Lesson #1 - Controls & Effects

Home

Saturday, 08 August 2009 00:00

Well, today was the day... my first lesson as a student pilot!

My instructor's name was Kane & he is a top bloke.

After nearly 2 hours of ground school covering topics such as the aerodynamic properties of a wing, control surfaces & the primary effects of them aswell as the secondary effects, we took to the air.

The plane I will be doing my initial training (called the GFPT - General Flight Proficiency Test) in is the PA-38 Piper Tomahawk (2 seater trainer).

The practical lesson started with the pre-flight checks. This includes an exterior check of the aircraft, fuel levels aswell as contamination, engine oil & brake fluid, checking for chips/nicks in the propeller and other possible damage. We also had to be sure the windscreen was clean & other important parts of the aircraft (ie: pitot tube, static vents & fuel tank vents) were clear of any obstructions.

After the necessary procedures my instructor started the engine & we then taxied to the 'run up' area. This is an area designated for the 'run up' of the engine, which involves checking the pressures (fuel, oil, manifold pressure, altinator charge), checking the magnetos etc.

I have to tell you about taxiing... unlike in a car where you steer the vehicle with your hands (on the steering wheel), when you taxi and aircraft you do it using the rudder pedals, with your feet! I knew about this previously, it was just weird to actually have to do it.

After I taxied onto the runway, my instructor took off & we climbed out to 500ft above above aerodrome level and made a turn to port & flew back past the airport on downwind. It was at this point that my instructor asked if I'd ever seen Toowoomba from the air, to which I replied 'no, but I've imagined this very moment for years'. It was a real... milestone in life, I was learning to fly!

We then circled over the airport & headed south to the training area over Cambooya. While over the training area we my instructor started to show me the primary and secondary effects of the control surfaces. Alot of 'things' started to fall into place... things I'd read about in the 'Basic Aeronautical Knowlege' Manual, things I'd heard about over the years. Things like co-ordinated turns (where you have to co-ordinate the use of the ailerons & rudder for smooth turns), how to set trim, the yawing effects of power. It was absolutley fantastic... I was flying a plane!

After the demonstrated procedures we turned back toward Toowoomba. As we were flying in there was a call on the radio from the pilot of a 'Trojan', the aircraft in the fore is the actual plane:

He touched down as I was on downwind & was clear of the runway just as I turned onto base. I was still in control of the aircraft from our track back in from the training area and my instructor had me take it all the way down, line up for the runway and keep it on a steady decent. We crossed the threshold & then the numbers and I was ready for touchdown... then I pulled up too much and got a little skewed on above the runway so my instructor took over & put her down on terra firma. We then taxied to the refueling area, topped up the plane & then taxied it back to the parking area.

All up, 0.8 hours of flying time... it's not much, but it's the beginning. The first of my time in the Logbook.

I also purchased my own headset today. This endeavour sure isn't cheap, but what price do you put on a dream?

I must make mention of my beautiful wife who is making sacrifices for this to take place. It is wonderful to have someone recognise the importance of something so special in someone elses life, and be willing to go without in order to make it happen.

My next lesson is this coming Saturday & then I've got lessons scheduled every other Saturday after that.

Here's a picture of me standing next to the first plane I've flown in my student pilot life...