4 ms·

Its not inherently wrong, but flying cross-controlled feels wrong to me. Probably because I don't do it very often, and I'm aware of the fact that it increases

Its not inherently wrong, but flying cross-controlled feels wrong to me. Probably because I don't do it very often, and I'm aware of the fact that it increases my stall-to-spin risk if I don't properly manage airspeed.

arlcode 3y ago
Assuming you are a "regular" PPL pilot: If you have the chance (and didn't already do so), make a few flights in a glider with an FI. I thinks it's a different kind of flying and allows you to be more confident in certain situations such as slips, slow flights and engine out landings.
subhro 3y ago
While approaching to land, you are on the backside of the power curve, so pitch for airspeed, power for altitude. You have correctly indicated about managing airspeed. But it is not as difficult as it sounds. If you were flying at the beginning of the slip, you will continue flying through the slip unless you mess with nose positioning, or pitch. TL'DR, DON'T PULL UP while you are in cross control. Here are some suggestions. As one of the child comment stated, go fly a glider for a few hours. It will immensely help with flying "not straight". I started it for gaining better understanding of flight but ended up finishing a commercial ticket on glider as well, because I enjoyed it so much and also just for the bragging rights. Secondly, cross control is perfectly safe till the time you pull back on the stick. That is how you get into cross control stalls, the starting configuration for a spin. When you are slipping, you should actively trim nose down, (that you should have done already, remember you are approaching to land), and maintain just a little forward pressure as you fly sideways. I would recommend, grab a competent CFI and get cross control stalls nailed. I know it is not a part of PPL, something I am very pissed about. Hell, PPL in US does not even need spin training. Bollocks, if you ask me....
- vdqtp3 3y ago
  > I know it is not a part of PPL, something I am very pissed about. Private Pilot ACS Section IV Task M requires both demonstration and knowledge of "Forward Slip to a Landing" https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/training_testing/testing/acs/private_airplane_acs_change_1.pdf https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/training_testing/tes...
  - pageandrew 3y ago
    Cross controlled stalls are not part of the PPL ACS, which is I believe what the person above you was saying.
- wkat4242 3y ago
  I've done gliding and we didn't really do forward slips that much. Perhaps US glider brands are different but all the European (German and Czech) ones I've flown had huge spoilers/airbrakes that were more than sufficient to waste altitude quickly without increasing airspeed. It's actually a really nice way to land, I wish powered aircraft had this.
  - subhro 3y ago
    Some powered FA aircrafts and pretty much any powered commercial aircraft has air brakes/spoilers.

arlcode 3y ago

Assuming you are a "regular" PPL pilot: If you have the chance (and didn't already do so), make a few flights in a glider with an FI. I thinks it's a different kind of flying and allows you to be more confident in certain situations such as slips, slow flights and engine out landings.

subhro 3y ago

While approaching to land, you are on the backside of the power curve, so pitch for airspeed, power for altitude. You have correctly indicated about managing airspeed. But it is not as difficult as it sounds. If you were flying at the beginning of the slip, you will continue flying through the slip unless you mess with nose positioning, or pitch. TL'DR, DON'T PULL UP while you are in cross control. Here are some suggestions. As one of the child comment stated, go fly a glider for a few hours. It will immensely help with flying "not straight". I started it for gaining better understanding of flight but ended up finishing a commercial ticket on glider as well, because I enjoyed it so much and also just for the bragging rights. Secondly, cross control is perfectly safe till the time you pull back on the stick. That is how you get into cross control stalls, the starting configuration for a spin. When you are slipping, you should actively trim nose down, (that you should have done already, remember you are approaching to land), and maintain just a little forward pressure as you fly sideways. I would recommend, grab a competent CFI and get cross control stalls nailed. I know it is not a part of PPL, something I am very pissed about. Hell, PPL in US does not even need spin training. Bollocks, if you ask me....

vdqtp3 3y ago
> I know it is not a part of PPL, something I am very pissed about. Private Pilot ACS Section IV Task M requires both demonstration and knowledge of "Forward Slip to a Landing" https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/training_testing/testing/acs/private_airplane_acs_change_1.pdf https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/training_testing/tes...
- pageandrew 3y ago
  Cross controlled stalls are not part of the PPL ACS, which is I believe what the person above you was saying.
wkat4242 3y ago
I've done gliding and we didn't really do forward slips that much. Perhaps US glider brands are different but all the European (German and Czech) ones I've flown had huge spoilers/airbrakes that were more than sufficient to waste altitude quickly without increasing airspeed. It's actually a really nice way to land, I wish powered aircraft had this.
- subhro 3y ago
  Some powered FA aircrafts and pretty much any powered commercial aircraft has air brakes/spoilers.