A row of letters on the instrument panel (mnemonic) as an 'aide memoire' is the practice in gliders.
C - Controls, full and free and working in correct sense.
B - Ballast, Pilot weight within limits for aircraft. Ballast cushions/weights present or not as necessary
S - Straps are fitted correctly and tight. Passenger straps tight, untwisted and buckle fully fastened, or if flying solo are secured to prevent interference with controls and damage to airframe.
I - Instruments - Panel is secure, glasses unbroken, instruments reading zero or as required. Master Switch 'on', radio on correct frequency and volume adjusted (radio check on first flight of day).
F - Flaps - Check for operation, set for takeoff position. Name glider type and state "Airbrakes not fitted to 'glider type*' as appropriate.
Trim - Exercise for movement, Check friction if appropriate, Trim to takeoff position.
C - Canopy fully secured, resists upward movement, clear vision panel moves. If flying solo or with novice passenger, check rear clear vision panel is shut.
B - airBrakes, check fully open, half open looks balanced, closed and locked.
E - Eventualities - Number of aircraft in operation, wind direction, any lay-off required on winch launch due to cross-wind, landing options in the event of a cable break, approach speed for the day's weather conditions.
A glider is generally pretty simple, and that's our check list. There are a fair few on there which are equally applicable to a small aerobatic aeroplane.
The mnemonic is the only bit that is written down in the aircraft though.
The pre-flight check (signed off and double checked) and first flight of the day checks are separate from the above.
Even in gliders multi-thousand hour pilots talk their way through the above out loud. Its what keeps them alive.
* At our club there would be nothing unusual about a pilot flying three or four different types in the course of a day, so reminding yourself which type glider of you are in is essential if you are to avoid just saying 'flaps not fitted' in one which has them.
Last edited by Mechta; 29th May 2015 at 15:48.