CJones
Final Approach
Just got back from flying with Tony to get my BFR current and up-to-date. We went out in the RV and did the basic maneuvers - steep turns, stalls, etc. I think I did them decently (safely at least). It was good for me to get out and do the 'boring' stuff we all do when preparing for the BFR since I never make myself take the time to do them when I have the plane simply b/c when I HAVE the plane, I want to GO somewhere - no time for lolly-gagging around, right!?
Well.. My sense of self with regard to aviation ability was knocked down a couple of notches during the 'landing' phase of the flight review. My patterns were horrible - not 'squared off' like they should and USED to be. My approach speeds were screwed up - pulling too hard when turning to base instead of allowing a descent like I SHOULD be and USED to do on base. But possibly the worst experience was peforming a simulated engine failure to landing. Honestly, I've never made myself practice this maneuver in the RV - get in the plane and go somewhere rather than 'practice' anything. So.. We pull power at midfield downwind. Trim the plane out for ~80kts. I wait too long to turn base for the rwy, so I try to streeeeeetttcccchhh the glide to the runway on a HORRIBLE final approach (b/c I used up to much altitude on my base). About 10-12' above the runway, the wing says "I'm tired of flying" and KA-WHAM down we go. Those steel gear legs did their 'do' and put us back up in the air ~10' again. Full power, forward prop, and away we go. I didn't really get 'scared' b/c I didn't have time to get scared - reaction set in: Power, prop, CONTROL THE PLANE. But, after departing the dent we left in the runway, and realizing that we still had a functional airplane I became - and still am - angry at myself. I KNOW better than to do that! 1.) There is no sense in trying to 'stretch' a SIMULATED engine failure maneuver. 2.) Why would I pull back to try and make the plane fly, when it doesn't want to!? YOU KNOW BETTER! 3.) How did I let myself get so far out of practice that I can't land a stupid airplane from a MIDFIELD DOWNWIND!!?
I used to consider myself a decent 'stick'. I wasn't a hot-shot, but I was always able to nail maneuvers right from the beginning of training. Now that I have been flying for a few years, I've let myself get slack in keeping the BASIC skills even as CLOSE to sharp as they should be. Well, thanks to the good Lord upstairs, I have lived another day (despite all my attempts to prevent such from happening) to live and LEARN! Tomorrow I start the IR training with Tony (if he still has the courage to get in the plane with me after today's fiasco). From now on, nothing is going to be "good ENOUGH".. I know I won't nail every single maneuver every single time, but at least I will keep myself within 'limits' - and after today, my 'limits' have made themselves much more narrow.
Thanks for allowing me to rant.. Just needed to throw my internal frustrations out for the world to hear.
-Chris
Well.. My sense of self with regard to aviation ability was knocked down a couple of notches during the 'landing' phase of the flight review. My patterns were horrible - not 'squared off' like they should and USED to be. My approach speeds were screwed up - pulling too hard when turning to base instead of allowing a descent like I SHOULD be and USED to do on base. But possibly the worst experience was peforming a simulated engine failure to landing. Honestly, I've never made myself practice this maneuver in the RV - get in the plane and go somewhere rather than 'practice' anything. So.. We pull power at midfield downwind. Trim the plane out for ~80kts. I wait too long to turn base for the rwy, so I try to streeeeeetttcccchhh the glide to the runway on a HORRIBLE final approach (b/c I used up to much altitude on my base). About 10-12' above the runway, the wing says "I'm tired of flying" and KA-WHAM down we go. Those steel gear legs did their 'do' and put us back up in the air ~10' again. Full power, forward prop, and away we go. I didn't really get 'scared' b/c I didn't have time to get scared - reaction set in: Power, prop, CONTROL THE PLANE. But, after departing the dent we left in the runway, and realizing that we still had a functional airplane I became - and still am - angry at myself. I KNOW better than to do that! 1.) There is no sense in trying to 'stretch' a SIMULATED engine failure maneuver. 2.) Why would I pull back to try and make the plane fly, when it doesn't want to!? YOU KNOW BETTER! 3.) How did I let myself get so far out of practice that I can't land a stupid airplane from a MIDFIELD DOWNWIND!!?
I used to consider myself a decent 'stick'. I wasn't a hot-shot, but I was always able to nail maneuvers right from the beginning of training. Now that I have been flying for a few years, I've let myself get slack in keeping the BASIC skills even as CLOSE to sharp as they should be. Well, thanks to the good Lord upstairs, I have lived another day (despite all my attempts to prevent such from happening) to live and LEARN! Tomorrow I start the IR training with Tony (if he still has the courage to get in the plane with me after today's fiasco). From now on, nothing is going to be "good ENOUGH".. I know I won't nail every single maneuver every single time, but at least I will keep myself within 'limits' - and after today, my 'limits' have made themselves much more narrow.
Thanks for allowing me to rant.. Just needed to throw my internal frustrations out for the world to hear.
-Chris