Advice on Keeping the Ball in the Middle

[icemanza]

Hi,

I am traning on the Jabiru 470 SP (MPL), I have 11.2 hours and still have trouble keeping the ball in the middle.

I have flown a "bigger" plane (a robin super club) and had no problem with the ball in that.

Does anyone have advice?

The the ball is out to the right most of the time.

Thanks in advance

John

[Wallaby]

I've found that because of the SP's cabin getting narrower to the front, the pedals are slightly offset and you'll see that your left leg is not in a normal, comfortable position as your right leg. Maybe because of this you unknowingly apply more pressure to the left pedal, resulting in the ball going to the right.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Dont chase the ball. The lighter aeries are more susceptible to wind. Instructor once told me to release pressure on opposite side rather than STEP on the ball. Worked very well for me... Try not to focus on the ball, rather on your body (seat of pants). If it feels like you are drifting you prob are. Go fly along a road in a Xwind and try to track the road without looking at the ball. You will get a feel for it eventually. Just take a bit of getting used to. I learnt to fly on aerie with Rudder trim, so using the pedals was new to me when I migrated down the the Jab's, Cheetah, Cubby etc. Was a baptism by fire with plenty hrs under the belt.

PS
Don't worry too much. I know a couple beeeg hr jockeys who battle with the little Jab's especially. Good training to be had... Enjoy it and don't fight the ball.

[Stephan van Tonder]

There is simply 1 solution - hours behind the stick. It comes naturally after a while. Try using a soft soled shoe so you can feel them better - seemed to help for me. This is the one thing that everybody coming from bigger tin struggles with coming to the LSA's - they all need constant rudder input.

[Rudix]

I have flown a couple of planes and many or even most of them need rudder when you turn but I must admit that when I started flying the SP470 it was quite a shock ! After the first flight I took one of my other planes for a flip just to assure myself that I could still fly

It must be one of the most difficult planes out there when it comes to keeping the ball in the middle, and not just when you are turning but don't worry, soon it will become natural and you will wonder what the fuss was all about.

It is the rather small fin that causes it, later models have larger fins.

The SP is a great little plane once you have "become one" with it. I believe that pilots trained on the SP won't have a problem with any other plane !

Fly safe,
Rudi

[icemanza]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice,

will keep you all posted with my progress.

John

[BOATCH]

Stephan i agree with you there on the shoes if i use takkies with thick rubber on then you can not feel al the small inputs on the ruddar.But time makes it easier

[lefssa]

I agree time behind the stick will sort it out. Don't get fixated on the ball it will improve with time. A good exercise is to slowly waggle you wings keeping the ball in the centre.

[KFA]

I had the same trouble when I started flying. The shoes stick to the pedal and you then have to move your whole leg back and forth instead of just pushing the pedal with your toes. I easisly solved this problem by flying barefoot.

[Choppie]

Going "down" to the smaller (read lighter) types is quite trickey. I went from the Cherokee 140 to the Savannah. I am told that the old training donkey grows lazy feet. Remember that when you approach in a Cherokee 140 you will use rudder input to pick up the wing when it drops, and throttle to control altitude. I am also used to pull back on the throttle over the threshold and allow the plane to sink while you fly it until touchdown. Being heavier and carrying a whole lot of inertia compared to the Savannah you simply wait it out and very little rudder input is required - even in cross-wind conditions.

What I am being told is that you need to fly the lighter aircraft as if you are flying a taildragger. NO LAZY FEET. You need to keep the aircraft centre line with the feet. Paul has nifty exercise for that one - You touch down close to the threshold and keep the nosewheel off the tar. Then you use your feet to keep the aircraft on the centre line. The added benefit of the Savannah is that it has the STOL wing fitted which makes for an easier exercise - you only need to apply power and in 50 meters you are airborne and at a decent rate of climb. Also FASI does have a longish 03/21 that allows for this type of exercise.

I found that to be a useful exercise to keep the ball in the middle. Also as previous people already eluded to, the lighter aircraft may "drift" a whole lot more that the heavier bliks. I have found that even on a downwind (read crosswind), that I could not get the ball in the middle, no matter how much I kicked it into the ball. What happens in such an event is that your circuit becomes relatively wide/narrow, depending on where the wind comes from. I would imagine that on a cross country one would have to Aviate, Navigate and Communicate - with a lot of emphasis on navigate...

[icemanza]

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone for the responses,

I am glad to say that, suddenly the ball is in the middle and this morning I went SOLO!

I'm still waiting for my brain to land.

Thanx

John

[Stephan van Tonder]

Nice - congrats and Enjoy...