Nudge, nudge, nudge

[mhorowit]

My instructor complains that I'm overcorrecting when the wheels on on the ground, and that I wait until I see a correction before removing my input, thus getting behind the power curve. He's probably correct.
His instruction is to keep my feet moving "dancing feet".
This morning a lightbulb went on and I said the following: "Oh, so what I should be doing is nudging the beast a little at a time to go in the direction I want instead of trying to make a big correction"

He liked the concept of 'nudging'.

Does the concept of 'nudging' as opposed to 'dancing feet' do anything for you?
- MIke

[Len Petterson]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

Is dancing a series of small nudgings? I think so. Put "eggs" on the rudder pedals and dance gently BUT Quiqly to keep her straigth.
A story about Taxing in 15 mph +- cross wind when leaving the runway: 1200 rpm resulting in a Fast walking pace, riding left brake, working rudder and aileron to keep her straigth.
Dave, my instructors said: You are taxing to fast and shoped the trottle.
The plane turned 90 deg into the wind, instantly! He apoligest with; Up's you had it under control. Do what it takes, dance, nuddge, kick, but be quick or the tail will come around fast. Over controling is just as bad, so evrything according to need of moment.Remeber we are correcting what the wind does to us, we are always behind, = we have to correct at a high rate of corrections. Practice taxing in a crosswind. why not! Have fun!
Len

[mhorowit]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

Is dancing a series of small nudgings?
Len

Well, I was thinking in terms of making a correction to the direction of travel. a mild 'hip-check' then return to the dance.

I think the 'dancy feet' is ment to keep your reaction time up. Sort of like the drills you see football players doing. foot, foot,foot, foot, shift right.

Your thoughts? - Mike

[Len Petterson]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

I got it!
Len

[NC36454]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

Mike,

You're trying WAY too hard to be mechanical in how you fly the plane. Just practice until it comes natural...if you have to stop and think about various "mechanics" for each situation, you'll always be behind the plane. Unless you fly in a vacuum, each day will require a different set of inputs for the situation at hand.

Hang in there!
Ken
1941 BC12-65
W4SWK

[VictorBravo]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

A very highly educated rocket scientist, who has happened to own the very same Luscombe for 50 years (!!) told me the secret. It is Jack Norris, the developer of the Norris Luscombe seat. Jack is a real, certified rocket scientist with more college degrees and more flight test hours than most of us. He says the secret is "Punch the rudder, then get off it real quick"

His reasoning is that by the time you figure out what the plane is doing (swerving), and try to put in a gentle correction, then factoring in the time lag while the correction takes effect, your correction starts it going the other way and then continues too long. Like being out of sync with a spring, and accidentally "exciting" it instead of damping it.

In order to minimize this, when the airplane swerves, you kick the rudder more than just a little, but for only a very short time.

Obviously this is all scaled up or down in magnitude commensurate with how much of a swerve you are trying to correct. If the plane is really trying to change directions, you might have to hit the rudder real hard for a split second. If you're just trying to keep it on the centerline on a normal takeoff, then tiny, light jabs are probably right. But the keyu seems to be putting in the full correction instantly, then letting off the correction even before you see the airplane responding so it doesn't overshoot the other way.

Bill

[paulp]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

Howdy Mike,

First of all, feel the airplane and listen to it's sounds. Remember, the airplane already knows how to fly and if you commune with it, it will teach you. Don't fight it. Take your time and when you are practicing a maneuver(you are practicing, aren't you?) feel the control pressures. Eventually, it will become second nature.

Keep the faith, brother!

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

Mike,

Are you landing on grass or cement?? When I was learning I stuck to grass. VERY forgiving. Now I don't worry about cement, but when I was first getting a feel for the T I "slid" a bit.

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX

[MAC]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

I just finished flying my newly acquired BC12-85 for the second time this evening. The last two landing after tail came down I leaned over to the right so I could sight forward past the cowl and it seemed to help me a lot to know where the plane was going. MAC
Sorry, I meant to say as far to the left as necessary to give a clear line of sight.

[mhorowit]

Re: Nudge, nudge, nudge

Mike,

Are you landing on grass or cement??

Asphalt. - Mike