My First Work on Landings!

Lessons 7 & 8
5-10-12
2.0 hours logged
9.5 hours total recorded in logbook


Lesson 7

I woke this morning to gorgeous sunshine, a cloudless sky, and the calmest air I've seen in a long time--hardly a breath of wind! Not very good for ground reference maneuvers but perfect for practicing takeoffs and landings as it turned out. Today I had company. I brought my sister, Joanna, along and another friend met us there.














After I'd pre-flighted the plane (which I am doing all on my own now) and Joe pushed it out of the hangar, I got in and held the brakes while he pulled the prop through to start the engine. He jumped in and off we went.



We taxied a good length of the runway making gentle S-turns (necessary in a tailwheel aircraft as you cannot see over the nose when it is on the ground) the whole way. Pre-takeoff checklist completed, then onto the runway, then takeoff! Joe helped me quite a bit on the rudder and again, I almost forgot the throttle! We made it into the air nevertheless and after reaching 3,000 ft. levelled off to practice turns. Then we did some slow flight, slow turns, and finally stalls, power on and power off.



Though the air was too still for ground reference maneuvers, it was great for really being able to see and feel what the different flight attitudes are. It's difficult to get a good sight picture of what straight/level, climbing or descending looks like when you're being tossed to and fro by the wind. I could also really feel P-factor* on climbout! You really have to keep that right rudder in there to keep the plane from pulling to the left.

*A tendency for an aircraft to yaw to the left due to the descending propeller blade on the right producing more thrust than the ascending propeller blade on the left.


The air was so crystal clear today that I could easily make out the Milwaukee skyline on the horizon and the spires of Holy Hill off in the distance as we flew back toward the airport where we did a stop-and-go landing, went around for a low pass then came around once more to land on the grass. We taxied up, shut down the engine, and climbed out.


 

Lesson 8


After my logbook was filled out and I'd had a little break, I taxied out (I'm doing a pretty good job with that now as long as I don't go too fast!) for my second lesson of the day and away we flew! Then around and around the pattern again and again. We stayed in the pattern the entire time for this one. Here a few pictures:

You can see the CubAir hangar fifth in from the right.

Note runway in the upper center of picture.

Joe recorded in my logbook that we made six landings! I lost count after about the first three! So much to concentrate on and so much to improve! We really came down hard and bounced on that second to last one. "We can do better than that!" Joe said. So around we went again and our final landing was much better!

Out of six landings, I would say two were pretty good and we only to go around without landing once because of a fouled up approach. All of them I'm sure had things that could've been better, but I guess I did okay for my first practice at landing. I was ready for a break though by the time we finally made our last one and taxied in. It takes a lot out of you! I wasn't nervous really, but somehow your muscles still seem to tense up almost without you even realizing it. I had to make myself take a breath, wiggle my fingers and toes and relax once in a while! It takes a lot of concentration and focus.


Takeoffs are easier so I think I did better with those but even there, there's room for improvement. About the worst part is keeping the plane straight on the runway but that would likely be helped if I'd just get that throttle all the way forward at once. But if I do one, I seem to forget the other! Joe assured me it'll all come together eventually. I know he's right and one day, I'll be doing this all on my own, but I don't feel anywhere near that point right now and frankly the very thought of soloing sometimes scares me. I know Joe won't release me until he knows I'm ready but still--to think of flying an airplane all by myself! Those words take on a whole new meaning after what I've done today!


I'm trying to enjoy every minute of this flight training--the challenges as well as the triumphs. I've waited a long time for this and now that I'm finally beginning to live my dream of so many years, I want every lesson to be memorable in a good way, every hour in my logbook to have taught me something, and every minute to be fun--even when I'm in the midst of my sixth landing in a row!

Ground Reference Maneuvers

Lessons 5 & 6
5-3-12
2.1 hours logged
7.5 hours total recorded in logbook


Lesson 5

Today at last, in spite of the storms and lots of rain last night, I was able to go flying again! My last two scheduled lessons were both cancelled due to bad weather so I was afraid to be too hopeful that this one would pull off especially with the weather last night and more storms forecast today. Despite the forecast, after a couple calls back and forth to/from CubAir, I was on my way down there at 8:20a.m.!

It was cloudy and very steamy but the sun shone through here and there in places. When I arrived at Hartford, the sky was overcast but we nevertheless got right down to business. We preflighted the Cub, got in, fired up and I taxied us out (doing a pretty decent job) to grass runway 18.

With our pre-takeoff checklist complete, I taxied onto the runway where, instead of me following Joe on the controls, he followed me! I increased the throttle to full power, kept us going straight with rudder and followed Joe's instructions on what to do with the stick--hold it back, let it come forward gradually as you accelerate until the tail lifts then, with slight back pressure, the plane will fly itself right off--and we were airborne!

It was so warm today, we flew both lessons with the door open--my first time with that experience and it was pure bliss! That's the only way to describe the way I felt those first few moments after lift off as the wind whipped about us and the airport quickly grew smaller below. There's nothing like being in the air for certain but, more specifically, there's nothing quite like being in the air in an open-cockpit (or semi-open-cockpit in this case) plane. I've loved it since the moment I first had the experience in an old PT-3 biplane which I won a ride in several years ago. Here are a couple pictures of that since I, unfortunately, don't have any of today's flight.

We found the ceiling a bit lower than Joe was hoping but we did all right. This first flight was mostly review again--steep turns, slow flight, a couple stalls--but then, since there was some wind today, we practiced tracking a straight course along a road by using a wind correction angle*. After practicing this for a while, we headed back toward the airport (which I am slowly getting better at spotting from a distance, as well as other local landmarks).

I lined us up for landing then Joe took the controls to demonstrate a crosswind landing which he did admirably. He let me taxi back to a stop in front of the hangar, shut down the engine and that was our first flight of the day.

*The airplane's nose is pointed slightly into the wind to counteract drift. Thus the nose is pointed at a slight angle to the airplane's actual direction of travel producing what looks like a sideways motion through the air called "crabbing."


Lesson 6

After filling out the necessary paperwork and taking a little break, Joe talked me through our next lesson which would focus on ground reference maneuvers which I'd had a little intro to on our previous flight. The whole purpose of these is to teach you how to fly a straight course while in the landing pattern when there is a wind. Even a little bit of wind can drift those Cubs quite a ways! You must constantly be aware of which direction the wind is from and adjust the direction the nose is pointing or your bank angle accordingly.

Emerging from the office, we found it had sprinkled a little but overhead was a patch of blue sky. Again, we taxied out this time, to takeoff on the concrete surface of runway 29. After our pre-takeoff checklist, I taxied us out and again, Joe let me control the takeoff--sort of. I had a bit more difficulty keeping us going straight this time then found myself concentrating so much on that that I forgot to increase throttle! Oh well, we made it off the ground and into the balmy, windy air.

First, we practiced flying a rectangular course first one way, then the other. It didn't take too long for me to get the idea and it wasn't as hard as it sounds in theory either. That's not to say I did it perfect but I  did understand what I was doing at least!











Next was turns around a point which I found a bit more challenging but after the first two or three times when I found myself corkscrewing toward the center as I drifted with the wind, I started to get the hang of it. Again, we did them both left and right and switched locations a few times so as not to annoy the groundlings who's farms and houses we circled. Finally, we found a church to circle and here, using it's tall steeple as my point of reference, I made the best one yet! "Not bad, not bad!" Joe encouraged.

Then it was back to the airport once more. I flew the pattern, then Joe took over and this time showed me what a slip looks/feels like. Pretty neat! Back on the ground, I taxied us in and shut the engine down. Flight #2 of the day complete! We found the engine cowling splattered with oil from a leak but we experienced no bad effects from this while in flight. Joe filled out my logbook and gave me the rundown for next time. Thank God the weather held off once again! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for next week!

Back in the Air--At Last!

Lesson 4                                                                                                                          
4-19-12                                                                                               
1.1 hours logged
5.4 hours total recorded in logbook


It sure feels good to be back in the air after not flying for several months! I was definitely ready to start again. As it turns out, I almost didn't get to go today. I received a call from CubAir yesterday saying we'd have to cancel the lesson because of the forecast rain and wind today. I was so disappointed but this morning I woke to calm air and sunshine! I was thrilled! Praise the Lord! Soon I was on my way down to Hartford.

The flight lesson went well. As I expected, it was mostly review. I could tell I was a bit rusty on some things but did okay. As usual I was pretty quiet so I'm glad Joe fills what would otherwise be mostly silence. Even in the midst of instruction, he never lets me lose sight of the pure joy of flying. From up there you can see what no one else can. Joe often tells me "you can spy on the neighbors, see what junk people are hiding in their backyards", or just enjoy the beauty of neatly laid out roads and farm fields. It makes you forget a lot of your worries.

I really enjoyed the flight though I still feel I have a ways to go before grasping the correlation between using stick, throttle, and trim to get the airplane to do what you want especially in descents. I guess it'll come eventually. On the ground (and in the air too) I'm learning to be more aggressive on the throttle which really takes some muscle to move--on that particular airplane anyway!

Back on the ground, Joe filled out my logbook (I have almost one page full!), then I paid my respects to the usual crowd of "airport bums" hanging out in the office before heading off to Milwaukee for harp lesson! On the way there, it began to rain. Providentially, I was able to get that last lesson in before it started!

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 4:16

Hitting My Wake!

Lesson 3
12-1-11                                                           
1.0 hours logged
4.3 hours total recorded in logbook


Cubs are a ton of fun to fly. I love every minute--even stalls! But I'm getting ahead of myself. I preflighted the plane while Steve (the other instructor at the flight school) warmed the engine with a heater. With that completed, we pushed the plane out of the hangar, Joe and I got in and Steve spun the prop. (One of the planes has an electric starter, but this one does not and thus has to be hand-propped to start.) After numerous tries, the engine finally roared to life. I taxied us all the way out to the runway--did okay--followed Joe on the pre-takeoff checks and then on the controls as we positioned for takeoff, headed down the runway,  and lifted into the air. I saw our shadow drop away beneath. While still on climbout, he gave me the controls and we were at it again.


A quick review of what straight and level flight looks like and turns--level, climbing, and descending. It all came back with no trouble. I did a couple more 360's. Once, as I levelled out again after completing one of these, we suddenly hit a bump like turbulence or something. "That was your wake!" Joe told me. How exciting! Rather than being only within feet of holding altitude, I must have been dead on! Pretty neat!
Then we practiced stalls--power on and power off. No problem there. I may have been a bit eager to get the stick forward after the actual stall--or at least slow about returning it to neutral but didn't do too bad. You can really get the nose up high especially on power on stalls before it drops. Cubs are pretty gentle in stalls.


When it was time to head back to the airport, Joe let me find my way and fly the pattern. Again, I followed him through on the landing and finally taxied us back to a stop in front of the hangar. Lesson three completed!

First Lessons

Lessons 1 & 2                                                                                                              

11-21-11                                                                                      

2.0 hours logged  
3.3 hours total recorded in logbook 
       

Today, at last, I had my long-coveted first flight lesson at CubAir Flight School and my first ride in an old school Piper J-3 Cub! The school's slogan is "Old school is still cool" and I certainly found that to be true! It was wonderful!

Since I travel a distance to come down for lessons, I actually had two flight lessons with some ground school in between. My primary instructor is Mr. Joe Norris, who, incidentally, was the man who signed off on the Sportsman when its construction was complete to say it was airworthy. He's a good instructor and talks a lot while I'm pretty quiet so we work well together but he still gives me plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

After a lengthy and thorough preflight check of the airplane, we climbed in, started up, and within minutes, I was taxiing the plane! Joe explained the ground controls and briefly demonstrated, then it was my turn. I had control of stick, throttle, and rudder! I didn't do everything perfect. I got too far to the side of the taxiway a couple times, but that's all part of learning. I taxied us to the end of the grass strip where we did the engine run-up and magneto checks then it was up and away as I followed Joe through on the controls.

For this first flight, we focused on straight and level flight as well as basic turns--pretty similar to what I've already done in other airplanes and yet a little different in a Cub I soon discovered. The procedures are the same for the most part but the operation is a bit different as it's a whole new setup. On the ground, I quickly learned that you must be ahead of the airplane all the time or it'll get ahead of you! One of the most obvious differences between the Cub and the other planes I've flown in is just the smaller space of the cockpit. Not much extra room for sure! Many of the controls are also placed differently.

Sitting in the rear seat with Joe in the front hid much of instrument panel from my sight forcing me to use outside references which is a good thing for now at least. The instruments tend to lag slightly behind the airplane so you don't want to rely entirely on them in VFR flight or you'll be constantly chasing them. We landed with several bounces as I again followed through. That cockpit is by no means airtight, I was quick to discover and was ready to warm up in the office behind the hangar for a while before heading back outside for our second flight. I felt a bit more confident as I taxied out this time.

On this flight, we worked on climbing and descending turns and slow flight--again not too far beyond the range of what I've already done but definitely worthwhile. We also practiced more straight and level flight as well as a few more basic turns. Once, Joe had me do a 360-degree turn, trying to hold steady altitude at the same time. When I levelled off, he told me I'd stayed within twenty feet of our chosen altitude! Wow!

Joe did have to keep reminding me not to subconsciously put back pressure on the stick. "Just a very light touch is all you need and the airplane will fly itself," he said. "All it needs is someone to tell it where to go." He's right.

Finally we turned back toward the airport. Joe let me fly the pattern then I followed him on the controls in another landing. The Cub at last met it's shadow and I taxied us back. What a beautiful day it was to fly in such a beautiful plane! And to think I flew it! It's a great feeling! I hope I never get over it.

So there you have it. My first official flight lesson! That alone is exciting!                                                      

Flight School and Training Aircraft

Although I would like to have begun my flight training sooner, time and money simply would not allow it and being forced to wait a few years has had it’s benefits since it has given me plenty of time to read up on and research all the various flight training options that are out there. Gleaning insights and advice from numerous sources until I knew exactly what I was looking for, I began to check out various flight instructors and flight schools. I took several introductory flights at different schools and with several instructors and finally on the high recommendation of several people, and after several visits, decided on CubAir Flight in Hartford, WI.  


Nestled in the heart of farm country, just outside the town of Hartford, CubAir has been wonderful for me so far. I like the relaxed, low pressure atmosphere and the friendliness that seems so characteristic of many small airports. I have enjoyed every lesson.

CubAir Flight School operates a fleet of three Piper J-3 Cub aircraft. It is one of very few schools that use this type of aircraft for flight instruction. The Piper Cub has been a perfect fit for me as a training aircraft. It’s small, simple, forgiving in many ways, yet challenging enough to keep me on my toes! It is also similar to what I might someday fly in mission work. I knew I wanted to learn in a taildragger as I’ve heard over and over again that if you can master tailwheel flying, you'll be a better pilot for it. With regards to Cubs in particular, I’ve heard their devotees solemnly assert that if you can fly a Cub, you can fly anything! Granted that may be a bit of an exaggeration but regardless, I love old planes and their history and Cubs are certainly no exception!

There’s also, I’ll admit, a bit of sentiment behind my love for this particular type of airplane and decision to train in it. My uncle and others I know learned to fly in this, or similar types of planes and it is also known as the airplane that so many of The Greatest Generation (for whom I have a huge amount of respect and admiration) first learned to fly in. And, after all, what’s not to like about these beautiful airplanes with their sleek shape and distinctive yellow skin?

The Journey Begins

When I think about what initially sparked my interest in aviation, it’s hard to think of one single event that made me immediately decide “I’m going to learn to fly.” I think it was a combination of things. Perhaps it was the combat flight simulator games I used play as a kid not necassarily because I loved airplaines but just for fun. Maybe it was the books I read about pilots in WWII and later, WWI and the Golden Age of aviation that caused me to begin to dream. Or perhaps the desire to fly was in my blood all along since both my grandpa and uncle were pilots, though that desire lay dormant until I reached my teens. Whatever the initial inspiration,  I firmly believe this desire was God-given and that He is going to use it in my life in ways I've never even imagined if I will stay yielded to Him. 


Whether I was fully conscious of it at first or not, I was developing a love for airplanes and aviation and this sentiment continued to grow stronger throughout the next few years so that when my uncle invited me to take me flying in his beautiful blue Grumman Yankee one October day when I was sixteen, I was elated! It would be my first flight ever in a single-engine airplane and only my second flight in a general aviation aircraft! (The other, in the Wings As Eagles Piper Chieftain shortly after its purchase, I was too little to remember much about.)

We took off from Waukesha County Airport and were soon looking down on the quiet farms and golden fields below.

My uncle executed a few turns so I could get a better view of the fall colors just starting to show in the woods beneath us. Then he asked if I would like to try the controls! Would I?! Could I? I took hold of the yoke and gingerly tried a climb, descent and slight turns to the left and right. I was hooked!

Perhaps it was then that I first thought to myself, hey, this is something I could do!!! And from then on, thoughts of someday getting my flight training filled my head.

Though I had neither the time nor the money to devote to flying lessons then and wasn't even sure exactly how to get started, the idea was always in the back of my mind. It could not be forgotten. Reading numerous books by and about Lindbergh, Rickenbacker, and others only fueled the flame of desire that continued to burn in me. Whenever I heard a plane fly over, I couldn’t help looking up at it and wondering who the pilot was and where it was headed. Sometimes a plane would fly over the house for ten or fifteen minutes practicing climbs, descents, turns, slow flight, stalls, etc. and I would realize some lucky person was having a flight lesson and wish I was in their shoes.

Once, when my brother was home from college, I recall him asking me rather bluntly, “When are you going to stop reading and start flying?” The question had caught me off guard but it certainly made me think. It came back to me again and again. “When will I stop dreaming and start flying?” I asked myself. I also remembered that my uncle had cautioned me several times not to wait too long to start my flight training as school, jobs, marriage, kids, etc. have a tendency to get in the way for those who put it off too long.

With these things in mind, I began thinking earnestly about how I could work toward beginning my flight training, studying everything I could about it and saving my money. As my passion for aviation continued to grow, I began looking for ways to become involved in the aviation community. Living only twenty minutes from Oshkosh, in so many ways the aviation hub of the U.S., opportunities were abundant! I began volunteering in the library at the Experimental Aircraft Association headquarters and museum and later at EAA’s Pioneer Airport. Then I began to help with the aviation ministry out of my church called Wings As Eagles. They had just completed assembly of a Glasair Sportsman kit plane for a missionary in Cameroon, Africa and one of their pilots then ferried this little plane across the ocean to its new home! I was there the morning they departed and faithfully followed the flight online throughout the next eight days and 10 legs. I was so excited when we received the report that he’d arrived safely in Cameroon. Upon his return, hearing Mr. John Douglas, the pilot, tell about the various exciting and sometimes heartstopping things that happened during his trip was an unforgettable experience I wouldn't have missed for the world! 

I worked in the Wings As Eagles hangar whenever I could, sorting hardware, cleaning the airplanes, scrubbing floors…doing whatever needed to be done. In March-April of 2010, through a partial sponsorship from Wings, I was able to go to Cameroon myself and experience mission aviation in a foreign country firsthand! I flew in the Sportsman and watched WAE chief pilot and mechanic, Terry Rushing, reassemble an engine for another plane, also a Glasair, using only whatever tools he brought along or those the missionary with whom we were working already had.

The time I spent in Cameroon left an indelible spiritual imprint on me and that, along with reading Jungle Pilot, the story of missionary pilot Nate Saint, solidified my desire to use my pilot's license in some kind of mission aviation. I can think of no better way to use it than to help others by meeting spiritual needs as well as physical needs through use of an airplane as a tool.