Lesson 4 - Medium Turns.

19 Jun 2011       Warrior VH-TAJ

I've learnt to fly straight and level, climb and descend.  Now it is time to start turns. I arrive it MFS around 8:15, grab the maintenance log and keys to TAJ from Jason, and go out to pre-flight the plane.

Photo Mysid

After completing the run-up, we taxi to 35R for take-off and exit to the training area.  We would be focusing on Rate 1 and medium turns.

• Rate 1 Turn : ~15^o  bank, 2 minutes to complete a for 360. 
• Medium Turn : 15^o - 45^o bank, 1 minute to do a 360.

I read the theory brief before hand and understood then the more I banked the more lift I'd require to maintain level flight.  The extra lift would be coming for a increase in the angle of attack during the turn - in other words I'd need to pull back to maintain level flight.

I also understood that I'd need to counter the adverse yaw due to the change in the relative airflows on the wings.  This would try and flatten my turn. While the outer wing needs to travel further, thus it will travel faster then the inner wing, generate more lift and hence increase the bank of the turn.

So I need to pull back a bit and make sure I maintain the correct angle of bank.

Then lastly there is "Slip" and "Skid".  If I don't use the correct amount of rudder we will either feel like we are falling into the turn - slip or being pushed out of the turn - Skid.  The solution - "step on the ball" or in the glass cockpit keep the little triangle on top of the big triangle.

So now it was time for the practice.  Jason demos the maneuver as always.

• Lookout - Right, Right Centre, Left Centre, Left.  (For a left hand turn and vis-a-versa for a right hand turn)
• Bank - As required
• Balance - Rudder as required to stop slip or skid.
• Back Pressure - pull back to maintain nose attitude and hence level flight
• L.A.P. - Lookout, attitude, performance
• Lookout -  check exit point
• Bank - roll back to level
• Balance - Rudder as required to stop skid and slip as we exit
• Back Pressure - Reduce to maintain nose attitude for level flight.

Easy right - Ha.  As soon as I tried it all the theory became just that, theory.  To me a good smooth turn seems to be all about feel and involves a complex dance using your hands and feet.  Me first few where more connected straight lines then smooth curves.  The good news was the more I tried the smooth it became.  The bad news was as soon as than happened, we would change direction or angle of bank for the turn.

In no time it was time to return to Moorabbin via Carrum and land on 35L.  Another great lesson - Need to watch my back pressure in the turn and more practice on my balance isn't going to hurt.  While I noticed the 2 week break made me a little rusty my Straight & Level, climbs and descents all feel more coordinated by the end of the lesson.


 Piper Warrior III VH-TAJ,  Flight Time 1.1hr (Total 4.5hrs)



As always the above is my interruption of general theory and my own experience.  I'm NOT an instructor and this is NOT instruction. Find a good instructor and learn to fly from someone who knows what they are doing.