Busy staring at the flight instruments instead of actually looking Outside - yikes!

After the previous day theory on how to fly Straight and Level and in a constant direction,  couple weeks ago, I had a chance to put that into practice.

I was getting better at doing pre-flight check – getting faster in identifying what is what and overall more confident .

My instructor did the radio call this time while I had to stir the aeroplane to the runway, however, this time without his assistance. I still find it hard to stir the aeroplane with my rudder pedals. The aeroplane turned earlier than expected and almost ran to the grass area. At one stage my reflex was to use the control column (similar to stiring wheel in a car) but realised that did not work and my instructor was laughing. He said you know very well Mai that the control column will not work to stir the aircraft.

I did an assisted take off – well my instructor took the first hand control of taking off but I was feeling what he’s doing as I held my control column as well. I think Taking Off is not as hard as landing.

I did manage to practice Straight and Level flight skill in Normal, High and Low Speed. However, I could not take my eyes out of the performance instruments. I somehow failed miserably.

Anyways, after the flight we did a de-brief. My instructor told me that what I was spending 80% of my time staring at the instruments while the other 20% looking out. The correct way was the other way around! yikes! I told him I could not help myself. As I went through the sequence of LPAST (Lookout, set the Power, set the Attitude and Trim) as well as my ALAP (maintain Attitude, Lookout, maintain Attitude and check Performance), there were so many things going on and I had to check from the instruments display whether I had the correct attitude, whether my aircraft in balance, I had the right airspeed, and lots!!!

My most important thing was I forget to keep my wings level thus resulting in not being able to fly Straight and Level and in a constant direction. Guys, seriously, there’s so many things to do, my mind’s not got used to that yet. I still had to think on the sequence let alone actually doing it. I also still trying to get used to how much/far should I roll the trim wheel and what effect will it brings.

My instructor at the end told me not to be too hard on myself, after all this was my first real hour of flying. Oh well, next week I shall re-deem myself.

Related posts:

1. First Instructional Flight – Learning to fly
2. First Classroom Lesson – Flying
3. Royal Flying Doctor Services (RFDS)