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:

• Actual aircraft performance frequently deviates from Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) specifications due to factors like individual aircraft variations, common piloting techniques, and aftermarket modifications.
• Piloting techniques that differ from POH recommendations, such as a smoother takeoff, can significantly alter expected performance (e.g., increasing takeoff distance by 45-50%).
• Aftermarket modifications (e.g., engine upgrades, vortex generators, gross weight increases, AoA indicators) often lack updated performance data, making it necessary to determine their real-world effects.
• Therefore, pilots must conduct their own controlled flight tests to accurately understand and predict the specific performance of their aircraft as flown, especially for safety and flight planning.

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

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