Nathan at Keoki Gray's Amelia Island Aerobics School located at Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Nathan with Keoki Gray's Pitts S-2A. This is the aircraft that Nathan flew for the scholarship training.
It has always been my ultimate flying dream to dance in the sky as aerobatic pilots do. I have had a passion for flying ever since I can remember. My journey began last year when I was the fortunate recipient of the Doug Yost memorial aerobatic training scholarship. I had just completed my initial CFI, but felt a need to experience more of what airplanes can really do and the scholarship offered a tremendous opportunity for me.
I reviewed the Scholarship's choices of aerobatic training schools and decided upon Keoki Gray's Amelia Island Aerobics School located at Fernandina Beach, Florida. I learned that Keoki is a top-notch Aerobatic instructor and air show pilot. I can tell you that I had the experience of a lifetime flying with him and understand why he is so highly regarded.
I scheduled my flying during the Christmas break and traveled to Florida with my girlfriend and family.
The weather was great when I arrived for my first day of training which began with a wide-ranging ground session that included Pitts S-2A operations and a discussion of the aerodynamics of loops, aileron rolls, and spins including upright normal spins, entries, failure modes, and various recovery techniques. We also covered emergency parachute procedure thoroughly and we talked about the physiological effects of G forces explaining that G tolerance is based on a number of different factors including fitness, fatigue, nourishment, and clenching of the abdomen.
We moved the flying phase and my first surprise was how difficult the Pitts S-2A is to taxi. S-turns along the whole taxi route were very challenging. Keoki demonstrated the takeoff procedure for me and handed me the controls immediately after takeoff. I made S-turns and learned about rudder pressures depending on angle of attack, power, and bank. Once we reached our maneuvering altitude, I completed steep turns and stalls to get a feel for how the airplane performed. I was not used to the types of attitudes this airplane was capable of producing.
Keoki demonstrated an aileron roll for me then allowed me to try two left aileron rolls and two to the right. I was having fun! I was reminded of the very first addicting experience I had flying. He demonstrated a loop for me, then allowed me to try one. The loops were an altogether different experience for me. The most G force I had ever felt previously was about 1.5 positive G’s. The loops were three times the amount of G force I ever experienced. I honestly felt sick from the smell of exhaust, hot and sweaty reaction to G forces, and new experiences. I said I was feeling hot and we immediately turned back to Fernandina Beach airport. Keoki joked that the hot feeling was a sign that the flight was about to lose its fun. My first aerobatic flight lasted only 45 minutes.
When we took a break for lunch, I was not able to eat. I usually have a big appetite, but this was a rare exception. I laid on a couch feeling exhausted after only a 45 minute flight. My afternoon flight called for two point aileron rolls and advanced spins. I taxied to the runway still feeling the effects of the last flight. I climbed to our maneuvering altitude and warmed up with an aileron roll in both directions. Keoki put the airplane in nose high attitude and added full left rudder which spun the airplane. I recovered with the normal procedure as I was taught in my CFI spin training. After this flight, I was already feeling more comfortable with the unusual attitudes of this airplane. Needless to say, I slept amazingly after my first day of aerobatic training.
In subsequent flights, I experienced variations of loops and rolls such as quarter clovers, half cubans, and Immelmans. I learned about the strange takeoff and landing procedures of the Pitts S-2A. Spin recovery and the center of gravity effects on spins were an important part of my training. With my eyes closed and head down, Keoki put the airplane in some different types of spins, then told me to open my eyes and recover. The spin active recovery technique was always the same no matter what type of spin I was in. We then experimented with different recovery techniques such as taking our hands off of the controls while the airplane was spinning and noting the performance of the spin. The airplane was actually forgiving. The stick naturally went centralized and aft, and easily recovered once opposite rudder was applied. Keoki put the airplane in inverted spins and inverted accelerated flat spins. Just when I was beginning to like the view of the world rapidly spinning above me, our lesson time was up.
I am extremely grateful for the experience that I was given. Keoki Gray was a wonderful instructor that gave me both confidence and very unique experience that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I now feel perfectly comfortable demonstrating spins to my students. I enjoy passing on the excellent knowledge that I have acquired thanks to the Yost family and IAC chapter 78.
I am currently flight instructing at Thunderbird Aviation in Eden Prairie, MN and attending St. Cloud State University full time. After graduation in May 2007 I plan on flying for a regional airline.
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Nathan at Keoki Gray's Amelia Island Aerobics School located at Fernandina Beach, Florida. |
Nathan with Keoki Gray's Pitts S-2A. This is the aircraft that Nathan flew for the scholarship training. |