Mechanics of a turns
Medium turns are turns which require the maintenance of a bank to a
sufficient degree to overcome the inherent stability of the airplane in
level flight, but not so steep as to allow its spiral instability to cause
overbooking. In most ag aircraft this bank is approximately 30 degrees.
The control usages necessary are those basic to all flight maneuvers.
If too shallow of a bank is used, the airplane may attempt to right itself
and you will have difficulty maintaining a uniform rate of turn. If the
bank is too steep, you may have trouble controlling the aircraft's tendency
to increase its bank and holding altitude will be difficult.
Depressing the aileron on the upper wing causes a greater drag than does
raising the aileron on the lower wing, causing a yaw towards the high wing.
If a smooth, coordinated turn is to be achieved, this aileron yaw must be
overcome with the proper use of rudder in the opposite direction.
The function of the rudder in performing turns, as in all other flight, is
to trim the airplane by aligning it with the path through the air, to
overcome yaw.
Medium turns are used in our curriculum because they are the most common in
ag flying as well as testing the student's basic airmanship.
Becoming A Better Pilot
A. Be critical of:
1. Habits.
2. Procedures.
B. Learn from those that know:
1. Study only good habits.
2. Practice only known
procedures.
C. Prepare:
1. Plan.
2. Follow the plan.
D. Safety is an attitude.
1. Prepare.
2. Don't hurry.
3. Do more than is
necessary.
4. Learn more than is necessary.
5. Listen to yourself.
6. Make limitations for yourself.
7. Learn to laugh at
yourself.
8. Be willing to accept criticism.
9. If you have become complacent, you
will get hurt! Pay attention to:
a. Altitude.
b. Heading.
c. Engine.
d. Procedures.
10. You will learn more on the ground than in the air.
a. Plan.
b. Reviewing
(be honest).
11. Always, always be looking for a way out (what if?).
12. Read.
a. Accident reports.
b. Safety material.
13. Rules of thumb are usually destroyed by a crash.
14. Keep ahead of the
airplane.
a. Plan your flight.
b. Fly your plan.
15. Good pilots don't have to show-off. Expert pilots don't show-off.
16. When in doubt, don't:
a. Let social pressure make you go when you don't want to.