The scariest part of flying
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The scariest part of flying
For some it's the stall, or steep turns. Or maybe the landing. Well, I've got my PPL, been aerobatted and everything else, ant there's never been anything I've worried about but yesterday I confronted something which has been nagging at me for some years, but which I knew I was going to have to tackle some day. Because I am interested in old aeroplanes. And you don't even get in to do it. I am talking about prop-swinging.
Yesterday I was at the Tiger Club when there were very few people there. I was there to help out - I don't feel ready to fly yet - and someone was needed to swing the Cub's prop. Nettle. Grasp.
Now I feel that if I had started swinging props years ago - I was shown how to do it by the fireman at Sunderland, in 1981 - I would never have built up a 'thing' about it. but I didn't, and I have. Chris Bellhouse gave me a great breifing a few months ago and we swung various 'dead' props in and out of the hangar, but all of a sudden I was needed to do the job.
I must say, I felt confident. I knew the routine, having been on the pilot's end so many times, and the Cub's prop is within easy reach and light. We primed, sucked in and went for it; but it was a cold day and she wouldn't fire. So we switched off, I swung through to clear the cylinders, then we tried again. All the time I had been pulling through I was rehearsing my movements, particularly being aware of the natural pull towards the blades. One pull- nothing. Another pull and she fired. Suddenly, the disc was right in front of me and that's when I had the shock of fear. Suppose I hadn't got my hand out of the way in time? Suppose I fell forward? Uugh. Anyway, I'd done it and I had to move on to the chocks.
So there it was....my first prop swing, and a totally unremarkable success...........until the next time!!
Yesterday I was at the Tiger Club when there were very few people there. I was there to help out - I don't feel ready to fly yet - and someone was needed to swing the Cub's prop. Nettle. Grasp.
Now I feel that if I had started swinging props years ago - I was shown how to do it by the fireman at Sunderland, in 1981 - I would never have built up a 'thing' about it. but I didn't, and I have. Chris Bellhouse gave me a great breifing a few months ago and we swung various 'dead' props in and out of the hangar, but all of a sudden I was needed to do the job.
I must say, I felt confident. I knew the routine, having been on the pilot's end so many times, and the Cub's prop is within easy reach and light. We primed, sucked in and went for it; but it was a cold day and she wouldn't fire. So we switched off, I swung through to clear the cylinders, then we tried again. All the time I had been pulling through I was rehearsing my movements, particularly being aware of the natural pull towards the blades. One pull- nothing. Another pull and she fired. Suddenly, the disc was right in front of me and that's when I had the shock of fear. Suppose I hadn't got my hand out of the way in time? Suppose I fell forward? Uugh. Anyway, I'd done it and I had to move on to the chocks.
So there it was....my first prop swing, and a totally unremarkable success...........until the next time!!
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keymusic, you ought to get yourself across the briny and visit Jack Brown's Seaplane base in Winter Haven, Florida.....the technique for starting the engines of the cute little yellow J-3 cub is always the same, as they don't have batteries and all those modern doodahs....
You untie the aircraft from the dock. The student is sitting in the front. You step out on the float beside your student, and pull the prop through from behind. Works a treat.
In the UK, once or twice we've had to hand prop my Super Cub. I prefer to sit inside and give suggestions, while a nice tall young man (sometimes not even young, Derek Piggot pulled my prop a while back) stands in the right place, one arm behind his back (only lose one that way) and gives it a good yank. Of course there are MASSIVE CHOCKS!
You untie the aircraft from the dock. The student is sitting in the front. You step out on the float beside your student, and pull the prop through from behind. Works a treat.
In the UK, once or twice we've had to hand prop my Super Cub. I prefer to sit inside and give suggestions, while a nice tall young man (sometimes not even young, Derek Piggot pulled my prop a while back) stands in the right place, one arm behind his back (only lose one that way) and gives it a good yank. Of course there are MASSIVE CHOCKS!
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Many things scare me with it.
•The thought of a structural failure or a main spar failure is probably the scariest one.
•Uneven flap extraction and a snap roll at low level. This is why I check flap connectors even more rigorously than ailerons.
•Descent through IMC layer in hilly terrain with an engine failure.
•Single engine over long water stretches.
•Single engine fire.
•Blade separation in a twin.
But as usual, one manages those fears.
•The thought of a structural failure or a main spar failure is probably the scariest one.
•Uneven flap extraction and a snap roll at low level. This is why I check flap connectors even more rigorously than ailerons.
•Descent through IMC layer in hilly terrain with an engine failure.
•Single engine over long water stretches.
•Single engine fire.
•Blade separation in a twin.
But as usual, one manages those fears.
Moderator
Are we talking about what you fear is going to happen while flying, or the sudden realization of what just happened? There is a difference!
The fear of what is going to (or could) happen will recede as your experience grows, as with increased experience, fewer things should seem to be out of the ordinary. Or at least as far out of the ordinary.... However, a good dose of fear is a useful life saver, and should never be ignored! Ideally, your fear causing you to not do something, will shift to your wisdom causing you not to do it!
Fear of what just happened is quite different.... It gets you some time later, when the whole picture sinks in, and you realize how close you came. I have had that a few too many times (including the only time I have ever damaged an aircraft - while hand propping one).
Those are the ones you must recall, and share, in the hope that others learn before they do it too! It is a certainty that I have the proverbial angle on my shoulder, for all the things I have gotten away with in airplanes, which I should never have. The best I can do is to remind others why they may not be so lucky, and approach with great caution!
Things I remember most, which scared me after that fact.....
I was a 16 year old passenger in a Cessna 150, at night, over the cloud, with airframe ice, which the pilot spun.
I was the pilot of a Cessna 303 (fully deice equipped) which had a factory design flaw (later corrected by AD) and in icing conditons, it tried to swap ends at cruise speed, and worsened when I slowed down.
I was the co pilot of a Twin Otter over the south of France in August, falling out of control because of airframe ice
'seems to be a theme there...
I was the pilot of a Cessna 180 floatplane, which had a flap track separeate on a water touch and go, and the flaps jammed at 20 degrees.
I was the pilot of a Cessna 206 with a trim rigging error, which required an estimated 50 pound push to maintain level flight
I was the pilot of a Cessna 185 floatplane with a rudder system mis-installation, which caused it to want to sawp ends at any speed
Another theme...
I guess I'd say I'm afraid of unmanagable icing encounters, and control system failures. In each of the afore mentioned situations, I had enough time to ask myself "is this the flight which is going to kill me?" (though with the C 206, not much time!)
On the other hand, two weeks ago, I did a series of flight test spins in a Cessna Grand Caravan with an external load. I feared doing it somewhat, but it was all planned and briefed, and ultimately not scary at all! I later mathed out the maximum rate of descent - 9200 FPM!
It is wise to always have some fear, but make sure it's informed fear, and properly managed...
The fear of what is going to (or could) happen will recede as your experience grows, as with increased experience, fewer things should seem to be out of the ordinary. Or at least as far out of the ordinary.... However, a good dose of fear is a useful life saver, and should never be ignored! Ideally, your fear causing you to not do something, will shift to your wisdom causing you not to do it!
Fear of what just happened is quite different.... It gets you some time later, when the whole picture sinks in, and you realize how close you came. I have had that a few too many times (including the only time I have ever damaged an aircraft - while hand propping one).
Those are the ones you must recall, and share, in the hope that others learn before they do it too! It is a certainty that I have the proverbial angle on my shoulder, for all the things I have gotten away with in airplanes, which I should never have. The best I can do is to remind others why they may not be so lucky, and approach with great caution!
Things I remember most, which scared me after that fact.....
I was a 16 year old passenger in a Cessna 150, at night, over the cloud, with airframe ice, which the pilot spun.
I was the pilot of a Cessna 303 (fully deice equipped) which had a factory design flaw (later corrected by AD) and in icing conditons, it tried to swap ends at cruise speed, and worsened when I slowed down.
I was the co pilot of a Twin Otter over the south of France in August, falling out of control because of airframe ice
'seems to be a theme there...
I was the pilot of a Cessna 180 floatplane, which had a flap track separeate on a water touch and go, and the flaps jammed at 20 degrees.
I was the pilot of a Cessna 206 with a trim rigging error, which required an estimated 50 pound push to maintain level flight
I was the pilot of a Cessna 185 floatplane with a rudder system mis-installation, which caused it to want to sawp ends at any speed
Another theme...
I guess I'd say I'm afraid of unmanagable icing encounters, and control system failures. In each of the afore mentioned situations, I had enough time to ask myself "is this the flight which is going to kill me?" (though with the C 206, not much time!)
On the other hand, two weeks ago, I did a series of flight test spins in a Cessna Grand Caravan with an external load. I feared doing it somewhat, but it was all planned and briefed, and ultimately not scary at all! I later mathed out the maximum rate of descent - 9200 FPM!
It is wise to always have some fear, but make sure it's informed fear, and properly managed...
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The scariest flying moment - or rather the most stressful - was bringing a PA12 sea plane back into the dock with an FAA examiner onboard, with a brisk wind trying to blow us off the dock and some kids deciding to be messing around in a boat right where I wanted to be....I had to decide where to cut the engine and drift, and I had just buggered my neck getting in the thing so did the whole flight test in pain! Luckily the FAA examiner jumped out of the back seat and onto the jetty to stop us drifting off and it all worked fine and I didn't chop up any kids (and I passed the test).
Other than that, the seaplane rating is the most fun flying I have ever done!
Other than that, the seaplane rating is the most fun flying I have ever done!
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The scariest thing flying where I am is the indians from another flight school, If they make a position report the safest place to be is where they said they are, and at their altitude!!
One of them managed to travel 20Nm in 4 minutes in.... a 152! Another wasn't allowed to take off because he couldn't find the runway, although we can laugh at the pilots, i think the joke is on the instructors who let them go solo.
edit, just add a disclaimer: Yes I have stuffed up too in the past, nobody is perfect (but this group stands out as the 'have-no-idea' personality)
One of them managed to travel 20Nm in 4 minutes in.... a 152! Another wasn't allowed to take off because he couldn't find the runway, although we can laugh at the pilots, i think the joke is on the instructors who let them go solo.
edit, just add a disclaimer: Yes I have stuffed up too in the past, nobody is perfect (but this group stands out as the 'have-no-idea' personality)
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The thing which scares me most is taxiing 
I had a close encounter with a pothole (£20k) very early on and remain very aware that airfield maintenance is often below a reasonable level.
I had a close encounter with a pothole (£20k) very early on and remain very aware that airfield maintenance is often below a reasonable level.
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Single engine night/IMC/fog/ice, especially where two or more of the aforementioned factors combine.
Other pilots who appear not to understand the concept of airmanship. Particularly those that call lining-up at an uncontrolled airfield without noticing I'm on short final.
Other pilots who appear not to understand the concept of airmanship. Particularly those that call lining-up at an uncontrolled airfield without noticing I'm on short final.
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PilotDAR,
I think my fear falls into both categories. I was afraid of what might happen, before the event, and I was afraid of what might have happened after it!
Are we talking about what you fear is going to happen while flying, or the sudden realization of what just happened? There is a difference!
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Anytime you are not in control!!! I am not talking about the aeroplane. The Fear goes when you gain that control back.
"The only man who is truly free is the one who is free from fear"
Pace
"The only man who is truly free is the one who is free from fear"
Pace
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Kev,good to see you on here.
I fly a hand swing A65 Cub.
Some prop from behind,holding onto the door frame,others from the front.
I'm nearly always on my own,and there are no parking brakes.
I hand swing from the front.
I chock,tie stick back,no throttle,switches off,prime 1-2 pumps according to weather,then pull through 6 blades,switch 1 on,still no throttle and she normally starts first time.
Some people say the tail should be anchored.
I think the most important thing is not to be distracted,also to be balanced and step away on the prop swing.
Lster
I fly a hand swing A65 Cub.
Some prop from behind,holding onto the door frame,others from the front.
I'm nearly always on my own,and there are no parking brakes.
I hand swing from the front.
I chock,tie stick back,no throttle,switches off,prime 1-2 pumps according to weather,then pull through 6 blades,switch 1 on,still no throttle and she normally starts first time.
Some people say the tail should be anchored.
I think the most important thing is not to be distracted,also to be balanced and step away on the prop swing.
Lster
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Losing Comms
I always feared losing my comms at a critical moment, and it happened on Wednesday, flying a club aircraft. Middle of the control zone, on handover from radar to the tower, lost the lot!!
Circled over the city as we tried to figure out the confusing picture, did not get comms back, eventually 7600 on the transponder, full-blown emergency now, managed to get one way transmit on approach frequency, and brought in to land with all traffic ops on hold - 5.00 at night.
I have looked back at the incident, and it looks as though we handled it well, and I am glad it has now happened and I have experienced it, but I was a bit panicked and confused for a spell as I tried to 'get the picture'
Circled over the city as we tried to figure out the confusing picture, did not get comms back, eventually 7600 on the transponder, full-blown emergency now, managed to get one way transmit on approach frequency, and brought in to land with all traffic ops on hold - 5.00 at night.
I have looked back at the incident, and it looks as though we handled it well, and I am glad it has now happened and I have experienced it, but I was a bit panicked and confused for a spell as I tried to 'get the picture'