The Art of Stalling

Yesterday I was lucky enough to have a go on the flight simulator. It simiulates a *highly* modified business jet (those who know me, will know what sort!)

I have been wanting to have a go since I got back, and yesterday I squeezed into the tight cockpit and had a good yank on my stick...oooer missus.

Seriously though, after working out that the brakes didn't function from the simulated cock pit and you had to use the trainers console to release them, I was soon taxi'ing along a none existant runway thrusting to 140 knots and pulling back on the stick.

Things seemed to be going good on the ascent. The artificial horizon indicator showed a steady climb, but I didn't realise that the digits on the scope related to 10, 20, 30 degrees climb and not actually 10k, 20k, 30k feet! I thought I was climbing a little too fast! The height indicator was just by the side, apparently.

So, imagine my surprise as lights started to flash at me and the stick shook violently. Also, an eerily calm voice kept repeating 'Stall, Stall' I was only in a sim, but I was almost panicking looking around for levers to push and buttons to press! Ho Hum...

Anyway, Im not so sure that the instructor didn't inject this scenario just to make me fill my pants, becuase when I took off a second time, it was fine. The landing gear was retracted in good time and I climbed steadily to around 35,000 ft. Perfect!

Got bored after a while of changing headings, so decided to see if I could make this bird loop the loop! Erm, I don't recomend it! It stalled again, and went into a spiralling free fall!, but I managed to pull it out and level off again, which I was quite chuffed about.

Somehow I don't think Im ready to give up the day job just yet!