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Intermediate Turns

The main differences between basic and intermediate turns are the increased bank angles (up to 45 degrees), and greater emphasis on the use of the yaw string. With greater bank angles, there will be more opportunity for adverse yaw to develop, and hence more requirements to move the rudder peddles both at the initiation, and the completion of the turn. The outline for this exercise is:

  1. Instructor checks the student's knowledge of the pre-takeoff check, and the 300 feet call out.
  2. Instructor coaches student in the aerotow. Taking over as required to maintain good position.
  3. Instructor checks student lookout, release, trimming, and locating the airfield.
  4. Instructor requires good lookout before turns.
  5. Student coached to turns up to approximately 45 degree angle of bank. Use of the yaw string emphasized.
  6. Student does normal turns from level flight and linked turns with no pause at the level flight attitude.
  7. Instructor directs flight path towards the circuit introducing judgement of the entry or Initial Point.
  8. Instructor checks the student's knowledge of the downwind checks.
  9. Instructor checks the student's performance of the lookout when established on the base leg.
  10. Instructor coaches the student through the flare and landing.

Another good extension is to establish a turn, and then adjust the bank angle and the airspeed. This will be very useful to thermalling, especially when flying in gaggles. The linked turns exercise can be extended to include linked turns in slow flight, which will be more demanding. Again the sequence is lookout-turn-look around. The student should be given the opportunity to do this without prompting, however, they should not be allowed to initiate control movements unless they do a lookout (emergencies excepted!). In the same light, the Dutch roll exercises may be repeated with increased angles of bank, or done in slow flight. In all of these instances, the use of the yaw string to promote good coordination is important. The intermediate student may not always be perfect, but should be trying.