Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM
Bert,
Absolutely agree. When I learnt to fly all those decades ago (makes me sound old), part of BASIC flying training pre-restricted private license was advanced stalls (or even spinning if the aircraft was duly certified) and even later, cross country nav-ex dual flights included blind flying including SEVERE UA's and then getting back on track. Before I had my CPL I had my aerobatic endorsement in the license.
By the time I was teaching these youngins navigation, they were not even taught how to do 1 in 60's in their head! None could tell me the time to destination based purely on ground speed (could not figure miles per minute). NONE could fly via compass alone. And we were NOT to teach them either, though I ALWAYS did it (and got pulled over the coals about "loading up their already hectic load" - PURE BS!!!)
Every one of the training aircraft had a GPS. Cadets were told NOT to use them solo (which of course they DID). Company decided to unplug each GPS for a week and see what would happen - imagine how many problems happened that week, including 1 getting hopelessly lost and ending up landing at a small strip 200 miles OFF COURSE). At lease he had the common sense to land the darned thing rather than push on until fuel exhaustion.
Problem is a lot of the old stick and rudder check and training captains are now gone too, replaced by robotic computerised company men.
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I had to do an annual check with an instructor. None of the usual instructors were available so I went up with a total stranger.
Bottoms of the clouds were at about 2200ft. We were at 2000ft when the instructor asked me if I could do a steep turn without a visible horizon. I promptly cranked her over and applied more throttle and held attitude. The altitude did not change yet we were doing a 60 degree turn without a horizon. When we came back on original course and levelled out spot on, he asked if I could do it again in the other direction. I did that. He was amazed and said 'I cannot do what you just did'. It was then he said 'are you are the Bert that flies the Bellanca'.
He could not fly the Bellanca! He was actually scared of it. Too over controllable was his last comment.
Bert