Meynard’s Basic Aerobatic course was almost over. I now had 9 hours of taildragger and aerobatic time, nearly 3 hours in the last sortie alone. On graduation day, I practiced vertical maneuvers — loops and hammerheads.
Then came the graduation exercise.
Graduation day was CAVOK after rain the previous day, and we regrouped for a briefing. Meynard wanted me to string four maneuvers together:
— A spin from straight and level, no altitude gain before spin entry! Recover after one turn and dive on original entry heading, pulling back to climb into a . . .
. . . Loop, pulling 3.5 Gs up and over, relaxing back pressure to round out the top. Pull out of the dive into level flight for one second, then haul 4 Gs to climb vertically to a . . .
. . . Hammerhead, diving vertically in the opposite heading, then pitch up 30 degrees for an . . .
. . . Aileron roll, rolling 360 degrees non-stop and recovering straight ahead.
Then, 180-degree competition turn, and do it all again.
The video above is a similar sequence flown by Meynard during the same flight. He took it easy, yawing slowly into the spin, and skipped the loop to keep energy up. Check out the G-meter in the video 😀
I loved doing that hammerhead!
Fly straight up, glance left-right to check horizon, wait for the airplane to almost stop.
Then, before a tail slide snatched at the controls, kick left full rudder to yaw the airplane 180 degrees from straight up to straight down.
But there was also right aileron to spoil lift on the faster wing on the outside of the turn, and forward stick to defeat gyroscopic precession from the yaw. All three axes were in play.
Sure enough, with full left rudder and the stick in upper right quadrant, the hammerhead tracked straight and true!
Pure magic.
I dove vertically to 150mph, looking over the prop at rapidly growing houses.
Then, 3.5 G pull to recover opposite our entry heading.
Suddenly the Basic Aerobatics Course was done. In 10 flight hours I had logged 27 landings in a taildragger, and, oh, I guess about 12 minutes of straight and level flight 🙂
The only part of my body that hurt was my jaw.
The more Gs I pulled, the more my grin hurt!
I never felt more fulfilled about flight.
I had earned confidence, seasoned with discipline, and drizzled generously with fun!
Meynard, with his disciplined, deliberate precision and his confidence during high-G unusual attitudes, earned my deepest respect and admiration. He is one of those people in the world I wish would never grow old.
From my ten hours and five flights in the Decathlon, the leg I remember the most was homebound from Tanauan, on Day 3.
With pure exuberance, we inverted the airplane, in level flight. The setting sun ‘climbed’ into the ground above, a sight only aerobatic pilots can enjoy.
The cackling laughter says it all.
(I got used to a flight suit, and know now why thigh pockets zip down the side, not the top. After seeing knee-board spring clips, charts and checklists float up during my first inverted negative Gs, I dug out my old flight suit and strapped, velcroed and zipped my cockpit detritus 🙂 in its pockets.)
I was very pleased with my landing in Manila that day.
“Oooh, you’re a taildragger pilot now, Tonet,” cooed Meynard. I exited the active, leaned the mixture and slowed the airplane to a crawl. I didn’t want it to end.
Meynard sensed my mood, and the softly soaring words of King James’ Psalm 103 came over my headset.
My friend Windwalker, who was born to fly, told me that flying reverses the aging process by the amount of time spent airborne. Listening to Meynard, I understood where Windwalker got that epiphany.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is restored like the eagle’s.
In the distance, runway lights sparkled like a Christmas tree.
I taxied to Airworks, shut the airplane down, and we climbed out. Above, the evening sky’s starry duvet slipped over us, comfortingly. We were done.
Posted from Berlin, Nov 11, 2008.
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A great read over the series of stories. Thanks.
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Thanks again for visiting the blog, Dave. Carlo owes us some articles now.
I’m in Berlin right now, walking my shoes off. Fascinating history here, of course. Been looking at where the Wall used to be, Checkpoint Charlie, the World War II sites, museums… .
Last night I must have walked dozens of blocks, up and down Friedrichstrasse, west on Unter der Linden to the Brandenburg gate, back and forth on Leipzigerstrasse… . Fascinating history.
Ironically I arrived here right during the 18th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s coming down. I remember those heady days. History in the making. The day before I left Bangkok, Carlo and I were watching a feature on the Berlin Wall, on the History Channel. 24 hours later, literally, I was walking along the line of bricks that mark where the wall was, on Friedrichstrasse… .
Getting to sample a lot of the beer, too. Sauseges, hams… .
It’s been below zero here ever since I arrived last Sunday. Some snow flurries, and wet snowfall. Freezing rain.
Great weather this morning, though. Blue skies all around. Probably even colder.
Business meetings all day, so I can only do this in the evenings. Was out past midnight last night. Bloody cold, man!
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I’ve never been to that part of Germany, only the north-western part.
More travel to places like Europe is one of the plans when we relocate.
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Great series, Captain!
I’m actually re-reading your instrument posts as well since I’m now well into my IR lessons.
Now if I could only get to know the guy who owns the T-34 Mentor at our field and get a taste of this non-straight and level… haha
Maybe I should go remind my CFI on that spin training he promised me.
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During my younger years in Laguna, I would always stop whatever I’m doing (jogging, playing basketball, etc.) everytime I would see Capt. Halili’s Pitts Special doing aerobatics. It was such a sight! And I’d always wonder what it’s like inside the cockpit during all those maneuvers.
So thanks Tonet for “letting us in” and sharing with us the joy of aerobatics! : ) Your words and pictures/videos could almost actually make me feel the G’s!
My, how you’ve really grown as a pilot. Yours is becoming one of the interesting pilot stories in Philippine aviation : )
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Osh, insrument training is a different kettle of fish, but is no less exciting than aerobatics. It’s also all about precision, and challenging yourself to beat your last performance. I thoroughly enjoyed Meynard’s basic instrument course. I still fly as many approaches as I can. And I’ve promised myself to do a refresher with Meynard every year.
Aljess and Anton, both Omni instructors (Anton released Pete for his solo) were my instrument flight instructors. They were perfect for the role — cool, unflappable, and always thinking ahead of the airplane.
I’ll never forget when Aljess and I were doing a night instrument approach to Clark — we heard a HONKING in our headsets, exactly like a submarine diving alarm (actually both of us recalled the nuclear reactor alarm from the movie, The China Syndrome).
We looked at each other in bemused puzzlement … then in astonishment as all the lights and radios (all seven radios in the Cessna 172XP) died. It turned out that the alarm was an undocumented feature in the comm radio to warn of low electrical voltage.
Aljess simply called the tower on his cellphone and we were cleared for a visual approach to landing. We had a flashlight but had left two handheld radios on the ground. We had no landing lights, and even hit a bat as we flared!
Cell phone, flashlight, handheld radio. Never leave home without them 🙂
Suerte, I feel very lucky 🙂 to have the resources and the time to enjoy all this. Nothing makes me happier than trying to fly as precisely as I can. It’s not my job, so it’s pure fun. And, as you know from My Secret Lives, flying was always my childhood dream. I never thought I would do aerobatics — even just 3 months ago I would have scoffed at the thought. But Iyoy planted the seed subconciously months a year ago when he mentioned taking this course, and suddenly a few weeks ago the seed sprouted loops, rolls and hammerheads.
I am still expatriated to Bangkok, but I try to spend as many weekends as possible in the Philippines, to fly RP-C1513. I can’t believe that it has been over 4 years and nearly 400 flight hours since my first solo.
It’s been quite a ride.
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As my instructor put it, situations like those “build character”. 😀
You know what’s funny, Cap? We definitely can’t leave our cell phones here since that’s what we use to call Delivery for our IFR Clearance and release out of Weiser. haha!
I’ve been flying different kinds of approaches lately for my IR. RNAV, VOR-DME Arc, ILS… Though I haven’t gotten around to that neat trick you pulled with the vacuum and static sys. failed (oh, and Mag. compass pa pala ano?). Magpapalakas muna ako ng loob bago ko hingin sa sim ‘yun. haha
Anyway, to be completely honest, this might not the best flight school out here–the planes might be lacking instruments every now and then and our VP’s, well, wanting in every aspect of her personality. But somehow the instructors and the experience in the area’s airspace system are able to make-up for it. We’ve got about 50 airports around a 100nm radius from our base and you could find in that area every kind of instrument approach conceivable.
If ever you come close to the greater Houston area, sir, do drop in and let’s fly! Nakakalungkot minsan na wala akong kalipad na Pinoy dito. Puro Indians din!
I’ll even introduce you to our mechanic who owns a 150 Aerobat. 😀
Blue skies!
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Tonet,
I just discovered this blog and read some articles. Simply wonderful! One can really feel all the passion you and Carlo sense for aviation. IFR, Aerobatics in a Taildragger. You have my respect.
Loved the aerobatics clips, especially the audio part at the ends 😉 I think I would be smiling and laughing too if I ever stepped in and flew in an aerobatic plane.
Keep it up Sir and I wish you many more pleasant flights!
Jeff
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Osh,
Wanting in every aspect of her personality, haha! What an indictment!
Fifty airports in a 100-mile radius certainly sounds like nirvana. Imagine what your cross-country training logbook could look like!
More important than the number is the variety. Grass, gravel, coral (well, maybe not in TX), sod, short, soft, short and soft, short, soft and grass… .
You know, Osh, this hooplah abour finding the “Very Best” flight school isn’t really the search for the Holy Grail. At the end of the day it’s how much you read and learn from other pilots, how much your flight instructor is willing to let you learn from yourself, and how rich and varied the solo experience could be.
All the key safety lessons I learned were (honestly!) driven home when I scared myself, alone, airborne in an airplane.
Your first fuel scare will probably be your last (if you survive it, or don’t haha). Your first inadvertent VFR into IMC — man, when that windshield turns totally white and you feel the airplane descending despite full power… .
Sure, what saves you is the lessons you learned from your instructor, or hangar talk with fellow aviators. But what keeps you from making that stupid mistake again is something deeper than technique, or knowledge.
The one instructor you cannot hide your guilt from, who will never let you forget a stupid, idiotic mistake, who will embarass you most into finally being smart in the air, is … you.
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Jeff,
Geez, long time no hear! How did you ever manage to find Flying in Crosswinds?
Thanks for your kind words. It’s been quite a ride, and I feel very lucky, really.
Guess what? I will be in Switzerland at the end of January — attending a course at IMD in Lausanne, five days or so.
If you and I can find a couple of hours to spare, maybe we can meet in Zurich? Would be really great to meet one of the founders of PFSG.
Thanks for visiting here, Jeff. Email me at tonet.rivera@bms.com or post a PM at the forum on how I can get in touch.
Cheers!
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would love to do that one day. i hope i can also learn that @ airworks.
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It’s a wonderful experience, Jay. I realize now that maneuvering flight is what I had in mind when I learned to fly. None of this gingerly flown straight and level droning. I never really understood p-factor, torque, adverse yaw and performance vs. control until I flew my first loop. It’s real stick and rudder flying. The alternative is to push buttons and work on laptops in the cockpit 🙂
Tonet
>—–Original Message—–
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when i saw that same decathlon @ airworks’ hangar. man, i fell in love w/ the plane. maybe coz that was my 1st rc plane, & that’s the reason why i have a thing w/ that decathlon. same livery btw. said to myself, i’ve already done the loops, rolls, hammerheads w/ the toy. someday, i have to try to do those maneuvers on the real thing…. 🙂
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You’re an R/C flier! Have I met you at Airworks?
You have to try it! Get Meynard’s Basic Aerobatics Course, or even do a single orientation flight with him. Unforgettable!! Especially for someone who has flown the same airplane in R/C scale!
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yes tonet, i fly rc’s. we haven’t met yet. been to airworkx only once. yah, i’d like to try aerobatics one day. im just starting w/ my ppl course.:)
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Good luck on your flying career, Jay. I wish you blue skies and gentle winds always! We should meet up one day, talk flying and aerobatics 🙂
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thanks sir. yah, sounds like a plan. 🙂
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Dear Tonet,
pre-solo, I had my first taste of aerobatics during today’s unusual attitude/spin training in a Super Decathlon. After doing 5 spins, my CFI asked me whether I wanted to do an inside loop – sure thing, pick up speed, pull the stick, look to the side and off we go. Next thing was the aileron roll – sheer exuberance, a state out of bliss.
I stumbled upon your blog and wanted to tell you how inspired I feel by your writings that so wonderfully convey the magic of flying in all its different, invigorating and sometimes mildly scary facets. Please keep on writing!
Christina
PS. I fly out of Hanscom field (KBED) near Boston, MA, USA. 🙂
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Hi Christina,
First of all, welcome to Flying in Crosswinds! My son and I fly out of Manila, and I am based in Bangkok. Long way from Boston!
I recently ran an informal survey on spin training. Private responses — CFIs, and pilots flying executive and airline turboprops. Not only did a majority of them not had any spin training, but half of them were never allowed to stall an airplane, even during their student days.
Nothing beats being in a full stall and having to kick that rudder bar back and forth to pick up either wing. When you get slow and late on the rudder, and that wing finally tucks in, and the earth rotates to the top of the windshield, and your headset cables and stomach tell you that baby, you’re upside down now — you get religion.
I remember when that first happened to me, and I breathlessly grunted, “Are we in a spin?”, my instructor firmly and loudly said, “RECOVER!”
We can brief it and talk it and read it — nothing takes the place of actually spinning it. Remember the Colgan air crash? Airspeed decay, right down to stall speed. And the Captain kept pulling the yoke. Overrode the stick shaker, and eventually also overrode the stick pusher!
“Are we in a spin?”
I bet that Captain had been taught over and over how to recover. Taught, but not trained. Life or death difference.
Aerobatics! Christina, you are there! I can hear the exuberance and see your giggle on my computer screen. You’ve got it bad 🙂 Do an basic aerobatic course. Upset and unusual attitude recovery. And then get someone to train you to recover from spins on a specific target heading.
Right back to you —–> Please keep on writing here!
Tonet
*^ “NTSB: Colgan 3407 pitched up despite anti-stall push”. Flight Global. February 15, 2009.
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Hi, Tonet,
thanks for you great reply. Just recently at my flight school I overheard a conversation between a CFI and a student about to take his checkride.
CFI: ” Let’s revisit, what’s the standard spin recovery procedure?”
Student: “…..”
CFI: “C’mon, you must remember P-A-R-E?!?”
Student: “…???”
This in a flight school that places great emphasis on spin-training and is owned by an active aerobatics unlimited champion. sigh.
Besides, I’ll never forget kicking the rudder hard in a full power off stall in the Super Decathlon for the first time. Equal parts anticipation (here comes the spin, finally!!!), sheer terror and exhilaration as the wing tilts over and the ground comes into view, filling out the windshield and ROTATING!!! Woah. What BETTER way to understand the physics behind your flight control input. Adverse effects of rudder, here they are in their pure form.
Then there was the time where my CFI (former military test pilot, high ranked…my medicine man) demonstrated wing wash-out while the stall horn was screaming bloody murder (see, Christina, ailerons are still working)…ha ha….awesome sauce!
These days, if I get too slow on the approach and the stick becomes mushy, the hairs on my neck rise up. Stall horn on approach/take-off – won’t sound when I’m PIC. Pitching up in a stall? Not me. You’re absolutely right there, it’s a huge safety factor, not just b/c you learn how to recover from a spin, but once you’ve been in one and checked your altimeter before/after 1.5 rotations, you’ll do your very best not to get into one inadvertently.
Oh…the bliss of a loop…we should have a poetry slam about that….I can’t decide what’s best about it…the vertical upline…the inverted portion…the vertical downline…cant’t decide, can’t decide…but I know I’m really looking forward to learn to hammerhead.
And I will, eventually at least…for now I have booked a 5h basic aerobatic class, starting in July. 🙂
I have a high-strung, ambitious, stressful job that I alternatively love and hate. The flying is therapy for me, as well. The plane does not care if you’re wetting your pants, it still needs to be flown and rewards you with pure happiness and freedom.
Best regards,
Christina
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Christine!
Check your email 🙂
Tonet
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[…] wrote one of my favorite articles, Thy Youth is Restored Like the Eagle’s, in 2007. She found it four years later and posted a comment that got my attention. We […]
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