Yesterday was the sortie called Medium Turns. Straight & Level Medium Turns is by banking the aircraft 30 degrees to the desired direction and apply a little back pressure on the control stick to maintain altitude. It was a little tough during turning because of maintaining the altitude and I was going plus minus 80ft from the given altitude. The instructor comment was "OK" but he said that it's best to maintain the exact altitude.
After that, I had to perform the Climbing Turn and Descending Turn by banking 20 degrees to the desired direction. And oh yeah, I had to maintain the speed of 85kts too and pressing the rudder at the same time. So my eyes were like looking the horizon for 20seconds, then the airspeed indicator and the Turn Coordinator for 3seconds and then to the horizon again and so on.
Turn Coordinator
My taxiing skill still sucks because I sometimes stepped on the brake too much and sometimes I couldn't taxy exactly on the yellow line. Braking too much will result in lesser effectiveness of the brakes.
Today's sortie was pretty tough and confusing. Yes. Confusing. It's called Descending 2. Now, this sortie required me to operate the flaps (both take-off and landing flaps) during descent and then adjust the attitude of the aircraft to maintain the speed of 85 knots and lastly trimming. Later, I was required to operate the power (max, cruise and idle power) during descent and then adjust the attitude, maintain 85kts and then trim. And then I also learned about base technique and final technique. Ok, you don't know what the heck I am talking about those techniques. Well, "base" means the route at whcih the aircraft is flying before approaching the runway's final. And "final", means the route at which the aircraft is approaching the runway to land, normally 4 nautical miles from threshold. Now you must be wondering what the hell is threshold. Threshold is the part of runway which is usable for landing.
The two techniques are still a little confusing to me and I think I need to brush up on those two for my future sorties.
Anyway, throughout today's sortie, from climbing till all the way to entering circuit altitude (1000ft), my instructor kept saying that my wings were not level and the aircraft was like kept going to the right! Hey, the weather today was hazy and I barely could see the horizon. He said that I have to use my imagination to picture out the horizon. Tough. I tried to "bluff" alittle by looking at the Artificial Horizon instrument but still not enough. He caught me. I mean he caught my eyes were staring at the instruments. Again, 90% time should be outside and 10% to instruments. Remember!! Remember!! Remember!!
Flying sounds easy or hard to you all?
To me, it is tough at first for sure. Just like when I started to learn driving a car. Tough at first but as time passes, I got used to it, then driving became easier, then drifting, then speeding, then helped parents to fetch siblings everday, then got stuck in traffic jam everyday, then finally became so "good" in driving that I don't even care about the law. Traffic light shows GREEN, no problem straight go, if ORANGE, time to step on the accelerator don't slow down, if RED, no need stop just speed up and go!
This "law" sounds so familiar right? Because nearly every Malaysian has "memorized and practiced" the law in their heart whenever they are driving. Agree?
Now 1730 hours. Later 1800 hours will have another mass briefing again about Stalling. Tired! But I'm loving it! =D
For anyone who listens to Chinese music most probably will know who is the singer for this song the moment he/she sees the title above. This lyric is taken from www.jaychoustudio.com and with english translation included. And of course, his upcoming movie called "Kung Fu Dunk" (Directed by Yen-ping Chu. With Jay Chou, Charlene Choi, Bo-lin Chen.) is scheduled to be released on 7th February 2008 in Hong Kong.
Composer: Jay Chou (周杰倫)
Lyricist: Vincent Fang (方文山)
Too many people have secrets
There is condensation on the glass, who is concealed in the past?
The emotion on your face
Is restoring that period of rain
This alley is too warped, we can't get back into the story
These days are no longer green
Mottled with a few words again
Leaving me behind with empty memories in the big house
The seats in the movie theatre
Are separated very far apart
Feelings without scenes together, you're playing chess with yourself
Still it's too late to carefully write down things about you
Describing how I love you
Yet you smile and leave me
This feeling
Is already not right
I try my best to save it
Some of the
Considerate feelings that should have been given I didn't give
You pout
The dream you made is very petty and low
We're compromising
I neglected you
All you wanted was someone to be with you
This feeling
Is already not right
I only understand at the very end
The pages of the
Plot I can't bare to turn over
You are very tired
You recite
You cried for me a few times
You're so languished
And I'm heartbroken, you're suffering
Your beauty
I'm not worthy of it