On May 16, 9:55 am, gatt wrote:
Mxsmanic wrote:
In a small GA aircraft, in which phases of flight will you normally use mostly trim to adjust pitch, and in which phases will you normally mostly use
the yoke?

Good question for r.a.s.

You don't want to use the trim to adjust pitch, just to relieve the
control pressure. Electronic trim switches mounted to the yoke are a
bad habit waiting to happen; they're disabled in a lot of training
aircraft. Always remember "Pitch, power, trim."

The Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3A, states:
"The pilot must avoid using the trim to establish or correct airplane
attitude. The airplane attitude must be established and held first, then
control pressures trimmed out so that the airplane will maintain the
desired attitude in 'hands off' flight. Attempting to 'fly the airplane
with trim tabs' is a common fault in basic flying technique even among
experienced pilots."

It's important for the pilot to feel the elevator pressure whereas with
a trim tab you're delegating that to mechanical authority.

Also, if you get out of the habit of knowing where your trim is set, you
increase the likelihood of approaching an elevator trim stall in a
missed approach or go-around. This can be demonstrated pretty well in
MSFS2004--I think in the Mooney--by adjusting the elevator trim as if
you were in full-flaps landing configuration and then adding full power;
back-elevator trim will cause a radical nose-up pitch, exceeding the
critical angle of attack. To avoid elevator trim stall the pilot must
exert a great deal of forward pressure on the nose -and- retrim the
airplane, and it has to be brisk and smooth. Whether by hand or
electric motor, controlling it by trim is too slow.
-c

Quick question, (it's been awhile since I've piloted)
is the trim (Cessna 152) in the center, right of the
pilot, and has zero mark to be set null in pre-flight?

Personally I had real friggin hassle with trim. I'd get
to 4000' set a course for x-country, maybe an hour
away, set cruise, then touch-up trim, to relieve yoke
control. Well it never really worked for me.
As soon as I thought I had it right, by Descent Indicator
(no jokes guys, women of the opposite sex might be lurkin)
would start wandering off zero.
My habit became, set Trim slightly down and use my
pinky pressure back on the yoke to keep my Descent
Indicator at zero, with an occasional glance so I could
enjoy the view and work nav.
Ken
PS: Kens Rule: Use your pinky to stop being InDescent,
and use the rest of your fingers anyway you want.