Blain
Well Known Member
I thought it would be easy.
I had no fixed wing experience. Got right into helicopters. Bought a Robinson R-22. Put about 200 hours on it and decided that owning a rotor wing is too expensive for the amount I'm flying.
Sold the chopper and long story short-decided to build a RV-8. CFI friend with RV experience has a Decathalon and figured he could transition me easily.
If I could master the Champ the RV will be a piece of cake. Of coarse I planned on using one of Vans transition instructors, probably Mike Seager when I get near completion.
Problem; We have done probably, without looking at my log book, 75 landings. Only about 4 of those were without instructor assistance. I can't seem to break the helicopter reflexes. Level the skids at 50 feet. Slow to 20 or 30 MPH. Not quite the ideal landing proceedure in the Decathalon.
So I had an opportunity yesterday to fly a DA-20. What a difference. I can land it without instructor assistance. He did on a couple of the first landings but it was natural for me. No struggle. Needs some polishing but the confidence is back.
Analyzing what could be happening I identified 2 facts; The R22 is right hand on cyclic (stick) left on collective (throttle) Same as the Decathalon and same as the -8.
But..the DA-20 is left hand on the stick right hand throttle. It was almost like my left hand didn't have the muscle memory to overcome.
And of coarse the DA lands about 20 MPH slower then the Decathalon. Almost like slow motion after the Champ.
So the point of this thread is to ask those who might have been in the same position how they got past it.
Should I spend more time in the DA-20 then attack the Decathalon later or will this tri geared sailplane be counter productive?
I had no fixed wing experience. Got right into helicopters. Bought a Robinson R-22. Put about 200 hours on it and decided that owning a rotor wing is too expensive for the amount I'm flying.
Sold the chopper and long story short-decided to build a RV-8. CFI friend with RV experience has a Decathalon and figured he could transition me easily.
If I could master the Champ the RV will be a piece of cake. Of coarse I planned on using one of Vans transition instructors, probably Mike Seager when I get near completion.
Problem; We have done probably, without looking at my log book, 75 landings. Only about 4 of those were without instructor assistance. I can't seem to break the helicopter reflexes. Level the skids at 50 feet. Slow to 20 or 30 MPH. Not quite the ideal landing proceedure in the Decathalon.
So I had an opportunity yesterday to fly a DA-20. What a difference. I can land it without instructor assistance. He did on a couple of the first landings but it was natural for me. No struggle. Needs some polishing but the confidence is back.
Analyzing what could be happening I identified 2 facts; The R22 is right hand on cyclic (stick) left on collective (throttle) Same as the Decathalon and same as the -8.
But..the DA-20 is left hand on the stick right hand throttle. It was almost like my left hand didn't have the muscle memory to overcome.
And of coarse the DA lands about 20 MPH slower then the Decathalon. Almost like slow motion after the Champ.
So the point of this thread is to ask those who might have been in the same position how they got past it.
Should I spend more time in the DA-20 then attack the Decathalon later or will this tri geared sailplane be counter productive?
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