RIGHT SEAT RULES NO. 11 COORDINATION

Hubie was one of those people who can't march. He was a clever guy. He had a pharmacy in Riversdale in the Southern Cape and was also mayor of the town - but the poor guy simply could not march.

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HE WOULD PRACTICE for hours and would sometimes get it right, but when it really mattered, like the time he was presented with his ten-year long-service medal, well the arm and the leg on the same side moved the same way.

Most of the time it was bloody funny. He would get all tense, with his shoulders back and his stomach in, and a determined look in his eye, but on the command, ‘q-u-i-c-k march’ he would lead off with his left foot and left arm together.

We tried everything to help the poor guy, but after weeks of practice there was really no improvement. And of course on the big day we were all rooting for him, but to no avail. There was a collective sucking in of breath amongst the rest of us who were standing stiffly to attention with our boots and buttons gleaming.

What’s this got to do with flying? Well strangely Hubie had it right. With an aeroplane, almost every time you move the stick to the left you should use left rudder. And Hubie would do this perfectly in his little C152 Aerobat. Dare I say it came naturally to him? And it’s not that easy.

If you – as an instructor – can teach your pupes to do this one exercise correctly, and to use that skill the whole time they fly, then you will indeed be an exceptional instructor.

Using the aileron and rudder in the same direction, at the same time is so important that a number of aircraft have them interconnected with springs so that when you move the ailerons the rudder automatically moves with them. Bonanzas, Tri-Pacers and Senecas come to mind.