Finally Solo'd

1000RR

1000RR

Pre-takeoff checklist
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1000RR
It's been a while since I've been online here. Back in February, I was literally one flight away from solo'ing in a Cherokee. The Cherokee went down for its annual and that lasted longer than expected, then COVID hit. Finally in late June, I got back up in the air, but this time in a 1956 C172 Skyhawk (first year for the 172, it's actually a fastback - very cool plane). I opted to switch planes in part because the Cherokee was still down and also because this classic Skyhawk requires you to "fly" the plane a little more than the Cherokee, a lot to do with the ailerons and rudder not being tied together at all. So this past Thursday was the day. We took 3 trips around the pattern together and then he jumped out and 3 more by myself. I actually had a go-around on my 3rd landing, so I took an extra trip around. It was pretty amazing, really enjoyed it. I've definitely racked up the hours. My solo happened at 69hrs and I had about ~200 landings. I was studying for the exam along the way, but with the delays, I pretty much put everything aside. So now I'm trying to begin reviewing/studying and preparing for the written.

Cheers and safe flying!
 
1000RR said:
I opted to switch planes in part because the Cherokee was still down and also because this classic Skyhawk requires you to "fly" the plane a little more than the Cherokee, a lot to do with the ailerons and rudder not being tied together at all.
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Say what??

Congrats nonetheless! A big day!
 
Congratulations! Well done for staying with it despite all the things thrown in your path.

But...:needpics:

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
Rgbeard said:
Congratulations on your solo!

Although I don't believe I'd be telling anyone that you believe the Cherokee has its rudder and ailerons linked.
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Admittedly I'm no expert on any of the planes as far as these types of details. The owner of the plane/club has flown more years than I've been alive, or close and has had these planes torn down to darn near nothing remaining inside. He describes there being a coupling between the ruder and ailerons. He describes the adverse yaw of the 172 (comparing to our Cherokee) as follows (quoted from him):

"Adverse yaw

This aircraft (172) doesn’t have the coupling between the ruder and ailerons like the Cherokee does. In fact the Cherokee pilots will have a difficult time at first keeping the ball centered. The trick is to lead the turn with rudder and watch the nose, it should track with the turn and not go away from the turn. Roll in and roll out of the turn will take some practice to do coordinated.

A great coordination maneuver that I’ll introduce you to is Dutch Rolls. That will work your feet!"


He's a retired military pilot, owned/flown many many planes, is a CFI, and also an FAA Examiner. He could be off on his description, but based on flying this old bird compared to the 1967 Cherokee it definitely flys as he describes above.
 
You sure he's not talking about the rudder and nose wheel being linked (by bands)?
 
Sinistar said:
You sure he's not talking about the rudder and nose wheel being linked (by bands)?
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I put his quote above. He was definitely describing some type of coupling that provides a degree of linkage between the ailerons and rudder. I can tell you when I flew the Cherokee, I rarely and I mean rarely had to use rudder to keep things coordinated. The plane was super easy to fly in that regard. The 1956 172 definitely needs rudder. And as he describes, initiating the turn with the rudder first, then rolling in with aileron really works well.
 
He is probably confusing the Cherokee with a Tri-pacer. True a Cherokee flies a lot like Tri-pacer. But I don’t recall ever hearing that the there was a aileron/rudder connection on the Cherokee. I have heard there is a connection on the tri-pacer. This can be confirmed when taxiing as the ailerons will move when you turn with the rudder.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
 
brcase said:
He is probably confusing the Cherokee with a Tri-pacer. True a Cherokee flies a lot like Tri-pacer. But I don’t recall ever hearing that the there was a aileron/rudder connection on the Cherokee. I have heard there is a connection on the tri-pacer. This can be confirmed when taxiing as the ailerons will move when you turn with the rudder.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
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That could be... with the Tri-pacer, if you're taxing and move the rudder/front wheel, you mentioned the ailerons will move... does the yoke also? When I flew the Cherokee, I didn't pay attention if the ailerons moved with the rudder while taxiing... but I know the yoke didn't.
 
Congratulations on the solo and sticking with it! Now onto the check ride!
 
1000RR said:
That could be... with the Tri-pacer, if you're taxing and move the rudder/front wheel, you mentioned the ailerons will move... does the yoke also? When I flew the Cherokee, I didn't pay attention if the ailerons moved with the rudder while taxiing... but I know the yoke didn't.
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Yes the yoke moves also unless you prevent it from doing so, it is a spring connection.
A google search on the the Tri-pacer interconnect results in a number of threads on disconnecting the interconnect.

Brian
 
First, congratulations!

I don't think he was referring to a mechanical coupling, but roll-yaw coupling, which is an aerodynamic effect on some aircraft to a greater or lesser degree where control inputs on one axis can affect the other axis. Adverse yaw is one example, which can be tuned out with differential ailerons, or the roll tendency with yaw, especially on planes with lots of dihedral.
 
Dana said:
First, congratulations!

I don't think he was referring to a mechanical coupling, but roll-yaw coupling, which is an aerodynamic effect on some aircraft to a greater or lesser degree where control inputs on one axis can affect the other axis. Adverse yaw is one example, which can be tuned out with differential ailerons, or the roll tendency with yaw, especially on planes with lots of dihedral.
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That makes a lot of sense Dana and could very well be. The Cherokee the Club has definitely flies like there have an interconnect. I tried googling "aileron rudder interconnect" and found some parts for a piper for the interconnect, but nothing indicated it was for a Cherokee. So again, maybe his description was meaning more what you described.

At any rate, thanks for the congrats everyone. This thread really wasn't intended to go down this particular rabbit hole... but that's kind of how things go sometimes.
 
Dana said:
First, congratulations!

I don't think he was referring to a mechanical coupling, but roll-yaw coupling, which is an aerodynamic effect on some aircraft to a greater or lesser degree where control inputs on one axis can affect the other axis. Adverse yaw is one example, which can be tuned out with differential ailerons, or the roll tendency with yaw, especially on planes with lots of dihedral.
Click to expand...
That makes sense Dana and could very well be. The Cherokee the Club has definitely flies like there have an interconnect. I tried googling "aileron rudder interconnect" and found some parts for a piper for the interconnect, but nothing indicated it was for a Cherokee. So again, maybe his description was meaning more what you described.

At any rate, thanks for the congrats everyone. This thread really wasn't intended to go down this particular rabbit hole... but that's kind of how things go sometimes.
 
brcase said:
Yes the yoke moves also unless you prevent it from doing so, it is a spring connection.
A google search on the the Tri-pacer interconnect results in a number of threads on disconnecting the interconnect.

Brian
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The Cherokee definitely did not do that (yoke move when taxiing and turning). I would have felt (and remembered) that. It didn't. Dana (above) suggested it having to do with the aerodynamics of some aircraft... so maybe that's what was trying to be communicated and I took it as being a mechanical linkage.

Sorry for the rabbit hole folks... back to our normally scheduled programming...
 
1000RR said:
A great coordination maneuver that I’ll introduce you to is Dutch Rolls. That will work your feet!"
Click to expand...

There are still instructors out there calling them Dutch Rolls? o_O
 
Congrats on the solo! Have your feet touched the ground yet? Keep flying, keep flying!
 
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