First of all, I had to think for a moment before swinging my legs into the cockpit. They need to go the other way. The next thing is that the controls (being in the centre of the aircraft) are in your left hand, and the throttle is operated by your right hand. Also, all of the primary flight instruments are way over the other side of the cockpit, meaning you can't just have a quick glance at this or that. You've got to really turn your head and have a look.
The final, and possibly the most disconcerting thing, is that there is the visual change. Manny kept commenting that it felt like we were flying a little bit sideways. A quick look at the balance ball proved that we were not. It's just that when you move almost a metre over to one side, things look ever so slightly different.
We completed several circuits, with me flying from just after liftoff to late base leg, and then Manny taking over for final and touchdown (it was his practice session, after all!). It was fascinating to see and feel how different it is. Manny didn't quite show the unwavering authority that I normally see him exert over the aircraft, but after several crosswind landings was back to normal.
It is definitely a worthwhile experience, and I'd recommend it to any low-hour pilot (or any pilot for that matter!) as it gives a new perspective. Thanks Manny for inviting me along.
