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workin' on comm. license!   (Read 164 times)
Oct 8th, 2005 at 3:00pm

Boss_BlueAngels   Offline
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I fly airplanes upside
down for fun.
Snohomish

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The last several weeks I've been doing training for my commercial license.  I learned all the new maneuvers in the schools 152 and two days ago FINALLY got to start training in the schools 2004 Piper PA-28T-201 Arrow!  For those who may not know, the Arrow is the complex version of the Warrior and is a bit bigger and beefier.  She's got retractable landing gear, constant speed prop, TIS, full autopilot and electric trim! 

Man, what a sweet plane this is!  The thing that really amaze me was how incredibly HEAVY the plane is to fly!  You realy have to man-handle that beast.  Certainly not like flying our IFR Warriors, and not even on the same planet as the 152.  After that first flight my arms were sore, and my legs from the brakes! haha. 

I had my second flight in it yesterday and had another studnet in the back.  Another thing that is different about the plane is how much you notice the extra weight!  On the Warrior, I could keep the same RPM and everything for landings... but with the Arrow now, I had to keep it at about 18" MAP from abeam clear to crossing the threshold, instead of the regular 15"  Also, I had to be really careful as to when I started to ease back the power as that thing flares like a brick.  When it is trimed, the plane flys wonderfully, but trying to maneuver can be tricky.  It's so weird because i'll have the yoke at about a 45* angle and the thing just barely starts to roll. lol  I ended yesterdays flight with an absolutly beautiful landing!  We had a bit of a cross wind, and I touched the left main down, then the right, and then the nose... and it was so gentle!  Dang, I was so happy!  My instructor was impressed too!

Anyway, it's pretty sweet.  Next week I get to start practicing the maneuvers in the Arrow.  hopefully by late next week I'll be ready for the complex endorsement and go out and do solo fights in the pane.  The $200/hr with instructor is a bit steep.  (It's $160 hour solo)  So yeah, it's fun, and I'm having a BLAST!
 

The day is always better when you're flying upside down.&&&&www.fight2flyphoto.com&&&&Canon RebelXT&&Canon 18-55mm&&Sigma 10-20mm F/4-6.3&&Sigma 100-300mm F/4-6.3&&Sigma 50-500mm F/4-6.3
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Reply #1 - Oct 9th, 2005 at 10:16pm

beaky   Offline
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Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

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Keep up the good work...
Smiley
 

...
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Reply #2 - Oct 10th, 2005 at 6:29pm

Jared   Offline
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I'd rather be flying...
Uniontown, Ohio

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Sounds like it's all starting to come together for you.. Smiley
 
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Reply #3 - Oct 11th, 2005 at 7:19pm

Citationpilot   Offline
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Quote:
The thing that really amaze me was how incredibly HEAVY the plane is to fly!  You realy have to man-handle that beast.  Certainly not like flying our IFR Warriors, and not even on the same planet as the 152.  After that first flight my arms were sore, and my legs from the brakes! haha. 


I always have a nice little laugh when new commercial students say that! And every one does. Just remember how you feel now, after your first Seneca flight your opinion on the heaviness of the Arrow will certainlly change Grin

Have a good day.
 
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