"You're going to like the acceleration on the takeoff roll - the way your head snaps back when you add power..."
...add power...
"erp.Cool!"
(five seconds later) "Climb at 80. After we clear the pattern we can climb at 100."
Our mount for today is the 1979 Bellanca Super Decathlon, in which I'm now immersing myself for the remainder of my aerobatic "basic training". 180 hp. Constant-speed propeller. Cole aileron spades. Soft-back slim-line parachutes. Cowabunga! The Champ has come a long way, baby!
Bob, my original tailwheel instructor and chief aerobatics instructor at the flying club, seems more enthusiastic than usual today, as we set out to embrace some real sick and rudder (oops, stick and rudder) flying.
We climb out over the beautiful Pacific coastline toward the practice area.
"OK. First, I like to check for loose objects in the cabin by pushing over a bit".
(+2G pull up, -1G push over ensues)
(...thinking to myself, ummm, "burp", let me tighten the seatbelt here!)
"OK, nothing loose in the cockpit. Give me a couple of clearing turns then let's see your aileron roll, left."
...sloppy aileron roll left ensues. I recover well before the roll is finished - duh! This plane IS more responsive than the plain 7ECA Citabria!!!
"Want to try that again??"
A few more aileron rolls, they get a little better, but still
"wrong", giving me something to think about for later. "OK, how about a 180 clearing turn then we'll try a loop".
I accelerate to 140 - Gee! Hardly have to dive at all! Now
on the 7ECA, you really have to push it downhill quite a ways
in order to get that 140mph for the loop entry.
I relax and pull a bit to my perviously learned 3G loop entry. This
different airplane doesn't respond quite as vigorously (heavier
nose?) and by the time we reach the vertical we are losing too
much speed. And the torque, by now well and truly uncorrected
(I was used to only 115 horsepower!), dishes us off to one side.
By this time the horizon begins to loom into view (now inverted,
and askew by about 45 degrees bank!!) I decide to futz the
maneuver and just roll out and back to level flight. Course
about 215 degrees off the original heading..yuck!
"Ummm. That was interesting, Lee......"
(sheepishly) "Uh, Bob, just wanted to show you I would roll
out of the inverted unusual attitude, rather than pulling"
"Let's try again. But first, let me show you one."
(same entry, but Bob pulls 4 G's for the loop entry. We sail
around in a more perfect circle, exactly on course) (urp)
"OK, you try it".
Second loop is better. 3.9G entry. Finish with course only
ten degrees off original heading. "burp"
"Better. Let's try another."
"Uh, Bob, the stomach is dishing out. I think we should head back".
"Go! Want an airsick bag?"
"Nope. Just straight and level. Must have been the Mexican food
I had for lunch! (honest, I did)"
"In that case just fly the airplane!".
We fly back and land. The landing seems real easy. It is amazing
how this aerobatic wing just "gives up flying" when you land!
Well and truly on the ground. My very first landing in the
Decathlon, a wheel landing at 70, seems easy. Where the Citabria
would bounce and jounce a little and try to fly again, the Decathlon
just sort of sits down and stays put.
"Way Cool!" I enthuse to Bob as we push her back into the parking spot.
"I'm glad you like it."
So what's wrong with my flying in this new machine?
(1) not accounting for engine torque
(2) not used to the slightly higher speeds and Gs everywhere.
(3) tendency for a little diagonal stick movement
when all I really want is stick to the side or
stick back -- don't know why yet, maybe because
the 7ECA ships I originally trained in had
the lengthened-stick STC.
I promise to get to work on these things!
Your fledgling acro pilot,
Lee