Epic training flight with my friend CFI (code named "Mary") to get up to snuff and learn grass field landings. Easily 10 full stop landings done.
We flew to Frasier Lake and did some landings, where I tried to learn short-field technique (full flaps, 45 kias approach). Our airplane glides and glides! In that configuration it will happily parachute down at a 400 fpm descent rate! It was VERY bumpy due to thermals from the nearby fields, so it scared the crap out of me. Also, the wind was strong enough that it was absolutely necessary to use proper taildragger control placement relative to the wind, and at some point when the wind was broadside to us on the ground, it was actually hard to turn the plane away from the wind and we thought we'd have to do a 270 into it to reposition. Overall I'm glad I had a chilled-out CFI with me to help.
We decided to go to E16 for some more practice.
At E16, we did a bunch more practice where I got used to true short approaches and doing slips to final. I had previously been really scared of slipping, thinking that it would lead to a stall/spin right away. This got me on track to manage my energy and by the time we were done, I was much more confident and doing a better job of energy management.
We went back to Frasier Lake (!!) where it was a bit calmer, and did a couple of landings. I felt much better now.
We then returned to RHV uneventfully.
We flew to Frasier Lake and did some landings, where I tried to learn short-field technique (full flaps, 45 kias approach). Our airplane glides and glides! In that configuration it will happily parachute down at a 400 fpm descent rate! It was VERY bumpy due to thermals from the nearby fields, so it scared the crap out of me. Also, the wind was strong enough that it was absolutely necessary to use proper taildragger control placement relative to the wind, and at some point when the wind was broadside to us on the ground, it was actually hard to turn the plane away from the wind and we thought we'd have to do a 270 into it to reposition. Overall I'm glad I had a chilled-out CFI with me to help.
We decided to go to E16 for some more practice.
At E16, we did a bunch more practice where I got used to true short approaches and doing slips to final. I had previously been really scared of slipping, thinking that it would lead to a stall/spin right away. This got me on track to manage my energy and by the time we were done, I was much more confident and doing a better job of energy management.
We went back to Frasier Lake (!!) where it was a bit calmer, and did a couple of landings. I felt much better now.
We then returned to RHV uneventfully.
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