swinger_006
Member
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 17
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Well, today's lesson was the first time that things are starting to feel 'natural' in the Cub...
Got my first-class medical this morning, along with my student pilot certificate, so I was able to drive out onto the flightline and do my own preflight without my instructor. That felt kind of cool. About halfway through my preflight, a guy drove a big silver corvette up next to a hangar with a big silver Stearman in it. As I walked past towards the restrooms he was washing the car and asked, "You taking that Cub up today?"
"Yeah..." I said, feeling a bit stupefied in the presence of all the expensive equipment. But he shook his head and said, "I envy you man! Keep that door open." I laughed and said, "always!"
I guess that's a testament to the magic of these little planes.
Anyhow, I managed to communicate fairly well with ATC, and taxiing felt almost natural. My big triumph was managing to take off without flailing about stupidly all over the runway! I actually got the nose to head in the same direction for the entire takeoff roll. We did power-on and power-off stalls, with and without wing drops, as well as reviewing slow flight (I got her down to about 35...) and steep turns.
On the way back after landing (I'm not landing yet, but started flying the pattern today), my instructor gave me some more lessons in ground handling. He gave me a subtle hint by asking me about controlling/stopping swerve during taxi...then kicked the rudders at different points during taxi to make sure I could handle it! Being able to get the Cub under control after those unexpected shifts really helped my condfience.
Anyhow, stay tuned, because I'm sure there are more exciting things I'll have to tell you all about....
Tim Gill
Got my first-class medical this morning, along with my student pilot certificate, so I was able to drive out onto the flightline and do my own preflight without my instructor. That felt kind of cool. About halfway through my preflight, a guy drove a big silver corvette up next to a hangar with a big silver Stearman in it. As I walked past towards the restrooms he was washing the car and asked, "You taking that Cub up today?"
"Yeah..." I said, feeling a bit stupefied in the presence of all the expensive equipment. But he shook his head and said, "I envy you man! Keep that door open." I laughed and said, "always!"
I guess that's a testament to the magic of these little planes.
Anyhow, I managed to communicate fairly well with ATC, and taxiing felt almost natural. My big triumph was managing to take off without flailing about stupidly all over the runway! I actually got the nose to head in the same direction for the entire takeoff roll. We did power-on and power-off stalls, with and without wing drops, as well as reviewing slow flight (I got her down to about 35...) and steep turns.
On the way back after landing (I'm not landing yet, but started flying the pattern today), my instructor gave me some more lessons in ground handling. He gave me a subtle hint by asking me about controlling/stopping swerve during taxi...then kicked the rudders at different points during taxi to make sure I could handle it! Being able to get the Cub under control after those unexpected shifts really helped my condfience.
Anyhow, stay tuned, because I'm sure there are more exciting things I'll have to tell you all about....
Tim Gill
