The topics covered today were Slow Flight and Stalls.
I booked two hours yesterday for a 10am start but received a call in the evening asking if I could re-arrange for 1PM. I agreed.
Headed out around mid-day from home to Redhill, Surrey. Arrived with plenty of time to warm up after riding the cold winter day.
Instructor today was Dan Robertson hailing from Liverpool. Went through a briefing covering the theory and then went out to perform a walkaround of the Cessna 152 GOLEE. Followed the steps in the Cessna checklist booklet. Summary from memory:
- Switch on Master Switches, strobe (should be left on in case you walk away from the plane you can tell you left the switches on), landing lights, beacon. Set flaps to full.
- Check wheel strut and fairing, wheel, brakes, leads, tyre (crep marks aligned), wheel nut.
- Check wing strut and fairing. Check fuel with filler tube (Avgas should be tinted blue and smell of Avgas) check no water in the fuel. Walk along under the wing checking the flap hinges. Try to wiggle the flap which should be rigid. Continue walking and wiggle the aileron, check the hinges and the piano wires/hooks holding it to wing.
- Check outer edge of wing for damage and that light is on. Continue walking along front side of wing checking for dents/damage/ice.
- Check Engine Cowl. Rivets/Nuts should be tight. Bottom end of fuel filler tube has a screwdriver which can be used to tighten loose screws.
- Check Window is clean, not damaged.
- Check Front Wheel Strut, wheel, levers, oleo and oil. Sometimes bouncing front of plane gently to see there is enough suspension.
- Check spinner and prop blades.
- Check Landing lights are on.
- Check oil level. Pull fuel lever and fill tube under engine. Check for absence of water.
- Perform same checks on starboard side wing, wheel, struts etc.
- Check Fueselage for absence of dents and damage.
- Check Rudder, Elevator and Trim hinges/wires.
- Check fuel levels in wings by climbing and opening fuel caps. Insert fuel level rod and check sufficient fuel for intended flight.
Return to plane and sit inside and perform remaining checks.
Radioed tower requesting taxi to departure runway. Taxied the airplane using rudder pedals and brakes and throttle control to short of runway. Cleared for takeoff and lined up on runway. Full throttle and rotated at 55 knots. Maintain climb speed of 65 knots.
Slow Flight
Carburrettor Heat on, throttle to idle, raise pitch to keep altitude. Slowly add throttle before speed reaches 65 knots to maintain said speed. Trim for level flight.
Slow Turns
Bank no more than 10 degrees, add power as necessary to maintain altitude.
