Practice Review of Flight Maneuvers

I preflighted the airplane and taxied to RWY 3 with my instructor Jim. I performed a normal takeoff with flap 1 and headed towards the flight practice area. At 2,500 ft AGL, I made clearing turns and steep turns to the right and left to a circle. Jim performed a steep right turn to circle to allow me to see precise control of airspeed and altitude. I practiced the maneuver again.

Horizon - view from 2,500 ft above Pittsboro, NC

Jim demonstrated power-on stall and recovery and power-off stall and recovery with flaps 2. I performed the maneuvers maintaining the heading and gaining the original altitude. I then descended the plane to 1,500 ft and performed S-turns above a state road. Along the way to KTTA, I performed turns around a point maneuver using a small pond as ground reference. Maintaining the altitude of 1,500 ft and an airspeed of 90 mph, I entered the midpoint for downwind for RWY 3. I reduced the airspeed to 70 mph abeam no.3 and put flaps at 2. Turning the base and final legs in the traffic pattern, I touched down with a little float just beyond the first taxiway exit. Taxied back to FBO.

Solo Flight Maneuvers Practice

I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA at 10.00 AM today and started the engine as a cold-start (applying full-choke with ignition switches off for 3 seconds and then choke off and restart with ignition switches on). After the checklist, I taxied to RWY 3 following a Cessna 172. I departed with flaps at 15 degrees and with crosswind corrections for winds from 330 at 5 knots. After the climb and left crosswind, I piloted the airplane near the 3M plant at Pittsboro, about 10 miles NW of KTTA.

At an altitude of 2,500 ft AGL, I made clearing turns and steep turns to a circle with the distant water tower as the reference. I then piloted the plane at slow speed (55 mph) at flaps 2 towards the water tower. I made shallow turns to left and right. I then performed a power-off stall and recovery. Gaining an airspeed of 90 mph, I descended to 1600 ft and practiced circle around a point maneuver with a small pond as the ground reference.

I entered the downwind leg at midpoint for RWY 3 at 1250 ft and reduced the airspeed to 70 mph abeam the number 3. I switched the flaps at 2 and maintained an airspeed of 65 mph for the base and final legs. I then performed a short-field landing with crosswinds and touched down before the first taxiway exit at 1300 ft. I then taxied back to RWY 3 and performed a soft-field takeoff gaining airspeed by ground effect after the liftoff at 50 mph. I then executed a traffic pattern with an approach speed of 62 mph at flaps 2 for a soft-field landing. I then taxied back to the FBO.

Solo Flight Practice: Circle Around a Point and Takeoffs & Landings

On June 8, 2010, I preflighted the airplane, Allegro 2000 LSA (N50631) and tookoff from RWY 03 for my eleventh solo flight. I performed my first takeoff with 15 degrees of flaps and headed towards the NW of KTTA (Raleigh Exec Airport). During my climb to about 2,500 ft near the 3M plant, I retracted the flaps at 150 ft and switched off the electric fuel pump at 1000 ft. I performed clearing turns and shallow turns and headed towards the KTTA. Entering the mid-point of downwind for RWY 03, I switched on flaps to 15 degrees at 70 mph and abeam the # 3. After base and final legs, I perfoemd my first landing of the day.



I again tookoff from RWY 03 of KTTA with flaps at 1 and headed towards the Cape Fear River Basin and followed the river. At the intersection of two state roads, I practiced several circle around a point maneuver at 1,400 ft ad 90 mph. I was able to keep the altitude and speed within the margins allowed for the Sport Pilot PTS and was able to correct when off with quick corrections. The wind was calm but there were some up drafts.



After my flight maneuvers practice, I entered the downwind for RWY 03 and landed the plane after a short flare. I taxied back to RWY 03 and did another takeoff, traffic pattern and landing.

Solo Flight Practice: Soft-field Takeoff, Flight Maneuvers and Landings

The mid-day weather at KTTA (Raleigh-Exec Airport) today (April 19, 2010) was sunny with clear skies with a temperature of 75 degrees but with gusty winds of about 4 knots varying in direction. I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA just after my instructor, Jim Schmidt taxied the airplane to the FBO after his flight training session with another student.

I taxied the airplane with the stick all the way back and entered the RWY 3 without stopping to simulate a soft-field takeoff. I applied full-power and the airplane lifted off at 50 mph with flap 1 (15 degrees). I levelled the airplane to gain airspeed in the ground effect and climbed out at the best rate of climb (Vy = 70 mph). I retracted the flaps at about 150 ft altitude and crossed the remaining runway.

I flew the plane at an altitude of 1400 msl to the NW of the KTTA Airport and performed the two following flight maneuvers, each a couple of time to gain practice:
1) Circle around a point (intersection of two state roads below)and
2) S-turns around a straight stretch of a state road with the intersection as the mid-point.



After the flight maneuvers, I entered the mid-point of the downwind leg for RWY 3 at 1250 ft. Turning base and final with an airspeed of 70 mph, I landed the Allegro 2000 LSA and turned off to the taxiway. I took off from RWY 3 for the second time today entering it via taxiway Echo. I performed a normal takeoff with Flap 1 and lifted off at 56 mph. I did the traffic pattern work and entered the base and final legs a little high. I applied full-power to perform a go-around (I should have tried a forward-slip!). After another traffic pattern with idle power from abeam the number 3, I landed the airplane after a short flare. The varying winds with not much corrections made me land a little off the center-line. I taxied the plane to the FBO.

Today marked my eighth solo flight and with this short 36 minute flight, I now have accumulated seven hours of PIC solo time.

Solo Crosswind Takeoff and Landing, Flight Maneuvers Practice

On Friday (April 16, 2010), I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA and taxied to runway 21 at the Raleigh-Exec Airport (KTTA) for solo flight practice. The weather was mild (70 F) but with strong winds of 8 knots from 260 degrees gusting to 12 knots. I performed my first solo crosswind takeoff with right aileron into the wind with flap 1. I lifted of at 60 mph as opposed to the normal 56 mph and retracted the flap at 150 ft. On climbing at 70 mph, I held a crab into the wind as I cleared the runway 21-3 and headed to the NW of the airport.

I climbed to 3,000 ft and practiced the following flight maneuvers: clearing turns, steep turns, power-on stall & recovery, power-off stall & recovery. I then descended to 1400 ft to try S-turns and circle around a point maneuvers. The wind aloft was high with updrafts. I piloted the Allegro 2000 LSA to the SE of KTTA. The wind conditions were still gusty and hence I decided to try these maneuvers another day. I entered the downwind mid-point for RWY 21 and performed my first solo crosswind landing with an approach airspeed of 70 mph with right aileron into the wind. I turned off the runway at taxiway Bravo to the FBO.

Dual PTS Flight Maneuvers Practice

Power-ON Stall & Recovery

Power-OFF Stall & Recovery

On April 13th and 14th 2010, I practiced several flight maneuvers after Jim demonstrated each of them. During the flight training on the 13th, Jim demonstrated the first takeoff with flap 1 (15 degrees) as a soft-field takeoff with the stick all the way back from the taxiway. Applying full-power, the airplane lifted off at 50 mph. Jim reduced the nose high attitude to allow the airplane to gain further speed in the ground effect and climbed at Vy = 70 mph. After clearing over the runway, I took control of the airplane. I performed my first soft-field landing with Flap 1 at downwind (AS=70 mph) and Flap 2 (48 degrees) at final with an airspeed of 62-64 mph in a nose down attitude. I still held a little power after touchdown to simulate rollout on a soft-field. Touch and Go...Tookoff from the remaining runway with flap 1. After the traffic pattern at 1,250 ft (crosswind, downwind, base and final), I performed my second landing as a short-field landng with flap 2 in the final and cutoff any remaining power as the main wheels touched down. I performed six short-and-soft field landings with flap 2 to gain proficiency.

During the second day of PTS Flight maneuvers training, Jim demonstrated several flight maneuvers and I repeated them under his guidance. I practiced the following flight maneuvers:
1) Clearing Turns
2) Steep turns at 45 degrees to left and right
3) Power-ON stall with 4,500 rpm and recovery
4) Power-OFF stall in landing configuration with Flap 2 with idle power and recovery
5) Circle around a point at 1,400 ft
6) S-turns around a straight road from 1,400 ft

I then performed the landing at RWY 21 and taxied back to FBO.

Solo Flight Maneuvers Practice - 2

As a continuation of my solo flight maneuvers practice, I soloed today (04/02/10) from 10:45 to 11:45 EST in the Allegro 2000 LSA. The weather was 80 F with 3 knots of wind from 320.

I taxied the plane to RWY 03 and performed a soft-field takeoff and climbout. Turning north from left crosswind leg, I climbed to 3,000 ft. After executing clearing turns, I then headed east and performed a power-off stall and recovery. I then piloted above a plant and did a circle around a point flight maneuver. I kept the airspeed at 80 mph and altitude at 2,500 ft AGL by increasing the back pressure and adding a little power during the turns. After crossing the KTTA mid-point of the RWY and entering a left downwind for RWY 03, I landed the Allegro 2000 LSA with Flap 1 and turned-off at the third exit for the taxiway. I then performed a short-field takeoff and climbout and headed north towards a highway. I did a S-turn flight maneuver with the intersection of two roads below as the center point. I tried to maintain the airspeed at 80 mph and the altitude at 2,500 ft AGL.



Heading towards the KTTA RWY 03, I entered the downwind leg mid-point at 45 degrees from west and switched on Flap 1 at abeam the no.03. I was unable to land with Flap 2 switched on at final and did a go-around about 150 ft above the RWY. Again entering the traffic pattern, I landed the plane with flap 1 but got bounced and added a little power. After a short roundout, I landed the light sport aircraft on the remaining RWY 03 and turned-off at the second exit for the taxiway towards the FBO - B Bar D Aviation.

I still need to practice short-field landings with flap 2 with my flight instructor, Jim Schmidt...

Flight Training: Practice of PTS Maneuvers - 1

On March 08, 2010, I had dual flight training with my flight instructor Jim. It was a sunny day at my home base (KTTA) with a 9 knots of winds and 14 knots of gusts from 340 degrees. Before my preflight check, I discussed the training objectives for the flight - to practice flight maneuvers using effective aircraft controls. After the preflight check, I taxied the Allegro 2000 LSA to RWY 03 and performed a short-field crosswind takeoff (add full-power at runway edge with brakes on and then release for takeoff with a left stick to compensate for the crosswind, crab into the wind on climbout).

I climbed to 3,500 ft altitude in the practice area NW of the Raleigh Exec Airport. After Jim's demonstrations, I performed several flight maneuvers: (1) Clearing Turns (2) Steep Turns (3) Slow speed turns - slight bank angle with the aim of keeping altitute and airspeed constant (4)Power On Stalls and (5) Power Off stalls - with flap. Jim also demonstrated the onset of a spin with a wing down stall and the recovery maneuver for me to gain an awareness on spin...I piloted the airplane towards the airport descending to the traffic pattern altitude of 1,250 ft at mid-point of downwind leg. After completing the traffic pattern work, I landed the plane slightly off the centerline since I did not give enough left stick to compensate for the crosswind. It was an hour of flight work and I taxied the Allegro Light Sport Aircraft to the FBO.