I didnt' want to wait on the instructors and when I flew with Larry, the seller, he told me to make smaller corrections and try not to ever get behind the curve. As I've been practicing touch and goes, I'm finding that I can keep it on the center line with decreasing effort. However, after one particularly nice one, I looked down just for an instant to move the trim back to the take-off position (I wasn't much faster than taxi speed) and when I looked back up, I was veering left. Not bad, but it was enough to get my attention.
I'll practice as much as I can. I'll have to get really good so when I decide to replace the flap tracks, probably in a couple of months, I'll have the skills to not fly for a week and be able to get right back in the saddle without tearing things up.
I'm particularly interested in perfecting the wheel landings. I'm extremely intrigued at the technical finesse required and how beautiful a nice wheel landing looks from the side. Guys here at Arlington wheel land all their taildraggers most landings and I'm amazed at how consistent they really are.
Perhaps wheel landings could get it's own thread or something. But, for now, they're all three pointers (okay, attempted three pointers) and I'll gain confidence in the plane and in my reactions to the tail swings.
So far, no really close calls.
Later,
