Finally catching up on my flight reporting, my training time in the L-16 has flown by! I am really gaining confidence in my abilites to fly tailwheel, and have a good feel for the airplane now.
1.) I know how to handprop now! I did this for the 1st time during my 2nd lesson. 1st, I pulled the prop through a few time to prime the engine and get oil through all cylinders (mags-off.) Then, I was ready! The technique is to stand under the prop, hands above you atop it, and using your whole body, pull down and "fall-away forward" from the prop. I'm still here to tell you all about it, so I must have done okay! LOL.
2.) Preflight is really fascinating on the L-16. It is similar, yet different to that of the C-172. I mean, the general principles of the walk-around are the same, yet, the L-16 has different elements to check on. For example, the fabric (holes, cracks, etc.), wings (play, cracked ribs), tailwheel and lock, control cables and linkages. It feels like a real airplane, even during preflight!
3.) Taxiing has been worked out by me! The 1st time, I had no idea what to expect and fishtailed everywhere. This time, not so. The trick? Stay ahead of the airplane and anticipate what it will do. When taxiing onto the taxiway, I use right rudder to go right, and I see the turn beginning. Immediately after, even before I am at centre on the taxiway, opposite left rudder to even out. Even when going straight, using minor left/right rudder keeps you on course. The trick is to look at a point directly ahead of the nose of the L-16. Even a minor distraction left/right will throw you off.
4.) Takeoffs are now routine. The 1st time I went up, my goal was only to get the plane off the ground @ 50mph, no regard for attitude (was wayy different that 1st time!) Now, I follow a pattern than is much different from the nosewheel I am used to, and I like it better this way! Throttle up and hold in back-pressure until 35mph appears, then gently push the stick forward until an attitude-picture similar to that of a Cessna on takeoff appears. Hold the picture until 50mph arrives, then, gently back up the stick and lift off!
5.) Landings, now attainable! The most recent lesson what the 1st one where I actually landed the L-16 without instructor on the controls, and it was with crosswind as well. Again, key is airspeed control, trim, and crab. I seemed to have no problems with this from the beginning, my main problem was after the touchdown. I have finally been programmed to hold stick back, and ailerons into wind right to the stop.
6.) Crosswind, as I mentioned, does not seem so scary anymore. During my last lesson, my instructor had me do some "low-passes" @ ~20ft. The goal was, fly a normal approach until 20 ft off the runway, then, maintain airspeed and crab into the wind the whole way down the runway, right down the centerline. The 1st time, I held it for about the 1st 1/3rd of the runway and lost the crab correction. 2nd time, I made it about 2/3rds. The last time, I nailed it! That was a fun exercise that really helped me out. My CFI is great! After these "low-passes" my landing skills never looked back.
So, there y'all have it! I'm a little over half-way to earning my tailwheel endorsement and L-16 type-rating. Stay tuned for more, and as always, thank YOU all for your help and support!
Keep 'Em Flying...
|
I begin training for my tailwheel endorsement this Saturday, in our museum's L-16.
