Another productive gliding trip yesterday… Two aerotows to 3K ft, not good for the wallet, but good for practising co-ordination of rudder and ailerons.

4. P2 on Puchacz, 21 mins. Use of trimmer – set the speed with the stick, then trim it out. Trimming for turns. Puchacz likes 50kt. Need to just relax in flight – it flies itself, I only need to get involved to change something.
5. P2 on ASK-21, 23 mins. Different trimmer – harder work but easier to get to. Need lots of rudder – more than feels right. Rudder and stick move together.
   Three phases to a turn:
   
   • Start the turn
   • Controls Central, slight backpressure
   • Exit the turn
   
   

   Think of it in these phases and leave it to turn in the middle – no need to correct it every second!

Pre-flight: CB-SIFT-CBE

Controls

Check for full and free movement of all flight controls.

Ballast

Check that the aircraft is ballasted correctly, given weights of pilots. Within permissible weight range?

Straps

Everybody strapped in properly?

Instruments

Everything seems in order? Altimeter set to local zero, or absolute?

Flaps

Check for operation, set for take-off

Trimmer

Check operation, set for take-off. (Set for recovery on the winch, level flight on an aerotow)

Canopy

Check that the canopy is closed and locked. Close the DV panel.

Brakes

Check that the airbrake works smoothly and symmetrically. Check at fully open and half-open. Close and lock.

Eventualities/Engage Brain

What are the conditions? Where’s the wind from, and how strong? Options for forced landing/abbreviated circuits? What will approach speed be in the conditions today?

Approach – WUFSTALL

Water

Jettison any water ballast

Undercarriage

If it’s retractable, is it down and locked?

Flaps

What are the approach settings?

Speed

Approach speed for the conditions today? Is your assessment from pre-flight still valid?

Trim

Trim for approach speed

Airbrake

Hand on brake. Got the right lever?

Lookout

Anything else in circuit or on approach? Check both sides, high low and level

Landing Area

Pick a spot. Check for aircraft on the field, tractors, by-standers.

A good landing is one you walk away from. A great landing is one where you can use the aircraft again…