The most recent lessons have been about slow flight and the first part of stalling, which felt like an important step in learning how to handle the aircraft safely. These exercises needed the right conditions, so we made sure the cloud base was well above 3,500 feet before we began. We needed to be at 3,000 feet to carry out the manoeuvres, which gave us a safe margin.
Before attempting anything, Greg introduced me to the HASELL checks. Height, Airframe (Aircraft configuration), Security, Engine, Location and Lookout. These checks make sure the aircraft is set up properly and that the area around us is safe and clear. They felt like a logical build on the checklists and FREDA checks I had already been using, and I could see why they were non-negotiable for these kinds of manoeuvres.
Slow flight was the first focus. The idea is to bring the aircraft right down to the edge of a stall, holding it there by gently adding power until it sits in balance. The controls become much less effective at this point, which was an eye-opener. Everything felt sluggish, and I had to make small but positive inputs to keep it under control. It was a good way to feel what the aircraft does as it nears a stall without actually letting it tip over the edge.
From there, we moved on to stalling itself. Greg demonstrated first, then handed over to me. We practised different types of stalls: one using just elevator input, another using elevator and power, and then recovering while also coordinating with the rudder to counteract the yaw. The recovery process was drilled into me: push the control column forward to reduce the angle of attack, add full power to regain airspeed, roll the wings level, and then climb away. At first it felt like a lot to do in a short time, but with practice it became more of a rhythm.
I also learned to recognise the symptoms of a stall. The stall warner was the obvious one, but there were other signs too, like the nose dropping and the possibility of a wing dropping if balance was lost. Seeing and feeling those symptoms in a controlled environment made them far less intimidating, and I began to understand why learning stalls is about building confidence rather than simply ticking off an exercise.
By the end of the lesson, I felt I had taken another big step forward. Slow flight gave me a better sense of how the aircraft behaves near the limits, and the stall exercises showed me both the risks and the recoveries. It was reassuring to know that if I ever find myself close to a stall, I now have the tools to deal with it safely.
Modular Pilot Kiran 