Read the POH. This should be the basis for everything you do with regard the aircraft. Make sure you are doing the checks specified, you can add more if the school etc requires.

I'm not sure about what's in the POH, I'll have a look. But in the expanded checklist we use, no.
It just says, check mixture rich --> start engine --> keep micture rich at all times until engine shut down. There are no mixture checks that need to be done.

Ok, thanks stevelup, I'll get the books out again and have a quick read on the carb heat and take your advice on the brakes and controls.

Just have to say I like your attitude Paul.

Personally the not using a checklist is not a crime in my book in a SEP but the the posters have valid views.

The use of mixture is one of the poorly taught items generally in the UK. I must admit I was teaching it incorrectly/didn't know what I was doing. When I was instructing full time. There are some quite good threads if you search for them on the forum.

The carb heat again is taught by alot as something you have a fiddle with as part of a series of checks. Its only after you have a bum twitcher with carb icing you get more switched on with it really does. My bum twitcher was after a PFL on the go-around doing mutal training for my FIC. The 60 seconds it took to clear hanging in the air not accelerating or climbing with the engine farting and shuddering seemed to last a hour.

flyinkiwi
OK. Something to think about. In all my flying, I have to say that it is not something I've ever done, nor something that's ever been taught to me!

Cheers

Checking the mixture on preflight is paramount. Cruise performance figures are based on the mixture leaned as per the POH (and you may need to lean at takeoff already if your field elevation warrants it). Also one of the memory items in case of engine fire is mixture cutoff. Two very good reasons to make sure it works as advertised before you actually launch :ok:

Put the carb heat on when you are lined up for takeoff. Increase power to runup value to get a good blast of hot air into the carb, pause for 15 seconds or so then if no indications of ice, carb heat off and apply full power. When full power is achieved check that the RPM guage is showing the correct static RPM value (remember this will be well below redline RPM) indicating you are achieving full power, and you are good to go to continue the takeoff.

Adam 1919

I seemed to have hijacked your thread about first solo's, sorry about that.
IMO opinion time to first solo means nothing, what really matters is what your skills and abilities and judgement are as a licensed pilot. The important thing in your flight training is that you are making progress. if you are stuck at any part of the course, including presolo, than you need to have a sit down with your instructor or even the CFI to figure out why you are not progressing and what to do about it.

Big Pistons Forever

I like it! Thanks, I'll work that into things from now on.

Cheers