The Final Multi-Engine Post..

Oh it is a sad day... This will be my last required post on my multi-engine class.  I've really enjoyed the amount of new material that I've learned.

In my first blog post about this class I said that I hoped to learn about the systems, controls, and characteristics of multi-engine aircraft.  I most definitely have been able to do that.  Some of my favorite parts of this class were the group assignments, and the new information about systems and maneuvers.  I really liked the way that the different aerodynamics of multi-engine aircraft was explained.  Complex things seemed very intuitive to me.

I also enjoyed going into the Sim Center and flying the Seminole in the Frasca 142.  It was my first time using that simulator, and I was really impressed by the feeling that I got of actually being in a cockpit of an aircraft.  I would recommend doing that again, and maybe doing it twice.

I didn't really have any problems with the class, though I would have liked to have more activities with slightly larger groups.  I feel like I worked with a lot of the same people throughout the class, and I would have liked to get a larger amount of information from my classmates.

Blogging is a good way to informally allow information to be posted and discussed.  I really like the idea of requiring comments on other students posts.  It would be interesting to have a more in depth discussion of some of the ideas that students have in this class.  I remember reading about the accident of the Gulfstream into Aspen, and wanting to be able to discuss it more with my fellow classmates.  I feel like this would have helped me to reinforce good things that I learned from that accident, as well as how to avoid problems like that in my future career.

La Observacion

On my observation flight I observed Sam Acosta flying with Mike Digrazia.  It was last Friday, September 30^th.  I had a little bit of a hard time getting a flight set up, mostly because the Seminole spent some time in maintenance because of the prop on the right engine.

I was really excited to get to fly in the Seminole, mostly because I haven’t ever flown in any light multi-engine aircraft.  I have done flying in large single engine, but I feel like a multi offers such a different flying experience.

On the flight that I observed Sam was practicing the commercial maneuvers, and commercial performance landings.  One thing that was very interesting to me was that the procedures for the maneuvers were almost exactly the same.  Sam did steep turns, and during the maneuver she added a little bit of power, and used two turns of trim to keep the angle of bank level with the natural horizon.  I also remember that on the short field landings she was easily able to hit her spot.  I asked Mike D about it, and he told me that you just have to aim at a spot, and the plane will sink right down and touch down right at the aiming point.

Another very interesting thing about the multi was the ability to cross-feed the fuel tanks.  Mike was able to use this feature because the fuel in the aircraft was uneven. It made it so that the weight was able to be centered. 

I am really excited to fly in the Seminole, and look forward to learning more about the actual flying of the aircraft.  I feel like flying a multi-engine aircraft will be intuitive, and will become something that I really enjoy.