Day2 - Step two and three

8th January 2009

In the Drifter at Gatton Airpark

Today we did two lessons, the first was straight and level and the basics of this is pick a point on the horizon and keep the nose pointing towards that point and don't loose or gain any height while you are maintaining your heading. It sounds simple but as I found out it takes a lot of concentration to keep the wandering up and down left and right to a minimum, but Kev said because of my minimum time I've got it wasn't too bad so no doubt it will get better as time goes on.
Then we landed at Bradfield and had a cup of coffee. Kev got me to bring it in till the fence line then he said it was his plane and for me to stay on the controls with him.

The major problem I'm having at this point is the rudder, while on the ground I cannot seem to keep the a/c (aircraft) straight. I seem to be too aggressive or something and creating a "z" pattern up the strip. I've got to slow my feet down and get my movements smoother. I guess it will come.

Then after the coffee the second session (third lesson) was turns, doing medium turns left and right, climbing turns left and right and descending turns left and right and then headed back to Kev's strip (Lynfield). At Kev's strip we join base, throttle back to a idle and Kev's giving me some prompts as to what the airspeed should be and telling me to make the turn onto final so I have the centerline lined up. I did this and the prompts kept coming, then getting near the fence I felt I may be a bit low for the fence so I dribbled in a little power and off again to make sure we cleared the fence. Then a load voice came over the intercom "get that nose down get that nose down", so I pushed the stick forward and dropped the nose by about ten degrees.

Now I can tell you at this point I was expecting Kev to be on the controls but he wasn't and the ground was coming up quick, so I started to pull the stick back to start rounding out and as I went to initiate a flair we were on the ground. Then I felt the rudder moving under my feet so thankfully Kev was keeping it straight for me as my "z" patterns on the ground are not good for the a/c or it's occupants (not with trees so close at his strip).

Three lessons and 2.6 hrs up so far and feeling like I'm progressing well, I'm stoked.