Example Lesson Plan for Gyroplanes

Note! This lesson plan is just an example of what a student may expect to learn during training. It is a slightly edited version of an outline used by Aero Sports Connection and we post it here just to give newly interested people an idea of what kind of training is available. Currently, you can expect each instructor to have a unique lesson plan. Ask your instructor for a copy of his lesson plan prior to training so you know what to expect.

FLIGHT-GROUND INSTRUCTION WITH FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT
LESSON 1 -   INSTRUCTOR SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING:

PREFLIGHT

            A. Use of helmet and intercom.

            B. Explain aircraft components.

            C. Explain instruments and their importance.

            D. Explain importance of good preflight habits.

            E. Instructor and student will do an actual preflight.

START-UP AND TAXIING

            A. Using fuel petcock.

            B. Use of seat belts, brakes, and rudder.

            C. Explain startup procedure.

            D. Startup, idle, and gauge awareness.

            E. During warm-up, Point out wind direction and runway in use.

            F. Explain Air and Ground traffic awareness.

            G. Throttle and Rotor Management while Taxiing.

            H. Taxi.

TAKEOFF

            A. Use of prerotator and importance of rotor RPM.

            B. Phases of rotor blade management through acceleration and lift-off.

            C. Proper power and control inputs.

CLIMBS, LEVEL FLIGHTS, TURNS, DESCENTS, SINKS and RECOVERIES

            A. Climbing to attitude.

            B. Level flight: reference and power requirements.

            C. Shallow turns and altitude control.

            D. Descent: attitude and power coordination, with airspeed control.

            E. Sinks and recovery: attitude and power required for minimum loss of altitude on recovery.

TRAFFIC PATTERN

            A. Proper pattern and altitude: ground track and references.

            B. Entering and departing the traffic pattern.

LANDINGS

            A. Proper approach speed, attitude, descent rate and throttle coordination and runway alignment.

            B. Proper landing attitude at touch down and braking.

            C. Use of rotor brake.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION WITH STUDENT DISCUSSION

STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT, CLIMBS, TURNS, DESCENTS
LESSON 2:

            Explain elements of upcoming Lesson two maneuvers.

PREFLIGHTING

            A. Student performs with instructor's assistance.

START-UP AND TAXIING

            A. Instructor demonstrates, student follows through.

TAKEOFFS

            A. Instructor demonstrates, student follows through.

            B. Instructor demonstrates - straight and level flight with minimum power required.

STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT, CLIMBS, TURNS, AND DESCENTS

            Student will perform with instructor assistance:

            A. Straight and Level flight point out airspeed and attitude relationships, control responses, and references.

            B. Climb-out power required, throttle response, attitude, and throttle coordination when leveling.

            C. Level turns: point out bank references, altitude response, and rudder control.

            D. Descents: point out attitude and airspeed relationship, use of throttle, and throttle response when leveling off.

AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN
Instructor demonstrates, student follows through.

Repeat this lesson until student shows proficient at maneuvers.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION WITH STUDENT DISCUSSION

GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS, SINKS AND RECOVERY, APPROACHES
LESSON 3 – DESCRIPTION OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTION CONDUCTED

            Explain elements of upcoming Lesson three maneuvers.

PREFLIGHTING

            A. Student performs, instructor observes.

START-UP AND TAXIING

            A. Student performs with Instructor's assistance.

PREROTATE AND TAKEOFF

            A. Instructor demonstrates, student follows through.

GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS With instructions from instructor, the student will perform.

            A. Ground track along a reference with a crosswind.

            B. "S" turns along a ground reference.

            C. Rectangular pattern around a ground reference.

            D. 360 degree turns starting and ending over a ground reference.

SINKS AND RECOVERIES

            A. Instructor performs sink with power and recovery with student's assistance.

            B. Student performs sink with reduced power and recovery with instructor's assistance Point out control pressures, attitudes, and throttle response and coordination.

APPROACH AND ABORTED LANDING

            A. Instructor Performs approach with power and recovery with students assistance and throttle coordination, throttle response, runway alignment, and heading control.

            B. Student performs with Instructors assistance.

LANDINGS

            A. Instructor demonstrates, student follows through.

Repeat this lesson as necessary for student to become proficient.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION WITH STUDENT DISCUSSION

TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, SHORT FIELD LANDINGS
LESSON 4 - DESCRIPTION OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTION CONDUCTED

            Explain elements of upcoming Lesson four maneuvers.

PREFLIGHTING

            A. Student performs.

START-UP AND TAXIING

            A. Student performs.

PREROTATE AND TAKEOFF

            A. Instructor demonstrates first takeoff, student follows through.

            B. Student performs with instructors assistance.

TRAFFIC PATTERN

            A. Student performs.

LANDINGS

            A. Instructor demonstrates first landing, student follows through.

            B. Student performs with instructor's assistance.

Repeat this lesson as necessary for student to become proficient.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION WITH STUDENT DISCUSSION

ABORTED TAKEOFFS, QUICK STOPS, AND EMERGENCY LANDINGS WITHOUT POWER RECOVERY (SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE)
LESSON: 5 - DESCRIPTION OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTION CONDUCTED

            Explain elements of upcoming Lesson 5 maneuvers.

PRE-FLIGHTING

            A. Student performs.

START-UP AND TAXIING

            A. Student performs.

ABORTED TAKEOFF

            A. Instructor demonstrates, Student follows through.

            B. Student performs with instructor’s assistance.

TRAFFIC PATTERN

            A. Student performs.

SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE

            A. Instructor demonstrates, student follows through.

            B. Student performs with instructor's assistance.

Repeat this lesson as necessary for student to become proficient.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION WITH STUDENT DISCUSSION

PRE-SOLO REVIEW

LESSON 6 - The instructor will evaluate student performance by using the following flight maneuvers.

            1. Preflight, engine operations, auto-gyro systems, and rotor blade management.

            2. Start, taxi, and runway operations. (including run ups)

            3. Takeoff and landing. (with and without crosswind)

            4. Ground reference maneuvers

            5. Climbs and climbing turns, descents and descending turns.

            6. Airport traffic pattern procedures. Entry and departure procedures.

            7. Auto-rotational recoveries with power.

            8. Shallow medium, and steep banked turns in both directions.

            9. Go-around after an aborted landing.

           10. Straight and level flight.

           11. Airspeed and attitude changes.

           12. Emergency procedures.

           13. PIO avoidance.

           14. Collision and wake turbulence avoidance.