no instrument flight

It might an old message, but I ran across it and would
encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least
experience two flights with no reference to instruments,
at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind
noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well.
One of the more rewarding aspects of glider flight
is getting away from the knobs and dials and reading
the winds, feeling the thermals in your butt, etc.
Even in the most advanced sailplanes. It also makes
one a better pilot and more confident. When I have
a student that is at the last stage before solo and
they appear to be having trouble with the landing,
most of the time it is instrument fixation, and these
flights right before solo are perfect for zero instruments.
They can do it and it's a great confidence builder.
You'll be in the back seat keeping a watchful eye
as the instructor pilot.

there have been many off field landings and off the
end of the pavement landings that likely could have
been avoided if this 'oneness' with the aircraft were
stressed more in our training. I believe the SSF does
support this position and use of 'instrument failure'
as part of the teaching syllabus. They have a fine
web site very useful to CFIs anywhere.

Regards to the German instructor that brought it up.

Bob
San Antonio Soaring
Boerne Stage Field

We have our students do a no instrument (No Altimeter and No AirSpeed) not
just down to pattern altitude.. but all the way to landing. If it fails..
you are not going to get it back in the traffic pattern. And also to remove
that "altitude crutch" when judging the pattern.
BT


"Robert Bruce" wrote in message
...
It might an old message, but I ran across it and would
encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least
experience two flights with no reference to instruments,
at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind
noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well.
One of the more rewarding aspects of glider flight
is getting away from the knobs and dials and reading
the winds, feeling the thermals in your butt, etc.
Even in the most advanced sailplanes. It also makes
one a better pilot and more confident. When I have
a student that is at the last stage before solo and
they appear to be having trouble with the landing,
most of the time it is instrument fixation, and these
flights right before solo are perfect for zero instruments.
They can do it and it's a great confidence builder.
You'll be in the back seat keeping a watchful eye
as the instructor pilot.

there have been many off field landings and off the
end of the pavement landings that likely could have
been avoided if this 'oneness' with the aircraft were
stressed more in our training. I believe the SSF does
support this position and use of 'instrument failure'
as part of the teaching syllabus. They have a fine
web site very useful to CFIs anywhere.

Regards to the German instructor that brought it up.

Bob
San Antonio Soaring
Boerne Stage Field

Robert Bruce wrote:
It might an old message, but I ran across it and would
encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least
experience two flights with no reference to instruments,
at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind
noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well.
One of the more rewarding aspects of glider flight
is getting away from the knobs and dials and reading
the winds, feeling the thermals in your butt, etc.
Even in the most advanced sailplanes. It also makes
one a better pilot and more confident. When I have
a student that is at the last stage before solo and
they appear to be having trouble with the landing,
most of the time it is instrument fixation, and these
flights right before solo are perfect for zero instruments.
They can do it and it's a great confidence builder.
You'll be in the back seat keeping a watchful eye
as the instructor pilot.

there have been many off field landings and off the
end of the pavement landings that likely could have
been avoided if this 'oneness' with the aircraft were
stressed more in our training. I believe the SSF does
support this position and use of 'instrument failure'
as part of the teaching syllabus. They have a fine
web site very useful to CFIs anywhere.

Why not begin instruction with both ASI and Alt. covered, until final
prep for solo? If the ship has instruments in the back for the
instructor, to meet the minimum equipment list, I don't see a down-side.
No crutchs, no bad habits.
Thoughts?

Shawn

"Shawn" sdotherecurry@bresnannextdotnet wrote in message
. ..
Robert Bruce wrote:
It might an old message, but I ran across it and would
encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least
experience two flights with no reference to instruments,
at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind
noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well.
One of the more rewarding aspects of glider flight
is getting away from the knobs and dials and reading
the winds, feeling the thermals in your butt, etc.
Even in the most advanced sailplanes. It also makes
one a better pilot and more confident. When I have
a student that is at the last stage before solo and
they appear to be having trouble with the landing,
most of the time it is instrument fixation, and these
flights right before solo are perfect for zero instruments.
They can do it and it's a great confidence builder.
You'll be in the back seat keeping a watchful eye
as the instructor pilot.

there have been many off field landings and off the
end of the pavement landings that likely could have
been avoided if this 'oneness' with the aircraft were
stressed more in our training. I believe the SSF does
support this position and use of 'instrument failure'
as part of the teaching syllabus. They have a fine
web site very useful to CFIs anywhere.

Why not begin instruction with both ASI and Alt. covered, until final prep
for solo? If the ship has instruments in the back for the instructor, to
meet the minimum equipment list, I don't see a down-side. No crutchs, no
bad habits.
Thoughts?

Shawn

I've done this more and more lately. With the insutrments covered, students
don't have anything to look at inside the cockpit so they look outside - at
things like pitch attitude, bank, other traffic and their position relative
to the gliderport. I suggest they gently raise the nose until the glider
shakes and makes funney noises and then lower it a little until it flies
smoothly. Maneuvers are made at this pitch attitude.

Stalls are just learning to recognize the shakes and funny noises and then
that if the nose is raised further, the glider will get really unhappy and
drop the nose and maybe a wing.

Landings are just lowering the nose a little from the min sink speed to make
the glider a bit noisier at the IP and fly the pattern holding this noise
level while constantly watching the angle to the runway. On final, they
just fly the same noisey airspeed right down to a foot above the runway,
level off with their eyes on the far end of the runway and wait patiently
until the glider lands itself.

Beginning students almost always do better with instruments covered. I
don't remove my Sporty's instrument covers from the airspeed and altimeter
until prepping the student for the checkride. By then they regard
instruments as interesting amd maybe even useful but by no means neccessary
for safe flight.

If I get a student from another school who is having problems, the first
thing is to pull out the Sporty's instrument covers. More often than not,
this cures the problem - neither the other instructor or the student
realized the problem was tunnel vision on the airspeed indicator.

Bill Daniels

"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
. ..

"Shawn" sdotherecurry@bresnannextdotnet wrote in message
. ..
Robert Bruce wrote:
It might an old message, but I ran across it and would
encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least
experience two flights with no reference to instruments,
at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind
noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well.
One of the more rewarding aspects of glider flight
is getting away from the knobs and dials and reading
the winds, feeling the thermals in your butt, etc.
Even in the most advanced sailplanes. It also makes
one a better pilot and more confident. When I have
a student that is at the last stage before solo and
they appear to be having trouble with the landing,
most of the time it is instrument fixation, and these
flights right before solo are perfect for zero instruments.
They can do it and it's a great confidence builder.
You'll be in the back seat keeping a watchful eye
as the instructor pilot.

there have been many off field landings and off the
end of the pavement landings that likely could have
been avoided if this 'oneness' with the aircraft were
stressed more in our training. I believe the SSF does
support this position and use of 'instrument failure'
as part of the teaching syllabus. They have a fine
web site very useful to CFIs anywhere.

Why not begin instruction with both ASI and Alt. covered, until final
prep for solo? If the ship has instruments in the back for the
instructor, to meet the minimum equipment list, I don't see a down-side.
No crutchs, no bad habits.
Thoughts?

Shawn

I've done this more and more lately. With the insutrments covered,
students don't have anything to look at inside the cockpit so they look
outside - at things like pitch attitude, bank, other traffic and their
position relative to the gliderport. I suggest they gently raise the nose
until the glider shakes and makes funney noises and then lower it a little
until it flies smoothly. Maneuvers are made at this pitch attitude.

Stalls are just learning to recognize the shakes and funny noises and then
that if the nose is raised further, the glider will get really unhappy and
drop the nose and maybe a wing.

Landings are just lowering the nose a little from the min sink speed to
make the glider a bit noisier at the IP and fly the pattern holding this
noise level while constantly watching the angle to the runway. On final,
they just fly the same noisey airspeed right down to a foot above the
runway, level off with their eyes on the far end of the runway and wait
patiently until the glider lands itself.

Beginning students almost always do better with instruments covered. I
don't remove my Sporty's instrument covers from the airspeed and altimeter
until prepping the student for the checkride. By then they regard
instruments as interesting amd maybe even useful but by no means
neccessary for safe flight.

If I get a student from another school who is having problems, the first
thing is to pull out the Sporty's instrument covers. More often than not,
this cures the problem - neither the other instructor or the student
realized the problem was tunnel vision on the airspeed indicator.

Bill Daniels

Bill, by doing this you drastically improve the quality and confidence
of the pilots you graduate. As a 30 year CFI, I've gotten a few pilots with
this type of training, and I've gotten a lot of them that have not yet
received it, then it becomes my job. The ones that get this early invariably
do better, from 150's to Learjets, and particularly when we get to
instrument flying. They transfer that "outside" attitude inside. I am
convinced that this is one of the best "gifts" you can give your students.
May they pass it on.

Al G CFIAMI 2069297

I have done this to all my students prior to solo. Almost every time,
their speed control improves by not chasing the airspeed indicator. It
is a great confidence booster for the student and instructor. At
least you know your student is not going to panic if it happens in real
life. With all the bugs in summer, it does happen from time to time in
real life.


Al wrote:
"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
. ..

"Shawn" sdotherecurry@bresnannextdotnet wrote in message
. ..
Robert Bruce wrote:
It might an old message, but I ran across it and would
encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least
experience two flights with no reference to instruments,
at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind
noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well.
One of the more rewarding aspects of glider flight
is getting away from the knobs and dials and reading
the winds, feeling the thermals in your butt, etc.
Even in the most advanced sailplanes. It also makes
one a better pilot and more confident. When I have
a student that is at the last stage before solo and
they appear to be having trouble with the landing,
most of the time it is instrument fixation, and these
flights right before solo are perfect for zero instruments.
They can do it and it's a great confidence builder.
You'll be in the back seat keeping a watchful eye
as the instructor pilot.

there have been many off field landings and off the
end of the pavement landings that likely could have
been avoided if this 'oneness' with the aircraft were
stressed more in our training. I believe the SSF does
support this position and use of 'instrument failure'
as part of the teaching syllabus. They have a fine
web site very useful to CFIs anywhere.

Why not begin instruction with both ASI and Alt. covered, until final
prep for solo? If the ship has instruments in the back for the
instructor, to meet the minimum equipment list, I don't see a down-side.
No crutchs, no bad habits.
Thoughts?

Shawn

I've done this more and more lately. With the insutrments covered,
students don't have anything to look at inside the cockpit so they look
outside - at things like pitch attitude, bank, other traffic and their
position relative to the gliderport. I suggest they gently raise the nose
until the glider shakes and makes funney noises and then lower it a little
until it flies smoothly. Maneuvers are made at this pitch attitude.

Stalls are just learning to recognize the shakes and funny noises and then
that if the nose is raised further, the glider will get really unhappy and
drop the nose and maybe a wing.

Landings are just lowering the nose a little from the min sink speed to
make the glider a bit noisier at the IP and fly the pattern holding this
noise level while constantly watching the angle to the runway. On final,
they just fly the same noisey airspeed right down to a foot above the
runway, level off with their eyes on the far end of the runway and wait
patiently until the glider lands itself.

Beginning students almost always do better with instruments covered. I
don't remove my Sporty's instrument covers from the airspeed and altimeter
until prepping the student for the checkride. By then they regard
instruments as interesting amd maybe even useful but by no means
neccessary for safe flight.

If I get a student from another school who is having problems, the first
thing is to pull out the Sporty's instrument covers. More often than not,
this cures the problem - neither the other instructor or the student
realized the problem was tunnel vision on the airspeed indicator.

Bill Daniels

Bill, by doing this you drastically improve the quality and confidence
of the pilots you graduate. As a 30 year CFI, I've gotten a few pilots with
this type of training, and I've gotten a lot of them that have not yet
received it, then it becomes my job. The ones that get this early invariably
do better, from 150's to Learjets, and particularly when we get to
instrument flying. They transfer that "outside" attitude inside. I am
convinced that this is one of the best "gifts" you can give your students.
May they pass it on.

Al G CFIAMI 2069297

I have had an ASI failure in flight. A few hundred
feet up on an aerotow launch, I glanced at the instruments
and noticed that the ASI was reading 20 knots and slowly
falling. Realising that neither the tug nor the glider
were capable of flying at this speed, although they
were clearly doing so quite happily, I knew that it
had to be an instrument failure.

It was a very hot day, and the glider had been standing
out in the sun for several hours. What we subsequently
found had happened was that the plastic pipe leading
to the ASI had softened in the heat and slowly slipped
off the back of the pitot tube.

I decided to continue the aerotow, so I would have
some time to sort the problem out. The ASI continued
to drop until it was reading zero! Once off tow, I
slowly pulled the nose up until the pre-stall buffet
set in, so I then knew the stalling attitude. The type
of glider I was flying featured a large amount of washout
and I knew that the wingtips started bending down at
about 75 knots, so I slowly lowered the nose until
this happened. I then knew the attitudes between which
a reasonable speed could be maintained. BTW it was
a vintage glider, not mine, and I had only flown it
a couple of times before.

As it was quite a nice day, I soared quite happily
for a couple of hours, and even flew a short cross-country
flying by attitude alone. When I came into land, I
set the trimmer approximately central and flew a circuit
that would give me about a half brake approach. The
landing turned out to be a non-event, although I floated
a bit further than normal as the approach probably
erred a bit on the fast side.

I know of at least two other occasions where pilots
have suffered instrument failures and have managed
to cope with it.

Del Copeland


At 02:00 07 July 2006, Joe wrote:
I have done this to all my students prior to solo.
Almost every time,
their speed control improves by not chasing the airspeed
indicator. It
is a great confidence booster for the student and instructor.
At
least you know your student is not going to panic if
it happens in real
life. With all the bugs in summer, it does happen
from time to time in
real life.

Derek Copeland wrote:
I have had an ASI failure in flight. A few hundred
feet up on an aerotow launch, I glanced at the instruments
and noticed that the ASI was reading 20 knots and slowly
falling. Realising that neither the tug nor the glider
were capable of flying at this speed, although they
were clearly doing so quite happily, I knew that it
had to be an instrument failure.

snip story

I know of at least two other occasions where pilots
have suffered instrument failures and have managed
to cope with it.

My first flight in a 1-34 had an ASI failure. I radioed the tow pilot
to fly along next to me at a reasonable pattern speed to get a feel for
the proper attitude to fly the pattern. Seemed to help. Did a few
stalls to see how far up the nose needed to be before I got into
trouble. I also recalled Tom Knauf's comment about how very few gliders
will stall under normal flight conditions (i.e. not accelerated stalls)
with the nose below the horizon. Probably landed a little hot, but
all's well...

Shawn

Why are we talking about this as an emergency practice? Its really not,
maybe I should have bailed out of my Nimbus 3 because I lost all
instruments and the yaw string, then proceeded to go XC! This is
standard practice in training, at least it should be. If a student is
chasing an airspeed indicator, they don't get it anymore. If they
call off an altitude without looking outside they don't get an
altimeter anymore. I fly 2-33's and I don't have instruments in the
back, no big deal, can't see the front with an "average" male
American sitting in the front seat anyway.

The local club has a Blanik that they would approach at Mach 1, because
the ASI said 55knts!!! It didn't even dawn on them that it may be off.
A leak in the pitot system was found. But everyone was too interested
in what the needle pointed to vs. where the nose was pointed. After my
first pattern tow I bet a club member it was off, but they weren't
foolish enough to take it.

Yaw sting....if you cant feel your body sliding left or right when your
uncoordinated, you should probably relax some, because you are way too
uptight. But then again one of my coaches said I was too relaxed. On
that note my Discus 2ax didn't have a yaw sting, and my Nimbus 3
doesn't have one either, and I probably won't get it "fixed" before the
Opens. I fly in the mountains and I don't feel that it is hazardous.
Plus that sting is way too much drag.

If your "eye ball gauge" is getting rusty, maybe you should take
the time with your flight instructor on your next flight review to work
on it, perhaps even earlier. But then again we could always just wing
it and let it get worse over time.

I flew without a yaw string once in a two-place ship
that the owner thought the mechanical T+B was better.
Thermalling and the such were okay, but I certainly
missed not having it as an input in the pattern. If
everything was going according to plan...I could live
without it. In a tight situation I would want information
from it.