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First lesson logged; what’s next? (cont.)

By Steve Krog
Steve Krog is a flight instructor, EAA member and president of the Cub Association.

Now it’s time to begin putting into practice what we are going to learn today - attitude flying.

Your instructor mentioned attitude flying during the preflight briefing but it might have sounded like a foreign language. Now that you are airborne, it will all begin to make sense.

Let’s say, for example, that your instructor has directed you to maintain an airspeed of 70 mph for the climb out. Your first tendency is to fix your vision on the airspeed indicator. Try as you might though, it seems nearly impossible to get that needle to stop and stay on 70 mph. Why is this happening? You don’t remember having to chase the airspeed when your instructor assisted you during the first lesson.

Remember this. The airspeed indicator lags behind the actual airspeed of the aircraft by 1-3 seconds. Therefore, just as you get the needle to 70, it continues to move to a slower indicated speed. If you lightly push on the yoke, it begins moving in the opposite direction, now indicating 80 mph. Frustrating, yes, but easily fixed.

Rather than chasing the airspeed indicator, position the nose of the airplane (top of the engine cowling) just above the horizon and hold it there. Notice how the airspeed needle has quit moving up and down and has stabilized on one speed. You’ve just experienced attitude flying. Should the speed indicate 75 mph at this point, raise the nose just a fraction of an inch on the horizon and again hold it steady. Notice that the airspeed has moved indicating 70 mph and it is remaining right on that speed.

Take a good look at where the nose is in relation to the horizon and remember that position as you will be using it every time you fly this airplane.

Whenever you are asked to perform a climb in this type and model of airplane and 70 mph is the recommended climb speed, at full power simply position the nose on the horizon and you’ll achieve a steady 70 mph climb. To help reinforce this attitude, your instructor will have you perform several extended climbs during this lesson. After the second or third climb, your instructor will likely cover the airspeed indicator to prevent you from seeing it and ask you to perform another 70 mph climb. You’ll amaze yourself as to how easy it is to achieve and hold the exact airspeed by remembering where to position the nose on the horizon. You’ve now learned attitude flying for the climb. Next page: Straight and level flying