Originally Posted by
BizPilot
So a guy/gal goes from steam-gauge C-172 to a Level C FMS 40,000# jet.
That's a big jump.
I went from Baron 58 to a Lear Jet 24/25 and that was a big jump.
It was like I almost had to re-learn how to fly again. Many things were counter intuitive like landing a Lear (or any jet) power back and then more power is needed as the gear and flaps are down and drag goes way up. Forget the 10% level off rule. Lears can climb 6,000 fpm, you need to start the level off process 3,000' before your assigned altitude. You need to watch the power settings at cruise as you can easily exceed MMO. I only had a part of a 135 in-house ground school followed by on the job flight training. The Lear would dutch-roll on approach with the yaw damper off and it felt like it was out of control. Finally bought several books, "Handling the Big Jets", and "Fly the Wing" to figure out on how to fly a jet.
I think it can be a steep learning curve, but I went from light twins and Cessnas to a +40k# jet and didn't really see THAT big of difference. If anything, those things you're talking about are really just small tweeks to a normal instrument scan. You just have to think a little further ahead of the airplane and manage your energy.