Rob Schaffer
Cleared for Takeoff
See that smilie with the thread title,.. it's only half as big as it was on my face this morning after 1.2 in a 2003 Citabria!! Wow, amazing, awesome, only begin to describe how my first lesson was today.
I've been wanting to do something different as I approach my first flight review, so I talked to a few other pilots and decided the Tailwheel endorsement was something fun to do and I'd better myself as a pilot. (Yes, I know it's an endorsement and doesn't count for the flight review, so let's not start that discussion. I will still have my Flight Review in June)
I was looking at VanSant airport which has a J-3 cub left after the new management took over last year, and a Citabria at Wings Field. While the J-3 would be cheaper per hour, it is a 45 minute drive to and from the airport + Lesson time = to much time away from wife, 2-5 yr olds, and a 3 month old. Wings adds the benefit that I typicaly get up with Madison to feed her a bottle about 4am, and I've been going to the airport then for some dawn flying and practice. The instructor at Wings is available to start at 6:30am, so this works out great! I can fly before work, and not interupt family time at home either.
So today I arrived at Wings about 6am and was reviewing the POH for the Citabria Explorer 7GCBC I was about to fly. About 6:20, I walked down to the plane and figured I would untie the tiedowns and have a walk around while the instructor was about to arrive. He arrived a few minutes later and asked me if we needed the chutes?
I gave him a funny look, and he then asked if I was just doing the tailwheel endorsement,... I responded "Yes, but you do acro too?" NICE. 
After a preflight and familiarization instruction with the plane, we loaded in and I started up the plane. He taxied out of the parking spot and then let me taxi down to the runway. Oddly, I found it natural and very similar to taxiing the Diamond DA-20, as it has a castoring nosewheel and responded similar to the Citabria. Visibility is fantastic! I feel like I am sitting in a truck looking out over the cowling rather than hiding behind a glareshield in the Cessna. This proved to be one of my challenges to overcome. I tried to take it in, but so much was going on at the moment.
We discussed the takeoff, and he guided me onto the runway and then down 24 as we accellerated. It felt odd holding the stick forward for the tail to rise, and really felt that I was about to nose over due to my high sight picture, but before I knew it we were off and airborne. The plane climbed at 1300 feet per minute and handled sportfully. We departed to the practice area so I could feel how the controls were and practice slo-flight and power off stalls.
The plane is true and honest. Pitch, Power, Trim, and she held it nicely. You have to stay coordinated on the rudder at all times, as you notice the nose lag behind easily if you don't. I did some clearing turns, then slow flight, which was very smooth, and then a power off,.. will it ever break,... stall. I was flying at 40mph, airspeed needle barely wiggling and stick full aft,... and she barely would break. As it broke the second time I dropped the right wing but quickly got it and recovered, even got a pat on the shoulder for a good job!
He then asked me if I ever did a Wing-over? Nope,.. I thought he meant a hammerhead by my description of pulling up and kicking with the tail, but he corrected me and then proceeded to show me the manouver and said it can be done in any plane if you are properly trained and can really be a valuable asset to have when flying out west. (which he has done a lot in Colorado and will be this summer in Idaho) With no G-forces at all, we turned right around by using this manouver, pretty darn cool.
We headed back to Wings, and setup for my first landing approach. ABEAM, power to 1500 and 3 notches of flaps, and the plane locked in like it was on a target. Down final, and he helped me with the stick position and motion while I was on the rudder. A nice landing, mostly cause he was doing it, but it was about to be the best of the day. I began the turn to early to the taxiway and a little to fast, as it would be fine in the Cessna, but not in a tailwheel. He straighted me out before any trouble could happen, and explained why and how that is one of the biggest mistakes made and the cause for a lot of ground loop accidents. I taxiied back, and setup for departure again. This time, it was to be mostly me, so I lined up and advanced the throttle. I was fine with the stick position till the tail came up, then that sight picture made me hesitate and before I new it I was off centerline. Rudder pedals dancing, I snaked my way back to centerline just as she lifted off the runway
Grr,.. I expected more of myself,.....
Around the pattern, landing approach looked good but maybe a tad bit fast,.. "Back,.. back,.. more,.. More ROB,.. more" is what I heard in the headset as we touched down and then executed three more landings in a row,... bouncing down the runway (small bounces he said, but still). Luckily, I mangaged good footwork and kept us going straight during our rabbit run. We discussed it, and he again showed me the stick postion for the 3-point landing. Its' pulled back all the way and my hand is basically in my belly button, I can see how this would be challenging when holding full aft on the stick and slipping for a crosswind. Up again, an improved takeoff run this time but still a little snake-like down centerline. Approach speed better, sight picture looking good,... "Back,.. Back.... More.. More... Good" then bounce bounce,.. "Only two that time" I heard.
Instructor : "Ok,.. that's one hour, how do you feel?"
Me: "I can't leave that way,.. one more time"
Heck, this was a blast, and I knew I was a little tense, so I paused in the runup area to take a breather before the hold short line. He talked me through the takeoff, gave me a few tips about stick postion, rudder, and sight picture, and we went into postion. I stopped on the numbers and looked at the runway and how it looked with respect to the cowling (Like Diana told me to in the first place via PM ) Ok,.. Ready, I advanced the throttle and had the stick in position. Tail up, and I was tap dancing rather than fox-trotting, and I stuck that centerline to a nice takeoff. Around we went, ABEAM, I began decent, set the throttle, trim, flaps,... solid. I wish the C172 was this solid all the time. Good looking approach and with very little help and listening to the coach behind me, I set her down nice for a good 3 point landing!! WOW, Exhillerating, and a double handed pat on each shoulder from the instructor in the back!! OK,.. I can go to work now,... AWESOME!
Post briefing, my instructor said I am doing quite well and more aware of plane performance/control than a lot of his other students. He expects me to pick this up smoothly over the next few weeks.
While I by no means mastered anything today, I learned a heck of a lot. and,.. if a deal on a Citabria opens up or a Cessna 170,... I'm in. (Sorry Bob)
Next lesson is Tuesday, more 3 point landings and intro to wheel landings.
I've been wanting to do something different as I approach my first flight review, so I talked to a few other pilots and decided the Tailwheel endorsement was something fun to do and I'd better myself as a pilot. (Yes, I know it's an endorsement and doesn't count for the flight review, so let's not start that discussion. I will still have my Flight Review in June)
I was looking at VanSant airport which has a J-3 cub left after the new management took over last year, and a Citabria at Wings Field. While the J-3 would be cheaper per hour, it is a 45 minute drive to and from the airport + Lesson time = to much time away from wife, 2-5 yr olds, and a 3 month old. Wings adds the benefit that I typicaly get up with Madison to feed her a bottle about 4am, and I've been going to the airport then for some dawn flying and practice. The instructor at Wings is available to start at 6:30am, so this works out great! I can fly before work, and not interupt family time at home either.
So today I arrived at Wings about 6am and was reviewing the POH for the Citabria Explorer 7GCBC I was about to fly. About 6:20, I walked down to the plane and figured I would untie the tiedowns and have a walk around while the instructor was about to arrive. He arrived a few minutes later and asked me if we needed the chutes?
I gave him a funny look, and he then asked if I was just doing the tailwheel endorsement,... I responded "Yes, but you do acro too?" NICE. After a preflight and familiarization instruction with the plane, we loaded in and I started up the plane. He taxied out of the parking spot and then let me taxi down to the runway. Oddly, I found it natural and very similar to taxiing the Diamond DA-20, as it has a castoring nosewheel and responded similar to the Citabria. Visibility is fantastic! I feel like I am sitting in a truck looking out over the cowling rather than hiding behind a glareshield in the Cessna. This proved to be one of my challenges to overcome. I tried to take it in, but so much was going on at the moment.
We discussed the takeoff, and he guided me onto the runway and then down 24 as we accellerated. It felt odd holding the stick forward for the tail to rise, and really felt that I was about to nose over due to my high sight picture, but before I knew it we were off and airborne. The plane climbed at 1300 feet per minute and handled sportfully. We departed to the practice area so I could feel how the controls were and practice slo-flight and power off stalls.
The plane is true and honest. Pitch, Power, Trim, and she held it nicely. You have to stay coordinated on the rudder at all times, as you notice the nose lag behind easily if you don't. I did some clearing turns, then slow flight, which was very smooth, and then a power off,.. will it ever break,... stall. I was flying at 40mph, airspeed needle barely wiggling and stick full aft,... and she barely would break. As it broke the second time I dropped the right wing but quickly got it and recovered, even got a pat on the shoulder for a good job!
He then asked me if I ever did a Wing-over? Nope,.. I thought he meant a hammerhead by my description of pulling up and kicking with the tail, but he corrected me and then proceeded to show me the manouver and said it can be done in any plane if you are properly trained and can really be a valuable asset to have when flying out west. (which he has done a lot in Colorado and will be this summer in Idaho) With no G-forces at all, we turned right around by using this manouver, pretty darn cool.
We headed back to Wings, and setup for my first landing approach. ABEAM, power to 1500 and 3 notches of flaps, and the plane locked in like it was on a target. Down final, and he helped me with the stick position and motion while I was on the rudder. A nice landing, mostly cause he was doing it, but it was about to be the best of the day. I began the turn to early to the taxiway and a little to fast, as it would be fine in the Cessna, but not in a tailwheel. He straighted me out before any trouble could happen, and explained why and how that is one of the biggest mistakes made and the cause for a lot of ground loop accidents. I taxiied back, and setup for departure again. This time, it was to be mostly me, so I lined up and advanced the throttle. I was fine with the stick position till the tail came up, then that sight picture made me hesitate and before I new it I was off centerline. Rudder pedals dancing, I snaked my way back to centerline just as she lifted off the runway
Grr,.. I expected more of myself,..... Around the pattern, landing approach looked good but maybe a tad bit fast,.. "Back,.. back,.. more,.. More ROB,.. more" is what I heard in the headset as we touched down and then executed three more landings in a row,... bouncing down the runway (small bounces he said, but still). Luckily, I mangaged good footwork and kept us going straight during our rabbit run. We discussed it, and he again showed me the stick postion for the 3-point landing. Its' pulled back all the way and my hand is basically in my belly button, I can see how this would be challenging when holding full aft on the stick and slipping for a crosswind. Up again, an improved takeoff run this time but still a little snake-like down centerline. Approach speed better, sight picture looking good,... "Back,.. Back.... More.. More... Good" then bounce bounce,.. "Only two that time" I heard.
Instructor : "Ok,.. that's one hour, how do you feel?"
Me: "I can't leave that way,.. one more time"
Heck, this was a blast, and I knew I was a little tense, so I paused in the runup area to take a breather before the hold short line. He talked me through the takeoff, gave me a few tips about stick postion, rudder, and sight picture, and we went into postion. I stopped on the numbers and looked at the runway and how it looked with respect to the cowling (Like Diana told me to in the first place via PM
) Ok,.. Ready, I advanced the throttle and had the stick in position. Tail up, and I was tap dancing rather than fox-trotting, and I stuck that centerline to a nice takeoff. Around we went, ABEAM, I began decent, set the throttle, trim, flaps,... solid. I wish the C172 was this solid all the time. Good looking approach and with very little help and listening to the coach behind me, I set her down nice for a good 3 point landing!! WOW, Exhillerating, and a double handed pat on each shoulder from the instructor in the back!! OK,.. I can go to work now,... AWESOME! Post briefing, my instructor said I am doing quite well and more aware of plane performance/control than a lot of his other students. He expects me to pick this up smoothly over the next few weeks.
While I by no means mastered anything today, I learned a heck of a lot.
and,.. if a deal on a Citabria opens up or a Cessna 170,... I'm in. (Sorry Bob)Next lesson is Tuesday, more 3 point landings and intro to wheel landings.
It doesn't help matters that the runway where I fly is 27' wide.
During the dual flights, the thing he had seemed most happy about in terms of my flying was my willingness to go around if the first contact was not quite right. I should have done that on this solo flight- in fact, at Brown, on the longer runway at least, in the Champ one might power up, climb a little, then descend again for a 3-pointer with runway to spare. 
). You think everything's lined up then the other side drops and now what was straight is now curving. 
