Raptor's Flight Training

[Raptor05121]

Well since I successfully accomplished my 3rd class medical, but I still have a SODA flight to do. But I contacted a local flight instructor with a 1978 C152 and today we met up, did some learning about eachother than did some briefing before we went flying. This thread is going to be an online logbook as sorts to keep track of my progress and for general entertainment.

The plane is a relatively late-model 1978 Cessna 152 with shoulder harnesses.





Coming out of Cannon Creek airpark in Lake City, FL (15FL).

Rwy 18/36, 4000x25 paved
Rwy 09/27, 3000x50 turf



We did a preflight and with relatively little instructor input, I started, taxiied, did the radio calls and lined up for takeoff. I had told him past experience with simulators and family of pilots so he I guess felt more comfortable letting me do most of the stuff. We tookoff the paved runway 36. Climbed out at 70 up to 2000 and did some basic turns. I learned the importance of rudder in a Cessna. Then did some steep 30* turns and held altitude. Turned south, climbed to 3,000 feet and did 3x power on stalls then 2x power off stalls. Stalls and recovery were something special compared to the Cherokee. Then we came around to the airport, entered the pattern, did 3x full stops on the grass 27 and parked it.

Myself, I now know the meaning of being "behind the airplane". The whole time I felt like I was playing catch up. Tracking RPM, watch the climb, maintain 70kias, dont exceed so much angle, etc etc etc. It was A LOT to take in. At work, I can take a suicidal person on the phone with me shoot himself or people screaming as a loved one is dying in front of them, but today was the most mentally challenging task I've ever experienced in my life. My brain is saturated, my back hurts (probably should've gotten comfortable prior to engine start), and I'm exhausted. But I absolutely L-O-V-E-D it. Flying is all I want to do. Its like I've been bitten all over again. Every nickel and dime I have all I want it to go towards is flying. I am frothing at the mouth just thinking of solo cross countries and seeing the world from the air.

Debrief was that the instructor was very pleased with my performance. He said my last two takeoffs couldn't have been done any better and the landings were decent for a first time. We debriefed and tomorrow is our next lesson. We have planned for more stalls, slow flight, steep turns, and go visit KLCQ (Class G towered airport 3 miles away). He asked when I want to complete training, and I told him no later than July. And he said with what he saw today, that if it took longer than April 30th, he would be astonished.

All-in-all, today is a day I'll never forget.

Logged: 0.8 hrs
Landings: 3

 

-Alex

[N201MKTurbo]

Nice looking commuter you got there...

[carusoam]

Way to go Alex!

Nice thing about simulators... They help your thought process keep up with the plane. Low cost practice practice practice....

They are not the same as flying. But they are a good practice tool...

Review two things...

- what you did today...

- what you will do on the next lesson.

Get to know your instructor. The more you know him, the more you will understand what he is looking for. The fewer things you will have to do twice...

Expect that you will have to do some things more than once. You will recognize 'cognitive overload' as you get tired....

High fives, all around!

-a-

[Raptor05121]

Way to go Alex!

Nice thing about simulators... They help your thought process keep up with the plane. Low cost practice practice practice....

They are not the same as flying. But they are a good practice tool...

Review two things...

- what you did today...

- what you will do on the next lesson.

Get to know your instructor. The more you know him, the more you will understand what he is looking for. The fewer things you will have to do twice...

Expect that you will have to do some things more than once. You will recognize 'cognitive overload' as you get tired....

High fives, all around!

-a-

 

I fly on my simulator daily. Anything from Cherokees to King Airs to Citations. But in the 15,000 hours I have behind a computer screen, doing it in real life is 100x more complex, even in a basic airframe as a 152. I can only imagine how hard a Mooney is to fly.

[Hank]

Woo--hoo!

The tired thing will improve with time, and experience will stop that behind-the-plane feeling. I used to get worn out with 1.0-1.5 hour lessons; now 3.0+ cross countries don't bother me much (especially since I got rid of my hard-clamping headset and bought Halos).

Keep up the good work. I can't believe you landed on your first lesson . . .

[carusoam]

MSFS has a TC'd Mooney Bravo in it.

Expect final approach speeds to be about 75 KIAS gear and flaps down....

They also have a C172 that will be similar in procedures to the 152 you are flying. The 152 glides a little better than the 172.

I am PP, not a CFI just so you know...

Best regards,

-a-

[Hector]

Good job Alex! After a few flights you will feel a lot more comfortable and the fun will never stop

[scottfromiowa]

Just awesome! Nice write-up. I remember that fatigue very well from the concentration. Isn't it the best? You're hooked.

Have fun,

Scott

[Danb]

Really coo stuff ..awesome for your first time. Bet you slept well..

[ryoder]

I just went through this last year in a 1976 172M with 150hp. Every once in a while tell your instructor hey I need a break its your airplane. Then look out the window and enjoy what you see. Ask him to fly you over to look at something and ask him to walk you through getting there safely. Sometimes you need to sit back and watch someone else fly and hear them speak about it to learn. I also highly recommend you find a buddy with an airplane or at least a license. Go fly with him for almost nothing and ask if you can help him with radios or navigation or keeping it straight and level. The instructor time is high pressure and high cost and you need to give yourself a little break but stay immersed and enjoy it at the same time. At least I did.

[Raptor05121]

Yes that would be nice. I need to make some more friends that fly so I can do just that. Lesson #2 was pretty good.

 

Today was flight number two. We took off 36 (sidewalk) and climbed out to 2500 and did some more stalls. Power on, power off. I'm having a problem with steep turns, I can't keep from the aircraft losing altitude, but that's more for next time. I also did slow-flight ~45mph in the landing configuration. We then went and landed next door at KLCQ and topped off the tanks.





Had some radio traffic, also coming in behind us from Cannon Creek





I prefer self-serve but I guess they gotta have something to do



Instructor with the T-34 pilot



Next flight is scheduled for Tuesday @ 9am, we are going to do some morning flying and see the difference in weather.

 

Landings today: 3
Landings total: 6
Flight time today: 1.1hrs
Flight time total: 1.9hrs

[carusoam]

Steep turns and the 152 go well together.

The challenge is getting the nose in the right attitude as you put in the bank...

If the nose falls it is not possible to bring it back up with the elevator because of the angle...

Going left will look different than banking right...one way you are 6" over the CFI. The other way you are looking up at him...

In my final skills test?, the chief CFI? demonstrated the steep turns, nicely trimmed out, hands off.....

Read...

Practice more....

[ryoder]

For steep turns you need to do two thing to cheat a bit. After you roll through thirty degrees of bank throw in a bit of nose up trim. Just rough trim it. Then add 150 or so rpms. There is no way you can expect yourself to fly straight and level without trim and this goes for steep turns as well. Consider your new 45 degree bank as a stabilized situation you need to trim for. I practiced my steep turns while soloing and did 720 in one direction until I could do it with fingertips only for the most part.

If you see an altitude loss roll out a slight bit of bank then pitch up a bit. You only need to do it well enough to pass and show that you maintain positive aircraft control so in my opinion the dpe wants to see you don't lose tons of altitude without correcting it promptly. I don't think he cares about 75 feet up or down or five degrees or more of bank. Don't let it start over banking so be at 45 but no more.

I would put a sign up at the airport asking for friends to fly with and offer to pay half their gas on their next hamburger run. Maybe a "why fly solo" headline or something.

If you were in my area I'd take you up and let you do all the radio work and fly straight and level and make standard rate turns at altitude.

[ArtVandelay]

For steep turns you need to do two thing to cheat a bit. After you roll through thirty degrees of bank throw in a bit of nose up trim.

That never worked for me, I'm always better off just flying the airplane. Ditto for DME approaches, the turn 10, twist 10 method was just to much distraction, I do better just flying by adjusting my turn by the watching my distance. Everyone is different, don't be afraid to say that this isn't working, can we try a different way.

[Hank]

For steep turns in a 172 (no time in a 152), it was roll to 45° And give the trim wheel in the panel two pulls. That will keep the nose up while you circle. I've done two circles each way without readjusting trim. You do need to push forward a little as you pass through wings level when going from left 360 to right 360, and push a lot when leveling out, then relax the push as you remove trim.

Happy flying!

[bonal]

You guys beat me to it. Wasn't that long ago for me doing the same in my 150 training for my ppl. 60 deg banks are super fun and yes 2 pulls of nose up on the trim wheel and you can just about fly Hands free. When you make it right you will get a nice little bump as you pass though your own wake. You are going to have so much fun keep up the good work and updates.

[carusoam]

Consider getting the CloudAhoy app...

It is a digital flight recorder that can grade the technical details of each of your maneuvers. (Automatically)

The app used to be completely free.

The data is easy to review and really helps your memory of where you were and what you did for an hour... Includes GPS speeds and altitude changes.

It is challenging to improve, when you can't remember every second of the flight. (Known affectionately as: the Old Guy challenge)

Best regards,

-a-

[Raptor05121]

Wow, each and every response was awesome, thanks guys!

I'll give that app a try. I don't have a GoPro (yet) so I'd like something to track my progress and make sure I'm getting better (well of course I've got a 6'0" 200lb machine already doing that in the right seat)

[Raptor05121]

Lesson #3.

I was planning on flying tomorrow morning but I was called into work tonight (6p-6a) so I called my instructor and we made a quick lesson today and the morning lesson for Wednesday.

Same as before, we went over aircraft documents, preflighted the aircraft, checked fuel, oil, etc and then we were off. I handled everything and he watched. Climb out 36 to 2,0000 then we did my anticipated steep turns. Using the advice I recieved from several of you, I did MUCH better this time. Held it within ~100 feet on the left and about the same on the right. For something new, we did engine out procedure. He reached over without warning and cut the throttle and told me my engine just stopped. Back to Vbg (60KIAS) and from 2,000 feet I selected a field 30 degrees to the right. I aimed towards it and crossing 1,800 feet we were over. I looked down and saw forestry trucks still clearing a pine farm, so that would've been a bad spot. I turned downwind for US90 eastbound, down to 1,500 then turned into the wind. 60KIAS was good for traffic flow and the road would've been a good spot to plunk her down. Approx 1,000 AGL we performed a go-around. Over to KLCQ (tower was open this time). I handled comms, was cleared for the option and did a good touch-and-go then went around and did a horrible second approach. Takeoff I learned about ground effect and saw how well she flies in it and after we went and got some fuel. Sumped tanks, then took off and went back to Cannon Creek, this time landing on 18 (4000x25) and did pretty good.

We came back, debriefed, and planned for the next flight. Wednesday morning we will do ground reference maneuvers as well as more engine-out procedures. He also brought up solo in the future. He said in the next few flights we can start to prepare for it. I have 3.2 hours right now and he said right around the ~7 hour mark I should solo. Time for the pics. I work in 9-1-1 Dispatch and yesterday I got a call for a controlled burn north of the city. Today I was able to see it.





Mo' gas (but not MoGas)





Pretty Grumman:



Calm winds today:

 

Using the Cloud Ahoy app (Free!) I was able to do this. I did not pick up when we left KLCQ to go back home, I'll have to check that out. It also does 3D in Google Earth.

[carusoam]

Alex,

You have a nice writing skills...!

Best regards,

-a-

[Raptor05121]

I haven't keep this up-to-date, but we did a XC to Jacksonville Herlong to do my medical flight test with the FAA inspector. It went great and we got all my paperwork squared away for my SODA and today I soloed!



In this picture, I am pointing to the mud and crud on the empennage of the airplane. The joke being I have brought the airplane back clean after every lesson but as soon as I solo it comes back covered in mud (some standing water on the grass runway).

[ryoder]

Congrats!

Here is me on my checkride in my trusty rental 172.

[Hector]

Congrats Alex!!!

[bonal]

Good job keep it going PPL will be soon in coming much nicer than spending time on the battlefield that is taking on an unmentionable thread. If your 152 is approved for spins be sure to get some in good experience and loads of fun

[carusoam]

Congratulations.

That is a big step.

How many hours have you cumulated so far?

Best regards,

-a-