There is one major difference here. In the case of training new pilots, you are using a plane that is already known to be rigged and flies correctly to teach a student how the plane should feel. In test flying a plane, you have no assurance that the plane flies correctly or is rigged correctly. Consequently, you want all the information you can get to verify how the plane is performing, especially on the first few flights. Typical first flights consist of getting to altitude, verifying operating parameters, practicing the skills needed to get down, and verification of the instrumentation that's going to help you get the plane back on the ground safely. If any one of those segments has to be skipped due to mechanical safety, or performance issues, the initial flight has suddenly become much more complex, as can be attested to by the recent experiences of Lee and Mark. This is one of the reasons why many pilots have a test pilot do the first flights for them.
You'll note that in Mark's case, Troy had no real problems with Mark's plane, but left him with a comment or two about the pitot/static system. When Mark got in the plane, the same problem suddenly made flying the plane much more complex. That's not a commentary on Mark's skills as a pilot so much as the skills that Troy has as a professional pilot with a broad background of experience to draw on. If there was any one failing in Troy's post-flight, it was not emphasising to Mark that he needed to do something about his instrumentation prior to flying the plane. But in all fairness, it may not have been a big deal to him, so he may not have considered it to be a big problem for Mark either. Jeff > Hi Netters. > I enjoyed the opportunity to share with Mark his first flight in N56ML. At > our last chapter meeting of the RAA in Barrie, We had a senior flight > instructor talk about the absolute minimum instruments required for the > teaching of flight to a student. In 1939 when World War 2 started, the > Commonwealth Training Plan program called for the "taping over" of > nonessential instruments.You were left with engine pressure and > temperature,RPM, compass, altimeter and gas gauge. Notice that you never > got "airspeed" until you had your first solo. You were taught to > recognize attitude for takeoff , level flight and landings.They trained a > lot of good pilots by this method. For a young pilot, it is better to keep > your eyes outside the plane than inside it. You really get to know the > feel of the plane this way. > Regards > Harold Woods > Orillia, ON. Canada. > [email protected] > _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
