Going Solo

[Colonel]

Had a discussion with some beginning pilots recently. One was nervous
about going solo.

I told him what you need to learn are normal procedures, and emergency
procedures.

In the circuit, a solo student pilot really doesn't have to learn to deal with
many emergencies, but there is an important one. I asked,

"What do you do, if the engine gets quiet at 100 feet after takeoff"

Crickets.

Fucking scary. I have no idea what instructors are teaching kids these days,
but it's not good. No time for checklists at 100 feet, I might gently point out.

PS. Everyone says, "You remember your first solo" but I really don't. It's a
hazy blur from many decades ago. I can't ever remember not flying. Neither
can my son. That's why TC thinks we're such shit pilots, I guess.

[Colonel]

Please respond with what you taught your pre-solo students to do, if
the engine quits at 100 feet.

I might point out that as usual in aviation, there are many correct
answers (and many incorrect answers). TC will teach you the bullshit
that there is only one correct answer (theirs).

[David MacRay]

Drop the nose and land straight ahead, try to avoid the fence and other obsticals but I don't have the potential energy to get fancy skimming the ground there. It's one of the few things I actually know about flying.

[Colonel]

It's easy to say, "Drop the nose" but your lizard brain will likely cause you
to pull back as hard as you can on the control column to instinctively try
to go up.

Look at the video from Toronto, where the guy flies into a hangar. Lizard
brain was in control.

Letting go of the controls is a perfectly acceptable answer, because you will
survive. The aircraft will naturally try to maintain it's trimmed airspeed,
and the nose will drop. The aircraft will enter ground effect.

All you really have to do, is not do anything stupid with the ailerons, like
the guy in Toronto. Wings level. Lower the nose to avoid a stall/spin.

[David MacRay]

I love that video and watched it a bunch. I laughed loud every time.

I'm pretty good at not using the funny batmobile steering wheel. To the point the sitter claims I didn't touch it as I fight the gecko part of me that wants to pick up a wing with it.

[Colonel]

... but it looks just like a steering wheel!

[David MacRay]

Even worse, it feels like one too.

A younger, single, alternate universe me would buy something with a stick. Maybe even on conventional gear.

Real time older me will probably need to get a tricycle gear plane if he wins the lottery. RV-8 A? CX-5?

Regular real time me might quit flying. Never thought that a few years ago and I know it's a bad idea since I'll want to do it more as soon as I claim to quit. Blah. Too expensive.

[Colonel]

Hookers and cocaine are expensive, but I don't see people stop spending money on them, either.

[JW Scud]

Lower the nose for sure and don't hesitate to turn a few degrees left or right instead of always straight ahead. You are likely going to crash but remember, a boost pump flicked on quickly could save the day. Master off might prevent nasty burns.