Rock solid

Gilbert Buettner

Gilbert Buettner

Cleared for Takeoff
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Dec 5, 2022
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Wausau, Wisconsin
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Display name:
Gil
There is no autopilot in this aircraft. The pilot has his hands on his knees (and no, I am not touching the controls). Yet he is on course (see the HSI), on altitude, and perfectly trimmed.

And get this - the guy flying does not have a pilot certificate.
 

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Back when I had the Cherokee 180 my brother and I were flying to the UP. Everything was trimmed out, and the fuel was perfectly balanced. My brother and I were able to get the plane to climb, descend and turn each direction just by leaning forward, aft, and as much as we could left and right. Lasted for about 15 minutes before the fuel imbalance returned.
 
Gilbert Buettner said:
There is no autopilot in this aircraft. The pilot has his hands on his knees (and no, I am not touching the controls). Yet he is on course (see the HSI), on altitude, and perfectly trimmed.

And get this - the guy flying does not have a pilot certificate.
Click to expand...
It is obviously your superior instruction. :)
 
Many years ago I used to fly a 182 that would trim out hands free. It also had a working Cessna 400 Navomatic autopilot. Previous history showed that it had a off airport landing that dang near ripped off the right wing.

It had a really nice metallic red, white and blue paint job that folks really ooohed and aaahed over, until they saw the standard brown and orange plaid interior...
 
A properly-rigged Cessna or Piper does that pretty easily. The key is to stay by flying with just the tips of the thumb and one or two fingers, and use the trim wheel the same way. Fly it like that, trim it precisely after getting power settled in, and enjoy the ride.
 
Yes, trim is your friend. When I remember to trim the plane for 65 knots on final, I don't have to worry about unconsciously pulling the yoke back and getting too slow.

Not a lot of smooth air east of the Colorado Front Range, especially in the afternoon. So far, it hasn't been any worse than some days that I flew in the San Jose, CA area.
 
Zeldman said:
It also had a working Cessna 400 Navomatic autopilot. Previous history showed that it had a off airport landing that dang near ripped off the right wing
Click to expand...
Aha! So that’s how you get a Navomatic to work!
 
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