ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
I keep getting all kinds of responses from my club, so maybe I'm not asking questions right.
I asked about how to learn to use rudder. I was told to fly the plane without using ailerons, to use rudder and elevator to start and finish turns. I was also told to do stall turns, and maybe some knife edges (when they saw me doing them anyway =) Then one of the head instructors said he doesn't really use rudder to fly, only for 3D. He said he doesn't use it at all to turn, and doesn't even really use it to land, just plans out his path when flying in the wind.
Then people were talking about using the rudder 'to kick the tail around' during a turn, instead of letting it drop. But this is contrary to what I heard about initiating turns with the rudder, and using elevator and ailerons to keep altitude and proper pitch.
Then, get this...they told me I'm too new to be worrying about rudder anyway, and that I should just be flying and having fun and learning the (new) plane and not thinking about rudder. Morally, I can't do that - it's wrong!!! (Right???)
So what the hay should I be doing? Initiating turns with rudder, and using the other controls to keep the plane at constant altitude and a nice 30 degree bank?
I'm so confused!
Gar. you will hear all kinds of things from those that cannot really understand the concept of your questions.
The rudder is a most important tool in any airplane. Steve S. states many good things about rudder. BTW, I instructed in that T-38 in '66-'68. It was a fun airplane. OTOH jetmech speaks of simulator time. HA! None of the sims. 737, 727, DC-8, or DC-10 that I was in, '68-'96, recognized rudder or they reacted wrongly to its use.
However, the airplanes reacted to rudder use very well, as a good airplane will. Even slight rudder pressure could make the machine much more responsive to slight aileron touch, especially when flying low ceiling instrument approaches.
I well remember my 2 years in the C-123. HA! I treated that machine like a big flat wing 3-channel RC and it was very responsive. About 99% tried to use only ailerons and it wallowed like a hog in mud.
OK back to RC. You can fly RC forever and never use rudder except for ground steering and TO. You can really become a proficient pilot if you make that left hand NOT go to sleep once you break ground.
As others have stated get up high and PRACTICE whatever you can think of. Holding altitude, using rudder for steering, while being nose-high just before it breaks into a complete stall can teach you much. THINK about a crosswind where you are holding a bank into the wind, and using opposite rudder, downwind, to hold runway heading. Do maneuvers and remember which way is right and left with the left hand, correcting heading and slight banks with rudder.
As for turns, the only real need for rudder is during the roll-in and roll-out, however generally not a noticable thing, but good practice to keep that left hand in the loop. Mine forgets frequently!
Don't pay a lot of attention to the "experts." You go and find out what works For YOU. Have fun doing it.
edited: commas vice periods.