Thermal right, land left

bandit111964 (John) wrote:
I myself can turn equally well right or left. But I
have noticed I prefer thermalling to the right, and
landing to the left. Having over 250 flights, I have
plenty of experience going both directions, but
have developed preference for turning one way or
another. (as an aside, I prefer left turns on my
motorcycle too....no reason, just like them better).
[snip]
Seems like people do what they practice, so it
would be hard to isolate the slow turns in a thermal
with the faster turns while landing unless something
fundamentally is different. [snip]

What is "fundamentally different" is that it is landing, not thermaling ...
even students/new pilots should fully understand the difference. Don't see how
one could confuse the two unless their mind is on something completely
unrelated to flying, and I'm not a CFIG, but I don't think going in one
direction or another consistently is a solution for not paying full attention
to what you're doing.

I know this will sound weird to you guys, especially with the stigma attached
to women pilots ... but going to put on the armor and contribute it anyway:

As a figure skating instructor turned glider pilot, I can say that it is an
accepted fact that few people do things equally in both directions. That's not
to say that the "bad" direction can't be done with great proficiently--it
certainly CAN--but everyone has one direction that feels more natural and
comfortable than the other. Before anyone puts on skates, we ask people to spin
on one foot (on the ground, not the ice)--whichever way they *instinctively*
turn (a bigger percentage of us instinctively turn to the left), that's
considered their "natural direction". In skating like in flying, we work to
make both sides equally competent, but jumps and spins are developed in the
person's natural direction.

When I began flying gliders, I was not surprised to note that when my
instructor said "Show me a turning stall, either direction," I almost always
went left first, likely just because that direction feels more natural to
me--not because I do them more competently that way.

Left alone, most people practice things in the "good" (natural/comfortable)
direction much more regularly than they will in the unnatural direction.
Ideally, people practice the unnatural direction enough that they can perform
maneuvers without hesitation in a solid, efficient and competent way. Sometimes
the so-called "bad" direction even winds up being more technically correct
because the person pays closer attention to that direction to get it right, and
sloppy, bad habits are more likely to form in the direction the person feels
comfortable enough to get a little lazy in! And I've heard motorcyclists
express that same tendency to prefer turns in one direction over another also.

I consider myself a "new pilot" ... licensed for a year. I remember conditions
were such that the majority of my initial landing instruction was done in one
direction. When conditions changed, it felt "backwards" to fly the pattern and
land the other way, and I remember the puzzled looks and chuckles from seasoned
pilots -- "Why? it's the SAME thing!!" At some point long before the checkride,
either direction became "normal" as it should, since conditions favoring one
direction over another can change during any flight. As for thermaling, I have
noticed that whichever direction I begin thermaling in any flight (initial
choice based on where I think the thermal is by the clues, not by which
direction I prefer to turn), that seems to be the direction I end up thermaling
for most of that flight ... but there doesn't seem to be any proclivity for
thermaling in either direction overall.

Just a little food for thought. Okay, you guys ... flame away -- "these damn
women pilots, comparing our soaring to figure skating! ... why isn't she baking
cookies?!"
:-)
--Shirley

I qualify as "low-time" by anybody's standards. Ab inito, just about to
make my 50th launch this weekend. I'd guess I'll probably go solo some
time in the next couple of months at my current rate of progress -
basically when I stop consistently scaring the guy in the back seat

At our airfield, the Duty Instructor of the day tends to express a
"preferred circuit" for people to follow dependent upon prevailing wind
conditions. We have two crossed runways, 03-210 and 90-270, so, subject
to the wind direction, that's potentially eight different patterns, even
without taking the end of day hanger-flights into account.

Yes, it feels odd to fly off runway 03 when for the last few weeks
prevailing winds have had us using 210. Even odder when a westerly puts
us onto 90. Through preference I think I'd take a right-hand circuit.
But it isn't really that much of an issue even at my level of
experience. I'll take a left-hand circuit if circumstance or position
suggests it better to do so. In much the same way I'll take a left-hand
bend or junction on a bike with little concern, or reverse right into a
parking bay at the supermarket in my car.

Point is I haven't been taught to make either thermalling turns or
circuit turns. I've been taught to fly the aircraft, at all times, to
never fly low and slow and to make my final turn onto approach
well-banked and at a safe height because, amongst other reasons, a
well-banked turn looses less height than a shallow turn and at this
final point in proceedings it's much easier and safer to have to deal
with too much height than with not enough.

I've got to confess, (and I truly mean no offence when I say this) from
where I'm standing, the suggestion of teaching a student to always make
"thermalling turns" to the right and "pattern turns" to the left seemed
on the surface to be such a ridiculous idea that I had to read it a few
times to be certain it was intended at a serious suggestion and not some
sort of silly joke. On reflection and deeper consideration, the
suggestion really hasn't gained any more credibility

--
Bill Gribble

/---------------------------------------\
| http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk |
| http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk |
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On 10 Mar 2004 17:11:48 GMT, unicate (Shirley)
wrote:

....much snippage....

Just a little food for thought. Okay, you guys ... flame away -- "these damn
women pilots, comparing our soaring to figure skating! ... why isn't she baking
cookies?!"
:-)

That's the best explanation I've heard about naturally handed actions
as distinct from your actual preferred hand. Many thanks.

--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :

Well Shirley, you are exactly right.

And Bill, with all due respect,

"Absent a rigging error, (meaning the glider flies straight hands-off - not
forgetting the wing pins) a pilots feeling that he has a "preferred turn
direction" is a red flag warning of a general flying skill deficit that
needs professional attention.",

is just utter nonsense.

There comes a time in any pilots flying life when flying becomes mostly
automatic.
Some aren't there yet but when it happens, it gives one time to concentrate
on finesse
rather than basic execution.

In an intact flying machine, there is never an excuse for a stall spin
accident. Not during landing and not ever!

The aircraft doesn't care whether it is at 100 ft or 1000, the physics of
flying are the same.
That leaves the pilot.

Flying is relatively simple, it requires some coordination, some common
sense and the right attitude - both figuratively and literally.

The best tactic for safe flying and landing I ever heard (and we've all
heard it) is "that looks about right".

Don't worry about circuit rules, radios or even traffic, get the damn thing
on the ground safely and take care of the details later.

So don't stall and you can't spin.

Allan

"Shirley" wrote in message
...
bandit111964 (John) wrote:
I myself can turn equally well right or left. But I
have noticed I prefer thermalling to the right, and
landing to the left. Having over 250 flights, I have
plenty of experience going both directions, but
have developed preference for turning one way or
another. (as an aside, I prefer left turns on my
motorcycle too....no reason, just like them better).
[snip]

"ADP" wrote in message
...
Well Shirley, you are exactly right.

And Bill, with all due respect,

"Absent a rigging error, (meaning the glider flies straight hands-off -
not
forgetting the wing pins) a pilots feeling that he has a "preferred turn
direction" is a red flag warning of a general flying skill deficit that
needs professional attention.",

is just utter nonsense.

There comes a time in any pilots flying life when flying becomes mostly
automatic.
Some aren't there yet but when it happens, it gives one time to
concentrate
on finesse
rather than basic execution.


If your mental autopilot, just like the mechanical variety, prefers one turn
direction over the other, it needs re-calibration. If your mental autopilot
flies straight, THEN concentrate on finesse.

Bill Daniels