Lesson 2. Straight and Level Flight...
Monday 19th May was the date for my second lesson at Tatenhill Aviation in East Staffordshire. My instructor Dave Wood was in control and we headed to the briefing room for a description of what we were about to achieve on this lesson.
Keeping an aircraft at a set altitude, level and in trim may seem easy to most flight simmers, especially if you have it set on easy mode. Indeed it is easy, until you try it for a real with real thermals and winds buffeting your aircraft around.
The task was to gain altitude to 3,000' feet on a heading of 270 degrees, the power at this point was then set, my job was to correct the attitude and then trim the aircraft.
Dave then suggested he would be selecting different power settings to enable me to practice setting attitude and trimming as required. It took a little time to get used to. I did ok with the heading keeping the aircraft on true course for much of the flight, on the trim side it is quite easy to over do this and you can find the aircraft nose down or up dependant on what you are trying to do.
The secret, if there is one, is to allow the aircraft to gain speed, if throttle has been applied and then allow it to settle before making adjustments with the trim setting. The same applies both ways either increase or decreasing throttle.
Next main job to do now is take the first of my written exams, this should be over the next couple of weeks with my third flying lesson planned just after that. The first written exam is Aviation Law and it looks as dull as dishwater, but who ever said flying was an enjoyable pastime!
Joking aside, this is the first of seven in total, so its going to be a few days now of general reading and answering some questions with my confuser as a companion. I'll let you know when. and when again I pass this first exam.
More images from Tatenhill and a short movie of us landing back after lesson!
Visit Tatenhill Aviation
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Visit London Aero Expo 2008
East Staffordshire Flying Club
Next Lesson booked for ?
Next Exam Aviation Law
Stay Tuned for more info on PPL coming soon!
