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Real Life Experience: Difference between revisions
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This is a collection of stories of FlightGear pilots doing it for real. | This is a collection of stories of FlightGear pilots doing it for real. Feel free to add your own experience. | ||
== Ralf Gerlich - First flight lesson == | == Ralf Gerlich - First flight lesson == | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
I'd also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to | I'd also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to | ||
FGFS. | FGFS. It has without a doubt saved me lots of lessons and allowed me to | ||
run through some things I found difficult until I nailed them. | run through some things I found difficult until I nailed them. IMHO | ||
FGFS is the best 'fly it like it is' simulator around. | FGFS is the best 'fly it like it is' simulator around. | ||
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== Martin Spott - Maiden Flight == | == Martin Spott - Maiden Flight == | ||
(Martin Spott, | (Martin Spott, Wed Jul 16 09:03:57 2003) | ||
Inspired by others on this list I had my first flight with controls in my hands on a C172. This was the first flight I ever had on such a small plane. | Inspired by others on this list I had my first flight with controls in my hands on a C172. This was the first flight I ever had on such a small plane. | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
== Matt Fienberg - First Solo == | == Matt Fienberg - First Solo == | ||
Please excuse the off-topic post... | Please excuse the off-topic post... But I'm too proud to hold back. | ||
Completed my first solo flight as PIC tonight at 13.9 hours. | Completed my first solo flight as PIC tonight at 13.9 hours. | ||
Before dropping off the instructor at the parking area, I did seven | Before dropping off the instructor at the parking area, I did seven | ||
touch and goes dual. | touch and goes dual. I was supposed to do three, but I needed a little | ||
more confidence in my landings... | more confidence in my landings... After five, I was confident enough, | ||
and just kept radio-ing in without announcing full stop... | and just kept radio-ing in without announcing full stop... Oh, well, | ||
one more time around..... | one more time around..... And yet one more.... | ||
The last touch and go prior to solo was a little interesting on the | The last touch and go prior to solo was a little interesting on the | ||
take-off.... | take-off.... As I'm approaching rotation speed (~55 KIAS on a C152) I | ||
notice there's something in front of me making it's way across runway 29 | notice there's something in front of me making it's way across runway 29 | ||
from right to left, about 5 feet from the centerline. | from right to left, about 5 feet from the centerline. I think I got us | ||
in the air about 20 feet prior to a turkey dinner. | in the air about 20 feet prior to a turkey dinner. ;) | ||
So, I dropped off the instructor, taxi-ed back to hold short of taxiway | So, I dropped off the instructor, taxi-ed back to hold short of taxiway | ||
Bravo, and called Worcester ground (KORH) with a somewhat awkward, | Bravo, and called Worcester ground (KORH) with a somewhat awkward, | ||
I-forget-what-I'm-supposed-to-say-and-in-what-order call. | I-forget-what-I'm-supposed-to-say-and-in-what-order call. There was no | ||
other traffic in the pattern except for a 172 who just taxied out ahead | other traffic in the pattern except for a 172 who just taxied out ahead | ||
of me. | of me. Hopefully they were tuned to tower, and not ground, but I doubt | ||
it... | it... I'm sure the student and instructor in the 172 got a chuckle.... | ||
Anyway, I got my clearance to taxi, held short of 29-er, and called to | Anyway, I got my clearance to taxi, held short of 29-er, and called to | ||
tower for take of for left closed traffic. | tower for take of for left closed traffic. Got all the words in cleanly | ||
this time... | this time... Cleared for takeoff, and lights, camera, action, as my | ||
instructor says. | instructor says. (Landing light, transponder to ALT, and slowly open up | ||
the throttle to full.) | the throttle to full.) Next thing I know, I'm at about 55 KIAS, and I'm | ||
airborne. | airborne. And nobody nagging me to hold 67 KIAS! (Best rate of | ||
climb.) | climb.) I kept looking over at the empty seat, as my grin grew from ear | ||
to ear! | to ear! This is '''GREAT'''! | ||
Winds were 230@8 which is not a big deal, but I did fall victim to it | Winds were 230@8 which is not a big deal, but I did fall victim to it | ||
'''every''' time. | '''every''' time. (With and without the instructor.) Every turn from | ||
downwind to base ended past the point where I needed to start the turn | downwind to base ended past the point where I needed to start the turn | ||
to final. | to final. Every turn to final overshot, and I needed to correct quite a | ||
bit. | bit. | ||
First landing was pretty uneventful, aside from the pilot giving a | First landing was pretty uneventful, aside from the pilot giving a | ||
"wahoo!" that could probably be heard from miles away. | "wahoo!" that could probably be heard from miles away. Upwind wheel | ||
first, then downwind, then nose. | first, then downwind, then nose. Pretty smooth. Probably my best | ||
landing yet. | landing yet. (Who needs that extra baggage in the right seat?) | ||
Second landing.... | Second landing.... well, I made it work. I got extended on downwind, | ||
since the radio was tied up by an incoming Bonanza. | since the radio was tied up by an incoming Bonanza. I've been in this | ||
position before, but it still makes me nervous... | position before, but it still makes me nervous... Had I been more | ||
confident, I'd have slowed my flight to not extend downwind too far | confident, I'd have slowed my flight to not extend downwind too far | ||
outside the normal pattern. | outside the normal pattern. By the time the Bonanza conversation with | ||
ATC was done, tower contacted me, and said I was cleared number 2, | ATC was done, tower contacted me, and said I was cleared number 2, | ||
behind the Bonanza. | behind the Bonanza. "Report traffic in sight." Well, I knew where it | ||
had to be. | had to be. Straight in approach to runway 29er. Could not find it for | ||
the life of me. | the life of me. Finally I find him almost abeam me, and about 200 feet | ||
below on long final. | below on long final. After radio-ing that I had traffic in sight, I | ||
thought that the tower was going to joke that he was already on the | thought that the tower was going to joke that he was already on the | ||
ground... | ground... The Bonanza pilot was probably waving his arms at me for 30 | ||
seconds... | seconds... In any case, with him past me, and clearance from the tower, | ||
I made my turn, and tried to adjust for the long extended downwind. | I made my turn, and tried to adjust for the long extended downwind. I | ||
kept power in at about 2000 RPM to hold altitude until the picture | kept power in at about 2000 RPM to hold altitude until the picture | ||
looked right to be on final. | looked right to be on final. Next thing I know, I'm descending at about | ||
85-90 KIAS, and I'm *high*. | 85-90 KIAS, and I'm *high*. I pulled power out completely, and did my | ||
best to slowly pitch up to slow myself, such that I could get the first | best to slowly pitch up to slow myself, such that I could get the first | ||
stage of flaps in. | stage of flaps in. Long story short, I went from too high to too low, | ||
and pushed power back in. | and pushed power back in. Moderate side-slip got me lined up pretty | ||
well, and pulled power once again when I knew I'd made the threshold. | well, and pulled power once again when I knew I'd made the threshold. | ||
Thud-ed the landing... | Thud-ed the landing... Not too bad, I guess. (Yes, I've had worse, | ||
and I'm sure, will again...) | and I'm sure, will again...) | ||
Third time around was uneventful, except that I misjudged the flare a | Third time around was uneventful, except that I misjudged the flare a | ||
bit. | bit. I was unpowered at that point, and flared with too much speed. | ||
Ballooned up a bit, then had too little speed to really flare properly | Ballooned up a bit, then had too little speed to really flare properly | ||
the second time around. | the second time around. I should have added power to get it under | ||
control, and re-approach at 65 KIAS again. | control, and re-approach at 65 KIAS again. But I didn't, and tried to | ||
glide it back down. | glide it back down. Thud. Okay, bring back the right seat baggage... | ||
I apparently need some more work. | I apparently need some more work. | ||
My instructor was just glowing when I got back. | My instructor was just glowing when I got back. I think he was more | ||
excited than I was. | excited than I was. He made some comment about seeing his kid taking | ||
his first steps. | his first steps. I now call him "Dad." He was very impressed with my | ||
progress, and we both attribute much of it to Flight Gear. | progress, and we both attribute much of it to Flight Gear. It's | ||
certainly paying off. | certainly paying off. He's now thinking about getting Flight Gear in the | ||
office, partly to play with, and partly to teach/demonstrate. | office, partly to play with, and partly to teach/demonstrate. They've | ||
got a real old machine there, and I'm sure the graphics card isn't up to | got a real old machine there, and I'm sure the graphics card isn't up to | ||
par, but I think he may see the benefit in upgrading... | par, but I think he may see the benefit in upgrading... Does anybody | ||
know if there's a way to generate an mpeg of a flight? | know if there's a way to generate an mpeg of a flight? I'd love to show | ||
him the graphics. | him the graphics. I mentioned that in flying in Flightgear, I thought | ||
to myself, what's that? | to myself, what's that? There's no water south of the tower. Well, | ||
sure enough, as I'm turning downwind today, I notice that that water | sure enough, as I'm turning downwind today, I notice that that water | ||
really is there... | really is there... I mentioned it, and he was floored. And following | ||
the powerlines out to the Qaban reservior to Orange (KORE), too. | the powerlines out to the Qaban reservior to Orange (KORE), too. He was | ||
really getting excited about it. | really getting excited about it. One of the guys there took a look at | ||
flightgear after hearing me at a prior lesson, and I think they were put | flightgear after hearing me at a prior lesson, and I think they were put | ||
off by the installation procedure... | off by the installation procedure... Maybe I'll have to do it for | ||
him.... | him.... | ||
In any case, I'm so glad I got started, and I can't wait to get up in | In any case, I'm so glad I got started, and I can't wait to get up in | ||
the air again. | the air again. Flightgear is fun, but there's just no substitute for | ||
the real thing. | the real thing. So all you guys flying the simulator--- get your seat | ||
in a 152 seat, and put Flightgear to real use! | in a 152 seat, and put Flightgear to real use! Trust me, you'll all | ||
love it. | love it. (No, I won't finance it.... ;) | ||
Regards, | Regards, | ||
Matt Fienberg | Matt Fienberg | ||
PIC 0.6..... | PIC 0.6..... Hmmm... not so impressive....yet. ;) | ||
== David Megginson - Instrument Flight Test : Passed == | == David Megginson - Instrument Flight Test : Passed == | ||
by | by (David Megginson, Thu Jul 24 19:11:43 2003) | ||
| Line 189: | Line 189: | ||
David | David | ||
-- <br> | -- <br /> | ||
David Megginson, david at megginson . com, <br> | David Megginson, david at megginson . com, <br /> | ||
http://www.megginson.com/ | http://www.megginson.com/ | ||