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**John Ward[_3_]**

Hi Phil,

Is this the one, mate?

http://www.flightdesignusa.com/

Regards,
John Ward
"Phil" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Sep 21, 5:41 am, "John Ward" wrote:
Hi Andy,

I wonder which aircraft Phil is learning on, then?

I wasn't sure which stage Phil is up to, as I wasn't sure whether he
actually meant "night", or "evening".

I can't fly at all, in real life, so I'm naturally in awe of Phil's
experiences to date, and would love to hear more about them, the same as
we
are hearing from a few other blokes here who are currently undertaking
flying training.

Not being pedantic at all, mate, I just try to learn as much as
possible
here on this news group, so whenever a question strikes me, I simply ask
it.
:-)

I reckon there are hundreds of blokes here who would love to learn
more
from Phil, and about his experiences so far...

Regards,
John Ward"Andy Hawkins" wrote in message

...

Hi,

In article ,
John wrote:
If you don't mind me asking, what happens with braking?

If memory serves, his aircraft doesn't have toe brakes.

Andy- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi Folks,

I am training in a Flight Design CT, which uses a brake lever between
the seats. I have heard that there are amputees flying airplanes with
toe brakes. I would guess that they turn their feet sideways to
operate both at the same time. Personally, I don't know how anyone
could make that work.

I am up to about 14 hours now in my training. I haven't soloed yet,
but my instructor is saying I am getting close. I am working mostly
on landings these days. I can manage to make a good one some of the
time, but I am not consistent with it yet. With the CT at my school,
people are averaging around 20 hours before they solo.

I have had some trouble getting the hang of steering with the rudder
pedals on the ground. I can't switch from one side to the other as
fast as someone with two legs could. I watched a Cub land the other
day, and I noticed the rudder flapping back and forth like the tail of
a fish. I doubt I could handle one of those. But I have managed to
control the CT fairly well. I have done a certain amount of slaloming
as I have worked to get the hang of it. Like anything else for a new
student, I tend to over-control. I am trying to learn to finesse it
so I don't have to switch back and forth as much.

In the air, my biggest problem was over-using the rudder on approach.
I had it in my head that I had to line up with the runway using both
stick and rudder, and so I was dumping in rudder inputs and stick
inputs and wallowing around like a wounded guppy. I think my rudder
inputs were fighting my stick inputs, and vice versa. My instructor
described my stick work on approach as "churning butter", which was a
pretty apt description. One day my instructor told me I really didn't
need to use the rudder on approach. Next time I tried an approach, I
kept my foot on the floor and like magic the airplane was able to fly
much more smoothly without all my help. So ironically the biggest
problem I have had with using the rudder has been using it too much.
But I was overly focused on it because as an amputee I was worried
that it would be a problem for me.

I have done a little work on cross-wind landings and slips, but I am
just not at the point in my training where I am ready to do a lot of
it yet. But I don't anticipate that it will be a problem. I have had
to get on the rudder pretty quickly at times to line up at touch-down,
and I am getting a feel for it. The CT is a good airplane to train in
if you want to develop good rudder control. It is short-coupled, and
my understanding is it does require more rudder input than most
trainers. And so far in my experience it seems to be a pretty
forgiving airplane. I have certainly ham-fisted it around, and it has
put up with me like an old patient horse with an inexperienced rider.
If I could, I would give it a nice carrot to munch on.

Phil