Seeing as Multi-map has had two good plugs (!) I would like to suggest some more top tips.......
1. When approaching an unfamiliar airfield I always listen out a good 5 minutes before calling them on the radio. By positioning your Pooleys on your lap with North facing where north is, you can get a great visual idea of where the runway in use is and plan your circuit. Also it make sit easier to make your first call something like.............................
XXX radio, this is G-ABCD inbound from XXXX, 5 miles N/S/E/W of you at 2500 on 1014, I understand it is runway 25 left hand, QFE 1002 and will call downwind/deadside etc.
2. When turning crosswind on departure with a 10 kt headwind if you only turn 80 degrees you will find that the wind will make you drift nicely at right angles to the runway. Similarly, for 15 kts, 15 degrees less etc. (Not applicable for 60 kts!)
3. If your a/c has rubber fuel bladders as tanks give the wings a gentle wiggle before taking a fuel sample during the pre-flight. Any water stuck on a wrinkle in the bladder will go to the drain hole and not catch you out on departure.
4. If you say "please" at the end of a request for a zone transit etc. there is a much higher chance of being granted one! I've trialed this and it waorks!!
5. If you have asked your non-flying passenger to keep an eye out for traffic tell them to use the clock method followed by the words "high, low or same level". There is nothing worse than a passenger saying "THERES ANOTHER PLANE" when you just can't see it and don't know whether it is dangerous or not.
6. After each flight, if you wipe over the leading edges with a damp cloth before putting the plane away you will save many hours cleaning and many years on your paintwork (applies to prop also).
7. When taxying, if you see some loose gravel ahead, accelerate briefly to give yourself some momentum and then idle the engine over the loose bits. Potential cost saving is about £2500!!
8. If you get the chance, watch the windsock for at least 5 minutes before take off. It is only when you have done this that you realise how the wind can massively vary in certain weather conditions.
9. If the headsets have been left in a plane overnight and it is a really cold morning, "wear them" on your thigh for 5 minutes whilst doing the internal pre-start checks so they don't freeze your head when you put them on!
10. If you have nobody sitting behind you and you use a large flight case, store it on the floor between the back of your seat and the back seat. IF (god forbid) the seat rail pin does give way on departure you will slide back a few inches and not 24 inches enabling you to maintain control of the a/c.
That's all for now! Hope at least one may have been useful
