Lesson Four: Climbing (2nd February 2006)

From now on I'll try and concentrate more on the flying part of the lesson than the theory part, but lets start with the theory and get it over and done with. First of all the instructor taught me about the factors affecting the climb, which are climb performance, power, weight, altitude, and flap, with some only making minor changes, others making quite large changes.

We taxied out to the runway for departure to the area for climbing practice. Once we were established in the climb out of airport, the instructor gave me the controls and I climbed us up. I was then demonstrated a perfect climb to about 2000 ft and then I had a go, using the P.A.T. mnemonic from the previous lesson and climbed up to higher. We then completed a few more climbs, at the same time the instructor was pointing out how to maintain the climb, such as using ailerons, rudder, and the elevators, as well as your scan, e.g. lookout (outside) followed by attitude, and then checking your instruments.

Once you have completed the climb, you return to straight and level flight by using the following mnemonic, A.P.T. Basically that means lowering the nose with elevator to your desired attitude, then reducing power back down to 2300 RPM, and finally trimming the aircraft to relieve any undesired control pressures that may be present. Last but not least we went over the effect of flap. So that brings to the end of my 4th lesson - climbing.