

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LOL, yeah I figured that. I've been doing take-offs since hour three, and I have good ones and bad ones. I know take-offs aren't as hard as landings, but still the same kind of "art not science" sort of thing. I think I'm prepared for all of the ups and downs that are most deffinately coming my way. Wink

Wink

A&P Mechanic, Rankin Aircraft 78Y

Aircraft are naturally beautiful because form follows function. -TB

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Reply #5 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 2:37pm

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

Quote:

Landing is an art, not a science...

Landing is a precise science, with a little artistic endeavour in the last few feet... Grin

Grin

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Reply #6 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 2:40pm

Rocket_Bird Offline
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Canada

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I used to have trouble with my takeoffs a bit too. Landings even more. And its right, its a total art. Some days you can get good landings and some days you can get bad ones. Once you get the feel for it, its all good.

Just some hints for the takeoff (and also landing), I always just like to think "Do things smoooootthlly". Plus on take off, keep both your feet on your rudder pedals, and always keep a little bit of pressure on the right rudder to keep it centered. I like to call the ole props Right Rudder Machines. Since you need right rudder to keep it straight, and to get your climb performance.

Cheers,
RB

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Reply #7 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 2:50pm

Sytse Offline
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Virtual Red Arrows
The Netherlands

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Congratulations on your very first 'succesfull' landing. I'm looking forward to mine.

Quote:

keep both your feet on your rudder pedals

Grin

Ooooh! That's what I've been doing wrong! Grin

Grin

&&Virtual Red Arrows homepage

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Reply #8 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 2:57pm

MarcoAviator Offline
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Real Life Pilot
NJ, USA

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Posts: 151

Have you guys ever tried to take off in a taildragger?

I mean a REAL one? (not a simulated one)

I have about 5 hours in an Aeronca Champ and boy oh boy ... winds up that takeoffs are more stressful than landings in taildraggers ... at least they are for me.

The Pilot Lounge (my aviation forum)&&Marco's Hangar (my blog)

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Reply #9 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 3:58pm

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

Quote:

Have you guys ever tried to take off in a taildragger?

I mean a REAL one? (not a simulated one)

I have about 5 hours in an Aeronca Champ and boy oh boy ... winds up that takeoffs are more stressful than landings in taildraggers ... at least they are for me.

I spent about 10 minutes taying a Harvard around (at quite reasonable speeds too). It was an eye opening experience, but I'd be intrigued to get some proper flight time...

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Reply #10 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 4:04pm

TacitBlue Offline
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That's right, I have my
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Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA

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I would like to get a tail wheel rating. My instructor is restoring a taildragger to give lessons in. I don't remember what its called, but its basically a Cub clone.

A&P Mechanic, Rankin Aircraft 78Y

Aircraft are naturally beautiful because form follows function. -TB

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Reply #11 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 4:11pm

MarcoAviator Offline
Colonel
Real Life Pilot
NJ, USA

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Posts: 151

Quote:

I would like to get a tail wheel rating. My instructor is restoring a taildragger to give lessons in. I don't remember what its called, but its basically a Cub clone.

So is my instructor ... he's restoring a Champ which (he promises) he will let me fly ... (the Champ I currently fly is 50 miles away ... at Van Sant. Nice grass field but having to drive an hour is not entertaining ...

The Pilot Lounge (my aviation forum)&&Marco's Hangar (my blog)

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Reply #12 - Aug 29^th, 2005 at 4:16pm

TacitBlue Offline
Colonel
That's right, I have my
own logo.
Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA

Gender:
Posts: 5391

I already drive about an hour for lessons. It's way cheaper than going to the local airport. I'm sure spend more in gas to get there than I would going to the local airport, but then I wouldn't have the great instructor that I do now.

A&P Mechanic, Rankin Aircraft 78Y

Aircraft are naturally beautiful because form follows function. -TB

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Reply #13 - Aug 30^th, 2005 at 8:57am

Staiduk Offline
Colonel

Posts: 1040

Quote:

Have you guys ever tried to take off in a taildragger?

I mean a REAL one? (not a simulated one)

I have about 5 hours in an Aeronca Champ and boy oh boy ... winds up that takeoffs are more stressful than landings in taildraggers ... at least they are for me.

Trust me on this - you want a stressful takeoff in a taildragger? Fly tow. There's really no such thing as 'not fun' flying, unless you're one of those poor benighted fools who have to wear a tie to go babysit an aluminum hot dog, but tow sure comes close. I never did it long enough to really become comfortable - that takes years; and according to the more senior pilots; it never becomes routine; dragging a pair of freeloaders up to 2000ft. over and over again.
Worse; if there's a student way back there.
EVEN worse; if there's an Air Cadet back there! Grin

Grin

But as for just flying taildraggers; you've got 5 hours - give it time. If you - like most - are used to trikes; it feels a helluva lot different but believe me it gets comfortable real quick. Taxiing a GA 'dragger like the Citabria is more intuitive than steering a Cessna. That means its a bit harder to get used to; but once you do its totally natural. In fact - once you get your rating; I'm willing to bet you find a 172 comparitively cumbersome and awkward!

Cheers!

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Reply #14 - Aug 30^th, 2005 at 9:07am

Staiduk Offline
Colonel

Posts: 1040

Whoops - forgot the man of the hour!

Great job, Tacit! You've passed another mark on the way to freedom!

Just keep in mind one thing: A lot of students I know (I was one of 'em) hit the 'I Know Everything' wall at around 40 hours. Be warned in advance - don't do it. I don't care if you fly for 10,000 hours - never take any landing for granted. There's a lot of things you can't screw up in aviation; and landing tops the list. You haven't seen yet just how quickly a landing can go bad. There's gonna be a lot of times in your flying career you're going to stop and ask yourself "What the hell just happened?" Every time that happens; it's vitally important you answer that question BEFORE you fly again.

Cheers! And congrats!

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