LESSON #1
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
Familiarize student with the training sailplane, its servicing, operations, instrument systems, preflight procedures, weight and balance, ground handling and use of checklists. Acquaint student with sensations of flight and the effect and use of controls. Familiarization of student with local flying area.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Introduction
___ sailplane servicing
___ purpose of preflight checks
___ visual inspection (incl. positive control check)
___ importance of checklist
___ weight and balance
___ ground handling
___ tow signals (ground/air)
___ cockpit take-off checklist
___ take-off
___ tow position
___ tow release and procedure
___ straight and level
___ shallow banked turns
___ local area familiarization
___ collision avoidance
___ traffic pattern entry, approach, landing, and mooring of sailplane
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
Lesson completed when student can service, preflight (including weight and balance), use checklists, safely ground handle, and show knowledge of effect and use of controls. Reasonable familiarity with local flying area.
LESSON #2
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
To develop student's skill in the performance of basic flight maneuvers (tow position, descents, turns, straight and level flight).
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ servicing
___ preflight inspection, weight and balance
___ tow signals (ground/air)
___ ground handling
___ take-off checklist
___ take-off
___ tow position
___ straight-and-level
___ shallow bank turns
___ traffic pattern entry, approach, landing, and mooring
___ collision avoidance
Introduction
___ use of spoilers
___ coordination of controls
___ airspeed control
___ landing checklist
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
Lesson will have been successfully completed when student shows familiarity and understanding of basic concepts behind aircraft response to control input. Student should be able to successfully use checklists with little instructor input.
LESSON #3
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
Review lessons one and two; develop proficiency in performance of basic flight maneuvers; introduce stalls
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ Preflight including weight and balance
___ ground handling
___ take-off checklist
___ take-off and tow position
___ straight and level, shallow bank turns (stressing the need for coordination)
___ use of spoilers
___ airspeed control
___ landing checklist
___ traffic pattern; entry, approach, landing, and mooring.
Introduction
___ Stall recoveries (imminent and full)
___ straight ahead
___ in turns
___ dive-brakes open
___ slips/skids
___ spiral descent (spoilers)
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
Lesson successfully completed when student can display reasonable proficiency in performance of tow release and turning flight. During this and subsequent lessons, student should be able to perform: preflight inspection (including weight and balance), supervise ground handling, T/O checklist, and mooring without assistance. Recognize and react properly to collision threats, ground and airborne.
LESSON #4
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
Continue reviewing material in previous lessons. Continue developing proficiency in airspeed control and heading control. Continuing to develop student proficiency in recovering from imminent and full stalls.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ take-off
___ tow position
___ airspeed control
___ heading control
___ stalls (imminent and full)
___ landing checklist followed by or in conjunction with traffic pattern entry, approach, and landing.
Introduction
___ slips/skids
___ "boxing-the-wash"
___ medium turns
___ glide slope control with spoilers
___ speeds-to-fly in the pattern
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
Student will have successfully completed this lesson when he can follow landing instructions from the instructor and follow the guidelines as established in the landing checklist. Reasonable proficiency should be demonstrated in airspeed and heading control.
LESSON #5
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
To develop student's skill in flying the aircraft at minimum controllable airspeed. Continue to work at developing student's skill in aero-tow procedures.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ take-off, tow positions
___ airspeed control
___ "boxing-the-wash"
___ slips/skids
___ medium turns
___ glide path control
Introduction
___ flight at minimum controllable airspeed
___ recovery from unusual attitudes
___ recovery from spirals
___ steep turns
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
The lesson will successfully have been completed when the student can demonstrate flight at minimum controllable airspeed...maintaining airspeed at +/-10 KTS and maintaining assigned heading to +/-10 degrees. Also student should be able to bring aircraft back to normal flight configuration/attitude from unusual attitudes safely. Student should be able to complete 360/720 steep turns to within 10 degrees of assigned heading. (Coordination now being maintained during all maneuvers except when slips/skids are to be uses).
LESSON #6
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
Continued refinement of flying techniques and the continued introduction of aero-tow procedures and applications. The introduction of soaring speeds is made during this lesson.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ take-off
___ tow position, "box-the-wash"
___ slips/skids
___ turns (shallow-steep)
___ stalls (imminent and full)
___ landing procedures
___ speeds-to-fly in pattern
Introduction
___ slack lines
___ steering turns/tow speeds
___ soaring "speeds-to-fly" lift/sink/turbulence
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
At the completion of this lesson, the student will be able to safely aero-tow, demonstrating that he can maneuver behind the tow plane. Through the use of standard signals, communicate with the tow pilot. The student now has a working knowledge of speeds for soaring and their application in the course of the flight.
LESSON #7
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
The continued refinement of the student's landing technique and the introduction of crosswind techniques. With the student now looking at low as well as high approaches, the introduction of simulated ropebreaks is made.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ take-off, tow position and "boxing-the-wash"
___ slips/skids
___ flight at minimum control airspeed
___ pattern work
___ glide-slope control with spoilers
Introduction
___ low approach
___ high approach
___ using spoilers and/or slips
___ crosswind take-off/landings
___ 500' rope break and abbreviated patterns
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
This lesson will be satisfactorily completed when the student understands the fundamentals of aircraft glide path control by using either spoilers, slips or both. A safe landing should never be in doubt due to an abbreviated pattern caused by an emergency at or above 500 AGL.
LESSON #8
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
To provide more experience for the student on landing judgment. In addition, the introduction of ground reference maneuvers and emergency procedures for altitudes of 200 FT AGL or more.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ take-off/tow position
___turns (medium-steep)
___ low/high approaches on landing
___ crosswind take-offs/landings
___ rope breaks (abbreviated pattern)
___ minimum control airspeed
Introduction
___ ground reference
___ rectangular course
___ turns about a point
___ S-turns across a road
___ rope break (200 FT AGL)
___ downwind landing
___ flight planning - importance of staying upwind
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
The student will have completed this lesson upon demonstrating that the safe outcome of an emergency and subsequent landing downwind is never in doubt. Flying technique beginning to reflect the level of proficiency required for the private/commercial standards with very little improvement/polish on those maneuvers already introduced and practiced to go. The fundamentals of soaring speeds and the knowledge of glider penetration against a headwind conveyed satisfactorily upon questioning.
LESSON #9
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
This lesson is to further develop the student's ability to land the sailplane in closer quarters in preparation for cross-country flying and/or emergency landings. Also, further polishing of the students's skills in preparation for flight checks is to be done.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ take-off/tow work including "boxing-the-wash"
___ turns (medium to steep) to a pre-selected heading
___ stalls (various phases/configurations of flight as well as incipient)
___ soaring speeds-to-fly
___ prelanding and landing (crosswind)
___ rope breaks
Introduction
___ short field landing (TD and stop in 500')
___ spot landing and stop within 200' of point
___ landing over obstacles
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
This lesson will be completed when the student safely demonstrates his ability to take-off/land in a crosswind. In addition, he can safely bring his aircraft to a halt within the prescribed distance to a selected point. The student will have also demonstrated his ability to do a short field landing as well as land after simulating or demonstrating an approach over obstacles. Reactions are correct to emergency rope breaks.
LESSON #10
Recommended Preparation:
Objective:
This lesson will introduce the student to soaring techniques for different meteorological conditions. The four types of lift phenomena will be explained and hopefully experienced. Techniques for finding good off-field landing sites will be discussed.
Content:
Preflight Discussion
Review
___ soaring speeds-to-fly
___ flight at minimum control a/s
___ steep turns
Introduction
___ thermalling
___ very steep turns
___ ridge soaring
___ wave/mountain flying
___ convergence zones/sea breeze fronts
___ off-field landings (simulated)
Postflight Critique and Preview of Next Lesson
Completion Standards:
This lesson will be completed when the student understands what must be looked for to find lift and the correct technique to stay within that lift. Also, as part of the technique, he must safely demonstrate very steep turns. For off-field landing, good judgment in the selection and good execution in landing off-field must be accomplished.
LESSON(S) 11, 12, 13, 14
(INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY UTILIZATION)
LESSON #11
Content Obtaining Weather Information
Meteorological Applications
LESSON #12
Content Flight Instruments and Systems
LESSON #13
Content Flight Preparation and Planning
Cross-Country Go/No-Go
LESSON #14
Content Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR)