To all of our wonderful CFII's out there, what are your thoughts on Instrument Training in a tandem airplane?

Is it safe?

Is it feaseable?

Please weigh in with any and all thoughts!

My first thoughts are centered on being a safety pilot in the back seat. Not, the easiest place to see traffic for the guy flying under the hood.

I like your panel

Well, I sure wouldn't want to do any training of an IR student in actual! I believe that training in actual is a real benefit. That's something that's easy in a side-by-side, but without a second set of instruments in the back seat, pretty impossible in a tandem.

Even in VMC, I'd question its value. It would be very hard to see the student's excursions of altitude and direction, as well as the CDI. When I was teaching, I emphasized basic control, which included nailing the altimeter and DG, and keeping the CDI close to center--it's the only way to fly IFR.

I guess in sum I see many disadvantages, enough that I wouldn't do it myself.

Cary

Seems like the precision would be harder with a stick. A slow airplane would be nice though. What;s in the back for instruments?

I second what Cary said. Since becoming II in 76, I have never been asked to do it in civilian aircraft. Military aircraft seat the back seater way up high and have a full panel back there.

Nosedragger,

We fine tune the DG, RMI, CDI, Satlock, or any localizer with pedals (airplane or helicopter.) Unless a big correction is needed, ailerons or cyclic just cause wing wagging.

Pedals only is also the best way to keep the wing level while using hands to read the map. For you young guys, it's that fold out paper thing.

contactflying wrote:For you young guys, it's that fold out paper thing.

Contact, Don't try to bullshit a gaggle of bullshitters. You old folks only unfolded them far enough to block the sun while propped in a window or worn as a hat. I'm betting most of grumps charts had a couple rings on them from where the coffee was sitting.

Brett

I love this thread. Made me think about hanging around a campfire listening to y'all talk serious with a little goofiness interjected.

Brett, you getting your Instrument Airplane ticket? Also, I sent your Canada supplement in the mail the other day!

I've used a kid's toy periscope with students, it really pisses them off that you can call them out on a 50 foot altitude excursion.......

But a tandem with no instruments in back sure wouldn't be my first choice in actual. If you wanted to do the whole training in simulated, that could work.......but don't forget you still have to convince an examiner to fly with you on the checkride. Good luck with that.

In any case, I'm a big believer in getting at least some actual done while training......it really is different than wearing a hood. A lot different. Not harder necessarily, just different, and a really good confidence builder.

MTV

These answers are exactly what I figured you all would say.

Is it doable? - Yes.

Is it safe?- Mmm.... Maybe.

Is it the best option? Nope.

mtv wrote:I've used a kid's toy periscope with students, it really pisses them off that you can call them out on a 50 foot altitude excursion.......

That's funny.

mtv wrote:In any case, I'm a big believer in getting at least some actual done while training......it really is different than wearing a hood. A lot different. Not harder necessarily, just different, and a really good confidence builder.

Two of my three instrument hours were in actual IMC. I enjoyed that much more than simulated. I have flown in the right seat while in the soup with friends a few times and the real thing makes one much more focused, in my opinion. Its way more intense. Especially for a VFR only pilot. I hated the hood too.

The instructor that I will most likely be working with prefers the crud for training.

I don't know about the other services, but the Army requires all annual instrument check rides be in IMC if possible. There are reasons for these things.

I must have read through the original posts too quick!

Fixed below:

CamTom12 wrote:I love this thread. Made me think about hanging around a campfire listening to y'all talk serious with a little goofiness interjected.

Evan, you getting your Instrument Airplane ticket?

Brett, I sent your Canada supplement in the mail the other day!

No

I fly a Husky with almost the same panel.

One CFII wasn't comfortable with it and I let him off the hook.

Another CFII gave me some of the best instrument training I've had from the back seat.

A few things that might help:

- a second gps with simulated instrument panel (like a 496) which will enable the instructor to more readily keep you honest.
- an extra cushion on the back seat to help your CFII look over your shoulder more readily

It would be a shame to not learn and fly IFR in a Husky with such a nice panel.

Let us know what you decide.

Crzyiven13,

If you want to go that far, Richard Castle in Macon, MO would likely do it. He is a CFII and AI there.

He also teaches my techniques.

Contact

chrispo wrote:I fly a Husky with almost the same panel.

One CFII wasn't comfortable with it and I let him off the hook.

Another CFII gave me some of the best instrument training I've had from the back seat.

A few things that might help:

- a second gps with simulated instrument panel (like a 496) which will enable the instructor to more readily keep you honest.
- an extra cushion on the back seat to help your CFII look over your shoulder more readily

It would be a shame to not learn and fly IFR in a Husky with such a nice panel.

Let us know what you decide.

Chrispo, unfortunately not my airplane. I just found a stock photo off of the net for the initial post. I wish it was mine!