Becoming Your Own Test Pilot

Very few airplanes get precisely “book” performance. Some do better, some don’t quite meet the specs. Meanwhile, common piloting techniques differ from those recommended by the pilot’s operating handbook (POH) or airplane flight manual (AFM). It’s up to you to determine what is “normal” for your airplane, and the way you fly it. To learn what even a type-certificated airplane will truly do and when, you need to test-fly the airplane. For a time, I was the lead instructor for Beechcraft Bonanza training for an international flight safety organization working at the Beech factory airport. Part of the training we provided included flight in the customer’s airplane. One of the items on the flight training syllabus was to show different flying techniques, and compare actual performance received to that predicted by the POH.

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots rarely achieve "book" performance due to variations between individual aircraft, differing piloting techniques compared to POH recommendations, and common instrument inaccuracies.
• Aftermarket modifications (e.g., engine upgrades, vortex generators, gross weight increases) and alternative leaning techniques significantly alter an aircraft's performance, but updated data is rarely provided in POHs or STC supplements.
• To accurately understand and predict your specific aircraft's actual performance, considering your personal flying style and any modifications, conducting controlled individual flight tests is essential.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

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