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HOW TO FLY A J-3 CUB
A FEW COMMON MISTAKESSteering with the ailerons. The airplane has a stick which much to the delight of the "steering wheel" pilot is very intuitive and takes little or no transition. Most pilots actually prefer the stick because it's more, you know...macho. However, I find that we still have problems sometimes with the student trying to "drive" the airplane. That's why your doing this, to advance from an airplane "driver" to a flier of aircraft or an "Aviator" Utilize the ailerons to control bank, or in the case of the takeoff, keep the wings level at liftoff, and the rudder to keep the nose straight. The Cub's ailerons become effective at such slow speeds that if you try to steer with them, one of the wheels may come off the ground prematurely or you end up with a wing down. Expect your instructor to go ballistic if you do this more than once. Although the novice pilot has spent a large portion of his practice time trying to coordinate his rudder and aileron inputs, there are times, and this is one of them, when the two controls must be used independently. See the next section on air work for some drills that will help.Drifting to the left. Again, a basic problem that you got away with in the nose wheel days. As the power is applied the airplane drifts slightly to the left before the tail comes up. After the tail comes up you notice, but don't so anything because things seem to be going pretty well. "The last time I tried to make a small correction all hell broke loose." Stop that! Make a concentrated effort to make the plane go where you want it to go, not where it is happiest. This is not to say that you have to have "happy feet" all the time with the rudder banging against the stops. If you need a correction, make it, if you don't there is no reason to tap dance on the danged rudders. Sure, it may be interesting the first few times but that is what your instructor is for. If you let the airplane seek it's own level so to speak, your going to have a hell of a time when we get to crosswinds! Start doing it right now or you'll pay dearly later. Forcing the tail up too soon. We already talked about this and why it is not a good idea. Among other things, the evil demon crosswind will eat your lunch. Prolonging the takeoff. Not that common of a problem but it happens occasionally. Student things he can ease into this by sloooowly applying power. Doesn't work. Apply the power smoothly but go ahead and get it all in there early on. Disregard the horror story told by the Confederate Air Force Colonel about his P-51 experience. This is not a P-51 and chances are he never flew one anyway. Riding the brakes. If you remember where they are it shouldn't be a problem, but again it happens. Don't do it. NOTE: Reviews and Opinions do not necessarily represent those of Landings, its personnel and employees. |