Week 15 - April 18 to 24

Last week, we began the checkrides. Although the first team was cancelled/delayed several times, mainly because of the strong wind, they finally flew on friday. In the next weeks, all pilots will have to do their performance checkrides and their fighter checkrides, along with a practice for each. FTE/Ns only have the perf one. The performance practice happens in the C12, so their isn't much to discover, but the acutal checkride will happen in the HU16 Albatross.

We also began the flights in the Learjet VSS (Variable Stability Simulator) : it is modified with a digital FCS that allow us to "feel" different aircraft handling qualities in only one flight. And even to fly fictious configuration, like neutrally stable on the pitch axis (change the angle of attack, release the stick, it stays there), or directionnaly unstable (trying to keep the aircraft flying straight requires a lot of concentration). This came along with several hours of "handling qualities evaluation" class with T. Twisdale.
Aside from that, we finally got our patch (we atually got it a couple weeks ago but i forgot to mention it) :

We also had a naming for all of us FTE that did not already have a callsign :
Jeremey - Leeroy
Daryl -  Hammer
Joe - Ham
Tomo - Hatrick
Jessica - Stab
Javier - Motor
Jean - Sheldon
Chris - Norm
Dean - Doser
Francois - G-arf

Next week : more practice checkride. The HU16 should be here, so we will also get the first performance checkrides. Some glider demos if the weather permits, more Learjet, photo safety chase for those left behind.
On the academics, we will have structures and aero-servo-elastic coupling. We will also get a 4 hours class on Test safety. This will be the first of a long series of classes that will taught us everything we need to know to organize a flight test. TMPs (test management projects) are getting closer !