A buddy of mine
asked about moving up to the “big iron.” One of the coolest
things about the club is the fact that we have several different
types of aircraft. Two dozen questions later he had convinced me to
write about aircraft checkouts.
The first subject
is usually “How long will it take to get checked out in the X-27B?”
The response depends on the answers to two additional questions.
How good are you? How hard are you going to work? Natural talent
aside piloting skill is a combination of currency, proficiency and
experience. I remember getting checked out in the Cessna 172 shortly
after my private checkride. I was green but had very recent
training. The plane seemed huge and had an incredible array of
sophisticated avionics…certainly a matter of perspective but I was
stoked.
The lessons I
learned centered on the fact that the four fundamentals only required
minor adjustments. Straight and level flight, turns, climbs and
descents were familiar but the sight picture, power settings and
airspeeds required a slight readjustment. Steep turns, slow flight
and stalls are essential maneuvers when learning the personality of
any airplane. After getting the feel of the plane we returned for
some pattern work. It was a challenge to “stay ahead of the
airplane.” The slightly different visual cues and higher airspeed
took some getting used to but it reacted kind of like a big 152. The
additional horsepower made throttle changes more dramatic but soon my
landings were consistent and controlled. How good are you? If you
are attuned to your current airplane and strive for precision then
the monkey skills are relatively easy to pick up. But we strive to
be more than monkeys driving airplanes.
How hard are you
going to work? Learning the systems in any aircraft requires effort.
Written tests can only sample a small portion of the information.
Knowing the V-speeds and other numbers are essential. Does it have
enough oil? What is best glide? How much fuel do I have? How far
can I go at this power setting? Can I take Martha, the kids and the
anvil? Is this runway long enough? A deep knowledge of the systems
becomes more essential as you change planes. Some have fuel system
quirks, some have electrical system tricks, and these “oh by the
ways” remain hidden unless you study the books with intent. Your
flight instructor will try to cover critical items but the pilot in
command is ultimately responsible.
Learn
the POH. Imagine your life and the lives of your passengers depend
on how well you know your machine. Picture yourself trying to sell
the plane and impressing the customer with your knowledge of all the
bells and whistles. Then step into the role of a skeptical buyer and
research the limitations of the machine. Some of the systems may
require in-depth training; GPS and autopilot are the most glaring
examples.
Take advantage of
the variety in the fleet. Each airplane has a unique personality.
Which one is my favorite? The one I am flying…that way the other
ones don’t get jealous.
The FAA has a useful pamphlet "Meet Your Aircraft" P-8740-29
The article below is also an interesting read.
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