My CFI is based out of KAUN. Auburn California. I am sure we will start practicing on a longer runway since there are no brakes on the right side!

Bryan,

I remember you and your pin mishap at Auburn. I would love to do a BPPP clinic.

Andrea

Start strengthening that right leg... I was amazed in my first IO520 flight after my Arrow how much right rudder it took - started heading for the weeds initially

Well....it doesn't feel nearly as bad as the right rudder needed in my Six....

Welcome to BT and CONGRATULATIONS on the new pilot certificate!!

Today we practiced landings and engine out landings- 4 th lesson.

After some nice landings (so much easier than the Warrior) and feeling like I am catching up to the plane my instructor had me do a simulated engine out landing. We did the first one together and took off again to do another one.

On downwind he started telling me what to do. He is helping me set up for the engine out. The instructor says "put your gear down" Ok a little early, but ok I think. Then he says "what are those helicopters doing?" I think, why is he worried about the helicopters? But we had a close call with a heli and another student pilot so maybe thats why he seems concerned. "put your flaps down" ok, again a little early but probably setting me up for the engine out. My instructor says "what about that other helicopter, he is starting up" I think, again with the helicopter stuff, but I check it out all looks fine. "are you sure about the helicopter?" Ok, what am I missing with the helicopters? Now I am on final, watching the helicopter (it is sitting just next to the approach end of the runway but not moving).
On final I am high and fast- a lot high and cannot slow down below 110 MPH. I say go around. My instructor says "why are you fast?". Now, I cannot figure it out and I do a go around.
Then the instructor asks about the gear !!!!! Oh yeah. A bonanza does not slow down well with the gear up! My instructor had pulled the circuit breaker and distracted me at every GUMPS check.

He did a great job. I have always thought (while sitting comfortably in the passenger seat) how does anyone land gear up? Well NOW I KNOW. I can see how it can happen and I am now going to be even more paranoid. That was a great lesson and very humbling. May be one of the best lessons ever.

Always listen for the motor running and feel it slow down. I know what mine is supposed to sound like so get to know what yours sounds like. After riding with Mike at Schafer I know it's very similar to mine.

Scott,

You are correct, but he did such a good job I even failed to notice that the plane did not slow down and change pitch as usual!.

My instrument instructor tries to do the same thing. She starts jabbering at some critical time and I just start laughing at her.

I'll do that next time or tell him to stop talking about helicopters.

Andrea,

Also a few notes.....

When you put the gear down, do NOT remove your hand from the switch until you see three greens and verifiy, as which time you say out loud...."I have three green, gear is down" and if you have mirror for the nose wheel, say " one in the mirror".

The main thing you need to absolutely memorize is the numbers, and there's not many. Gear up or down, speed approach or cruise.

Flaps should NEVER BE AN ISSUE, until the runway is in sight and landing is assured. (there's exceptions but not at this time). Never, Never, Never put flaps down before the gear is down and verified. And I mean NEVER!

With your level of skill and knowledge of Bonanza speeds and power settings, it should take you less than an hour of training to nail this. And subsequent training will verify this.

Best of training......

Larry,

Good advice. I will not remove my hand until I have 3 in the green.

I got it all on video..... the video is shaky because as she is coming down on final, I'm waving my arm up and down in a futile attempt to signal that gear is up. I knew he was going to try and pull this..... but not today.
The good part is that she recognized that "something wasn't right, going to fast" and initiated the go around prior to coaching by the instructor.

I'm still surprised he "got her" though..... but he had to go a long way to make it happen. He got her all hopped up on a simulated emergency landing demonstration the landing before completing with a swoopy banked base to final. Then, because it was her turn to do the simulated engine out, instead of her going through the normal gumps at the normal time, he told her to drop gear early(he had already pulled the circuit breaker) and then immediately distracted her with the helicopter stuff. Then, at each subsequent gumps, he distracted her again with the helicopter stuff.
All's fair when trying to distract the pilot when doing this lesson....... she knows now to basically tell the pax to shut up (I do). Its her responsibility. but... I was happy she recognized that something wasnt right... too fast..... and she went around.

She's still kicking herself tonight. GOOOOOD LESSSON

Larry and Scott are absolutely right, hand on gear handle, call "gear coming down", keep hand on the gear handle untill you get three green, then call "three green, gear's down". You should definetly hear and feel the gear coming down, as well as the up and down pitch changes that happen.
Then you can put in flaps and make throttle/mixture/prop adjustments as appropriate.
I always look at and call "three green, gear's down" three times in the pattern, downwind, base, and final. If you always do that, life will be good and you will be able to taxi to the pumps.

Absolutely, my instructor has been trying to pound that into my head, but he was also trying to show how easy it is to get distracted. Now I must never deviate from the GUMP checks.