Operational Tips & Tricks

I ran across this video on YouTube (imagine THAT...who views videos THERE?!)😎 VERY good! Don't know this guy or his reputation but you can see by the advice he has that he's knowledgeable and wants to share with all pilots and operators (both) ways to operate GA pistons safely and efficiently...GOOD STUFF. I'm considering suggesting that this video become a mandatory part of club checkouts (on members' own time, but before sign off). It's THAT GOOD! Always fly SAFE but also efficiently (it will save you and the rest of the club $$$)!

Primer is difficult to pull in and out and to find the detent. There is a line scratched in the knob - when the line is at 12:00 the primer is unlocked. When it gets too sticky, let me know and I'll lubricate it. A new primer is roughly $3000, so we're going to live with the sticky.

The throttle has an accelerator pump which will do basically the same function as the primer if you pump the throttle.

When you're doing pre-flight on the Archer, sometimes the flaps will hang at full deployment when you're lowering the johnson bar (flap handle).

DON'T lower the bar if the flaps aren't retracting (you can feel there's no weight on the bar), because they will slam up when you start the engine and potentially cause damage. Either leave the flap handle "full" until the engine is running, then the airflow will help the flaps retract as you lower the bar. Or, push the button on the johnson bar and jiggle it up and down and the flaps will then usually follow the bar.

Operation Tips & Tricks is where members can share the little things that make flying the club planes easier and smoother. Every aircraft has its quirks—maybe a stubborn primer, a trick to getting the Bonanza cowling seated just right, or other small things that aren’t always obvious the first time you fly it. If you’ve learned something helpful, pass it along here so the next pilot doesn’t have to figure it out the hard way.