FlyingVizsla

Short pilots

A little something for instructors - I had flying experience before my ppl but had never actually landed the plane (did take-off, navs etc with father). I am 141cm (4'7") so when I came to land my instructor told me to "put the nose on the horizon" and I did a bad landing every time. I suppose he thought if I had been flying I would ace this and didn't bother showng me.

Eventually he got frustrated, grabbed the yoke and said "HERE!!" I looked at him and said "that's not the horizon, that's half way up the sky." Then he realised our eye levels were quite disparate. He jacked me up on 2 cushions and we tried again. By that time I was well versed in doing it wrong, feeling wobbly on the cushions and had lost confidence. Even now I approach landing with apprehension.

Try sitting far forward (on the edge of the seat) and low to see a different perspective. Keep this in mind when teaching juniors and shorties.

Sue

I came from a flying family, but my father didn't approve of girls getting licences, so I waited until after he died to get my ppl. My present plane INC, I have owned for 15 years and flown mostly around outback Qld.

After 50 years of just me, the plane & dog, I took a job closer to the coast and met my recently widdowed neighbour. Within a few minutes we discovered we were both plane owners and pilots (proving the addage - how do you know there's a pilot in the room - he'll tell you!). And the pick up line? "I'm building a plane; would you like to come over and look?" All I can say is that a half built Rans is a definite chick magnet. 13 months later I married him.

He maintains that real pilots fly UL taildraggers with joy sticks, whereas I insist that a GA nosewheel with yoke is far superior. It keeps us laughing! I am very short and found the Lightwing difficult to control on the ground as I could not get enough rudder or see out so I have not finished my conversion to UL. Hubby has altered the rudders & stick so I can be a back seat driver in the Rans - one of the big advantages of UL builds - I tried to get a rudder extension approved for my GA aircraft and it was a nightmare.

We have my C152, his recently completed Rans Courier S7, the Karasport and the Lightwing. We spent the honeymoon in the hangar working on the Rans and don't seem to fit in much flying.

We are happy to answer any questions on builds & engines. Any one who wants to take my side (tricyle better than tail dragger) will instantly be my friend.

Sue