New Pilot Question...

J

Joel

New Member
Hey,

I have about 5 hours or so logged now.

I am starting to take off and doing touch and go's
with my instructor.

Here is the question:

I feel like I am gonna loose damn control when
we land and then increase speed. Scares the crap
out of me to a point.

Any thoughts on this.

2nd ?

I feel the same way when we take off and I am
controling the pedals.


THanks,

Joel
 
Try taking your left foot off the rudder pedal entirely, putting it on the floor during the takeoff roll and using only varying amounts of right rudder pressure. Thanks to the four left-turning tendencies, you won't need any left rudder until well after takeoff. After you've gotten comfortable doing this for takeoffs, try it when you add power for the takeoff portion of a touch & go. It's a useful exercise, try it sometime. But whatever you do, talk to your instructor about it beforehand.
 
Well, kick it's butt! Seriously. Be assertive, but under the direction of your CFI.

If you think a Cessna will whip you, wait until you hop into a high performance single.
 
[ QUOTE ]


I feel like I am gonna loose damn control when
we land and then increase speed. Scares the crap
out of me to a point.

Any thoughts on this.



[/ QUOTE ]

Landings are tough at first. At least they were for me. It'll come in time. That's the only advice I can really offer. It seems like a lot is happening, and there is, but with practise you'll get it and things will appear to be happening at a more "reasonable" pace.

[ QUOTE ]

2nd ?

I feel the same way when we take off and I am
controling the pedals.



[/ QUOTE ]

I had the same problem when I started. I would be zig-zagging down the runway on takeoff because I was overcontrolling with the pedals.

The trick was to use *only* the right pedal. Torque/p-factor will always pull you to the left. Use the right rudder to get back to the centerline. If you put too much right rudder, and wind up too far to the right, *don't* use left rudder. Rather ease off the right rudder enough to allow torque to pull you back to the center. Once you're where you want to be, apply just enough right rudder to keep the plane on the centerline. Of course if you go too far left or right then use opposite rudder as appropriate. But for minor corrects, this technique straightened out my takeoffs very nicely. You want to be constantly on top of the plane and not let things deviate too far, so use common sense here and if you need to use left rudder then do so.


Hope this helps.
 
Great minds think alike! You just said it better.
smile.gif
 
Keep in mind that when you add power back in during the go part of the touch and go, the aircraft is still partially set up for landing. Your trim is still a few clicks nose up and you may still have some flaps out. It is going to take slightly more forward pressure then normal to keep the nose at Vx or Vy (best rate or angle of climb depending on what you are doing). Also, when you are slow, high power and high angle of attack you need a whole lot of right rudder to keep the plane coordinated. That said It will come to you. As to keeping the plane lined up during your takeoff roll, again, it is something that you will become proficient at as you gain experience. Hopefully some of the CFIs and more knowledgeable pilots on here can give you some more specific pointers as I really don't have much more experience then you. Good luck.
Ethan
 
Jeesh.. I start writing a response and by the time I hit submit there are already 4 replies. I must be typing slow tonight.
 
Suggest to your instructor that you do stop-and-goes instead. The extra time it takes is nearly insignificant, but the benefits are great. It gives you time to collect your wits, re-trim, set the flaps, turn off carb. heat, etc.

Can sometimes be a problem at busier airports, but there's usually a quiet airport nearby that you can go to.

I always do stop-and-goes with my students. Only time I make it a touch-and-go is if there's traffic right behind us to land.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Jeesh.. I start writing a response and by the time I hit submit there are already 4 replies. I must be typing slow tonight.

[/ QUOTE ]

153 people online... Whatdooya expect?
smile.gif
 
Your new pic is making me think of that Stone Temple Pilots song (see... related to flying!) Great Empty (I think that's the title).

I'm half the man I used to be...



Ethan
 
Just showing off the Bose electronic noise cancelling headphones Mrs Taylor got me a few years ago!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Your new pic is making me think of that Stone Temple Pilots song (see... related to flying!) Great Empty (I think that's the title).

I'm half the man I used to be...



Ethan

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no, no....it's Creep!!!!!!
 
Just hang in there and just use the right rudder only on takeoffs like they said. I remember it wasn't until my 8th flight lesson that I wasn't scared to death in an Archer! Most of the fear goes away though as you develop a feel for the controls.
 
Wow.. thanks for the help!

All of your input is appreciated.

I am not going to let some stress get the best
of me, heck, I am determined to fly the big boys in a few years.

I am going up a few times this week, I know that I am likely
to land this 172 sometime this week or next. My CFI says that I am doing better then the average student but I am in no hurry to solo yet.

One step at a time, I have the entire King Schools PPL course with every single Take Off Course.. very helpful information.

I impressed my CFI with my knowledge..lol
 
I'm kind of surprised that he's got you doing touch and goes right away. Those were something that was introduced to me later, after I had the landing part down. Then they built on that and had me do touch and goes.

All the advice the people have given you is dead on. What is happening with you is exactly what happened with me when I first started doing touch and goes. I was like, whoa, what the hell and I ended up pretty much fishtailing on down the runway. Then my instructor told me, get your foot off the left rudder, and try it. Wow, did that make a difference!
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you think a Cessna will whip you, wait until you hop into a high performance single.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah....like a Mad Dog with an engine out!
 
Ah..interesting.

I have not quite landed yet, just above ground effect, he
takes over and sets her down.

Once were down, he has me take her back up.
 
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