BUMPFFITCHH
P is for Prop - full fine
I is for Instruments - QNH/QFE set, DI checked against compass
T is for trim - set
Another variations is the Reds, the Blues, the Greens and Cleared to land, used as final check in a complex aircraft.
Red - Mixture (full rich)
Blue - Prop (full fine)
Green - Gear down & locked
Cleared to land - obvious
My personal philosophy is eyes outside the cockpit when joining and flying the circuit. The aircraft flew itself there and as long as it's got a fixed undercarriage it will land just fine if you only retard the throttle. Keep it simple. So I do a FREDA (Fuel - Radio - Engine - Direction - Altitude) check well before approaching the field. Landing light on when approaching the circuit, fuel pump on below 1000', carb heat on below 2000 rpm, flaps are used as lift/drag controls so used as appropriate, ending in full flaps on short final and that's basically it.
Last edited by BackPacker; 9th Apr 2009 at 09:33.