Steep Turns
Today the cloud base was low in the Otaki training area so it was agreed to move to the north of Kapiti Island to learn steep turns at 3500ft.
Steep turns are at a 45 degree angle of bank. This feels like you are at 90 degrees the first time you do it. I was amazed at how hard you have to pull elevator to keep the nose tracking across the horizon. It took a few attempts before I stopped porpoising thru the turn.
We spent about 45mins practicing this manoeuvre.
My FI threw in a few stall practices in the clean configuration (flaps up) as well. I haven’t done that for some time but it seemed to come quite easily. Power back to idle and bring the nose up whilst not loosing height. Feel the shudder first followed closely by the stall warning horn, then the aircraft noses over. Loosen off the stick and apply power so that the angle of attack is back in the green and you loose only a bit of height.
Once training was completed it was a smooth decent from 3500ft to 1000ft ready for the downwind join onto 34 seal.
A good solid 15kt crosswind coming into land but managed quite a good one in the end. A great training flight and the weather stayed good as well. Couldn’t ask for more. Happy days!
Aircraft: ZK-KAZ (Cessna 172SP Skyhawk)
Total Time: 1.1
Landings: 1
Go-arounds: 0
Visual Approaches: 1
Until next time….
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