Mark Jones and others
I don't want to imply that your prep is not good, but rather suggest some
variation or substitution that will raise your skill level and better sharpen
your skill "pen" for handling your first flights (we are hoping for many for
you).
Don't do the approaches at the speeds recommended for that aircraft, but rather
at the expected approach speeds of the KR which should be slightly faster. Just
5 knots on each leg of the approach will make a big difference in your timing
and mental prep for transition onto the runway. The faster patterns will better
prepare you for how things will be happening faster. Also practice some power
off 180 degree approaches to the runway to sharpen your ability to handle an
engine out if it occurs. If it is windy, even better. This will develop your
ability to plan better on a moments notice. Perform some landings with reduced
or no flap landings, to illustrate a malfunction in your system or the float
from most KRs with no flaps or speed brake. And make sure to practice some go
arounds at differing points in the pattern.
One last suggestion. Try several laps down the runway after roundout, where
approximately 1400-1600rpms are left in where you hold the plane off the
runway, and fly in ground effect the majority of the length of the runway,
powering up at the end to climb out as normal. This time spent in ground
effect for several laps would require at least 5-7 separate approaches and
landings to get the same level of experience in ground effect. Get very
comfortable handling an airplane here and your first flight will be much
better. Then combine this skill with familiarity with your KR by doing several
high speed taxi passes, and "hops" to fly in ground effect and note the
difference with your plane. This skill and familiarity was in valuable on my
first flight and gave me complete confidence that I could land safely, even
with no airspeed indicator (debris from runway blocked pitot right after
liftoff) because I knew what the sight picture in ground effect would be and
how the plane would behave. The one thing on that flight that I WASN'T
concerned about was landing due to this familiarity. Good luck and take it at
your own pace, whatever that is...
Colin & Beverly Rainey
Apex Lending, Inc.
407-323-6960 (p)
407-557-3260 (f)
www.eloan2004cr.com
crai...@apexlending.com
