Simviation Forum - It has begun................

Feb 27^th, 2007 at 6:43pm

Mobius Offline
Colonel
Highest Point in the Lightning
Storm
Wisconsin

Posts: 4369

I took my first Instrument lesson today. Smiley

It was a perfect day to start, it's been snowing and blowing here the last four days, and it's supposed to do the same for the next four days, but today, the overcast was at 5500 ft, with a scattered layer at 3000 ft, and no noticeable wind or precipitation. I'm taking lessons in the aircraft I've been flying, N3477E, and my instructor is the owner and namesake of the airport, which made me a bit nervous to go flying with him, but he's really nice, and a great instructor, so it all worked out. We took off, and climbed up to 2000 feet (1000 AGL), and contacted Madison approach for traffic advisories, and once we were clear of the Class C airspace, the hood went on, and I was logging instrument time. We started off by trimming for 90 knots, and I flew the airplane using only power and the rudder, which I'd never done before. It really amazed me how little you would actually need the yoke to fly. We did climbs, descents, and turns, all only with rudder and power, never touching the yoke or trim, so we would maintain 90 kts the whole time. Once we had flown around a bit more, I was able to use the yoke again, and we intercepted the 76 degree radial 20 miles out from the Madison VOR, and flew a VOR approach back to the airport. I was allowed to take the hood off to fly the approach, because by this time, we had flown into the lower cloud layer, and we were flying in and out of some smaller puffy cumulus type scud as we approached the airport. We broke out of the side of a bank of clouds about 2.5 miles from the airport, and at 2500 ft, and I was able to enter the pattern and make one of those landings where the only indication that you've landed is the wheels are suddenly rolling. I couldn't have asked for anything better, and I can't wait until we go again.

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Reply #1 - Feb 28^th, 2007 at 12:15am

RitterKreuz Offline
Colonel
Texas

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Good luck. Wink

It is without a doubt the bachelors degree of aviation! Probably the most difficult next to the ATP, but it will open up a lot of options to you in flight.

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Reply #2 - Feb 28^th, 2007 at 8:58am

TSC. Offline
Colonel
The older I get, the better
I was...
Torquay, Devon, England.

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Congrats & good luck Mobius

TSC.

'Only two things are infinite.......The Universe and Human stupidity........and I'm not too sure about the Universe' - Einstein

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Reply #3 - Feb 28^th, 2007 at 9:23pm

Boss_BlueAngels Offline
Colonel
I fly airplanes upside
down for fun.
Snohomish

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Quote:

Good luck. Wink

It is without a doubt the bachelors degree of aviation! Probably the most difficult next to the ATP, but it will open up a lot of options to you in flight.

Boy that sure is the truth!

This is where you really learn how many things are working against you in aviation. Study, study, study!

Instrument is a completely different ball game. Your VFR flights will leave you extremely bored from now on.

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 #4 - Feb 28^th, 2007 at 9:59pm

Mobius Offline
Colonel
Highest Point in the Lightning
Storm
Wisconsin

Posts: 4369

Thanks guys, I learned more about flying yesterday than I have in a long time. Reading all the books I have for it is a lot better than what I normally have to read for school, so reading my IFR material is a nice break. I really can't wait until next week.

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Reply #5 - Feb 28^th, 2007 at 11:02pm

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

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Outstanding- more inspiration for me to start my IR.
good luck, and enjoy! Grin

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Reply #6 - Mar 1^st, 2007 at 12:15pm

Mobius Offline
Colonel
Highest Point in the Lightning
Storm
Wisconsin

Posts: 4369

Thanks Sean, I was a little reluctant to start as well, but it's been well worth it, and I've only had one lesson so far. Grin

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Reply #7 - Mar 1^st, 2007 at 12:59pm

Brett_Henderson Offline
Colonel
EVERY OUTER MARKER SHOULD
BE AN NDB

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After about 20 hours of instrument time (try to make as much of it actual as possible), you'll find that trimming, holding altitudes and headings while VFR will become much easier, almost automatic. You'll find that you do many VFR tasks without having to think it through (as much Wink

)

As you drill on what instruments are primary and which are secondary, for all those "tasks" (climbing/descending turns whether constant airspeed or constant vertical speed; constant altitude manuevers, etc. etc. etc. )... don't try to memorize them; try to visualize WHY.. And even (clear this with your CFII), try to adapt your own instrument priority.

What helped me most (and it kinda branched into all aspects of instrument flight), was how I learned to manage altitude in turbulence. Always always always reference small altitude corrections by the attitude-indicator.. Never never never initiate an altitude change by altimeter (as obvious as that sounds.. you'll be surprised how, at first, you'll neglect the attitude-indicator)..

Good luck and study hard.. the written is a pain.. Angry

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Reply #8 - Mar 1^st, 2007 at 7:30pm

RitterKreuz Offline
Colonel
Texas

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oh God! primary and supporting instruments!

the poor examiner - i stumbled through 15 minutes of that on the oral. Grin

FLASHBACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cry

lmao

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Reply #9 - Mar 1^st, 2007 at 10:12pm

Brett_Henderson Offline
Colonel
EVERY OUTER MARKER SHOULD
BE AN NDB

Gender:
Posts: 3593

Quote:

oh God! primary and supporting instruments!

the poor examiner - i stumbled through 15 minutes of that on the oral.

FLASHBACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lmao

Yeah.. lol .. that's what I mean. Trying to memorize them, ala regurgitating it for the oral isn't the best way (IMHO). I stopped trying and just started THINKING about WHY one would be primary in one situation, and then secondary for a ver similar situation. Once one scenario clicks in your head (while you're in the plane, IMC), the rest just fall into place..

When it's literally white outside of every opening in the plane, and your whole world is a cluster of instruments... if you try to force yourself to prioritize a scan by some drill, you'll get into trouble if you don't really understand why.

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