Beech Skipper

Yesterday I gave my first lessons (Discovery Flights) in the BE77 Beechcraft Skipper.

I'd flown the airplane a few times before and was less than impressed with its anemic climb rate, lackluster takeoff roll, and penchant for tail wagging (scary similar to the V tail Bonanza!).

So yesterday we had another absolutely stunning day here in Western Pennsylvania. After giving the Skipper a nice bath and polishing up the windscreen I strapped in and decided to give this bird a fresh look.

Solo, the climb and performance is a bit more tolerable (though it took forever to climb to pattern altitude on this high DA day -- especially compared to the lightly loaded C205 I flew earlier in the day). Once above the low level ground turbulence in smoother air, I found the controls were responsive, yet the airplane was still docile and stable.

Stalls were a non-event, with enough break to show the difference between flying and not (unlike a fwd loaded C172 which can often just mush).

The T tail is a factor on both takeoff and landing. As the speed slows and the low wing floats in ground effect, it's easy to over-control the elevator. So the Skipper Pilot needs to spend some time in slow flight feeling the significant change in aerodynamic forces and the sensitive elevator and not over-apply (especially if the pilot has spent a lot of hours in heavy-tailed C182s, C205/206/210, and Bonanzas).

In takeoff over-rotation will stall the Elevator, increasing the ground roll. Book rotation speed is 58 -- nail that with a gentle tug on the yoke, hold it there, maintain centerline with right rudder, and the airplane flies itself off the ground.

Too much yank and the airplane gets airborne, the tail stalls, the nose pitches down slightly, and the Skipper flies along in ground effect until speed builds up.

Cruise speed is around 90 KIAS -- maybe. 80 KIAS is more likely.

I flew to VVS where the Discovery flights were scheduled. Mom, Dad, and young son all showed up and we sat down and talked through flight training, questions, expectations -- the works.

Only the son was interested -- until we went out to the airplane and did the walk around. I took the son over his house, he handled the yoke and pedals, and we talked about the airplane, flying, and what to expect, etc.

When I returned Dad said, "I'd like to try that!"

Over the house and around the town we went (the weather was spectacular, the air clear and smooth).

I let him fly us to the pattern then took over on base and final.

Both were beaming and said they wanted to schedule another lesson soon.

I took off and flew the Skipper back to FWQ (where the MetLife blimp is now parked -- kinda neat to hear "Airship" announcing position in the pattern) and it seemed to fly better -- I realized I had become a bit of a speed and performance snob, and the brush with the thrill of flight gave me renewed appreciation for this airplane's mission.