Re: flying coordinated


"Morgans" <jsmorgan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:H8Iye.24373$B_3.16915@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Michael" <usenetreplies@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
>
>> Truth is, the plane flies so close to coordinated by itself, and
>> tolerates out-of-coordination flight so well, that the student won't
>> know when he's doing it wrong and will soon conclude that the rudder
>> pedals are optional flight controls.
>
> On my first flight, (one of those introduction flights) once airborne, I
> took the yoke on a 172, and started to fly. I knew how the ball worked,
> and
> as I started to turn, I started playing with the rudder, to keep the ball
> centered. It seemed skittish, but I sawed back and forth, and kept it
> reasonably between the marks. I then started looking at it while flying
> level, and once again, I started stroking the pedals to try to keep it
> centered, but once again, it seemed awfully skittish.
>
> Once on the ground I finally discovered what the problem was; why it was
> so
> skittish.
>
> I had in my mind's eye, a picture of how you steered a cart, like a
> soapbox
> derby car. You guessed it. Push on the axle bar with the right foot, to
> go
> left.
>
> Not so with an airplane, so it seems. ;-)
> --
> Jim in NC

Just a few general comments on this thread if I may please.

It is true that modern trainers are designed much better than their older
counterparts, but even with these advantages, including design features like
Freise and differential ailerons, the qualities that define a good CFI are
still the same as they always have been and always will be.

Michael wrote;

>"The flip side is this - to teach in a modern trainer, you need to be a
>much better teacher (if you're going to turn out a competent pilot).

This is inconsistent with my experience. The ability to teach coupled with
the ability to fly have always been the two necessary qualities in a good
flight instructor. There are CFI's out here now who have these qualities and
those who don't have them, and back then, the situation was exactly the
same.
A good CFI is a good CFI....and the airplane that's being used has nothing
to do with the good CFI equation!
The advent of the Freise aileron in no way changed this, and a good CFI
flying a J3 Cub had to have the same ability to teach as does the
CFI flying a Cherokee today. The job discription never changes due to
aircraft type. You need to turn out a good finished product either way.
Each aircraft one teaches in has it's own unique aerodynamic qualities and
any good instructor has the ability to adjust to these qualities. Also, any
GOOD instructor by simple definition is a good teacher regardless of what
that instructor is teaching in, or when that instructor teaches, or has
taught. Conversely, a BAD instructor is a bad teacher by simple definition.
This isn't above CFI 101 level really :-)
To generalize that one has to be a better teacher to teach in modern
aircraft on a "they are too easy to fly" premise is simply not accurate in
my estimation.....if indeed this was the premise intended.

Michael also writes;

>The trainers of yesteryear pretty much taught the pilot - all the
>instructor had to do was keep the student from crashing the plane while
>he learned, and at the end a good stick would be produced. Little
>teaching was necessary, and the instructors of the time weren't really
>much as teachers went. Those who did need teaching, or extra help,
>mostly didn't get it.

This is simply not true in my opinion.

Dudley Henriques



.

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