Lesson 13 – Circuits (5)

1 October 2011

VH-TYD

Off for more circuits today, and while I’m not progressing as fast as I'd like, at least it is progress.  Jason would be back in the right seat today after he managed to shift some other lessons around.  We would be using 13L and the weather was looking ok.

Moorabbin's runways

As we taxied out of the northern run-up bay, the RVAC formation team taxied in.  They were heading out to the training area to practice and I must admit, they look pretty cool just taxing around together.

Today's lesson was a lot better.  I managed a couple of ok landings and that felt really nice – very exciting!!  I’m starting to realise just how high I’ve been flaring, and how important it is to get the speed right on final. But not everything is perfect. 

Firstly, I forgot to do my pre landing checks a few times when I became distracted by other traffic and trying to maintain 1000ft on downwind.

 I’m still jerking the yoke back during the flare.  It is not a smooth round out more a series of sharp pull backs followed by pauses as the plane balloons.

I’m also getting too low on my turn from base to final.  I should still be at least 500ft AGL when I stabilized on final.   The fact the plane in front is doing a very late turn on to base and hence we have a long final only makes matter worst.  I need to use a lot of power to maintain height on final,

And lastly on one occasion I forgot to fully close the throttle before the flare.  This of course resulted in the plane ballooning.

I general things are starting to look up. I’ve managed a couple of ok landings and getting closer on the rest. 

VH-TYD – Piper Warrior III 1.2hr (total 14.0 hr)

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Things to watch in the future.

1. Remember to do my pre-landing checks early,
2. Smooth round-out, don’t jerk the controls,
3. Remember to fully close the throttle before I start the round-out,
4. Watch my height on base .  I’m starting the turn to base to low.
5. Get out the runway map before I request the taxi to the apron.  (Today’s read back was – “Turn right onto echo, cleared to cross 35R, turn on to alpha 1, cleared to cross 35L to the main apron”)