Roost Air Lounge => General Discussion => Topic started by: spacer on November 02, 2007, 06:51:29 PM
Title: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: spacer on November 02, 2007, 06:51:29 PM
...just can't wait to get in the air again... ...the life I love is coordinating steep turns with my friends, ...and I can't wait to get in the air again.
This morning I ended a two year long flight-fast, and took 39NP up with my new instructor. She was happy with my ability to keep the runway heading on climbout, with a slight crosswind and a few mild gusts, I could have controlled my speed better, but she told me I was well within the ballpark, and she's seen rated pilots do worse. My standard and 30 degree turns were good, with the altimeter glued to within 20 feet through the turn. I was able to roll out right on course, except for one time she had me distracted (I think she did that on purpose). There was some trouble with her mic, and I couldn't understand much of what she was saying, also, I had to repeat some of what the tower told us, so she's going to send her headset off to the shop. I brought the plane in just as directed, and got the airplane down to a good short final before she took over. The crosswind wasn't bad, but there were some gusts, so she figured she'd bring it in this time, though she assured me that she knew I would have been able to manage the landing. Ego stroking? Perhaps.
Twice a week, hopefully by Spring I'll be legal.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Franz on November 02, 2007, 07:56:08 PM
Sounds like you are having a great time and hardly unlearned anything.
Actually I had to read your post a couple of times. At first I thought "she" was referring to the plane not the flight instructor ::silly:: (in German there are different forms for male / female)
I think we need an envious smiley here. Winter is beginning over here and there will be hardly any flying for me the next few months . . . .
...just can't wait to get in the air again... ...the life I love is coordinating steep turns with my friends, ...and I can't wait to get in the air again.
Is this form a song / poem ? If so, who wrote it ?
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Thunder Eagle on November 02, 2007, 11:39:37 PM
...just can't wait to get in the air again... ...the life I love is coordinating steep turns with my friends, ...and I can't wait to get in the air again.
Is this form a song / poem ? If so, who wrote it ?
It's a clever adaptation of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again". See http://youtube.com/watch?v=dKXfESGy0qo He usually plays this song in concerts somewhere between "Whiskey River" and "Whiskey River" ;)
I can't wait to get in the air again either... it's been 6 weeks and I should only have a few more hours until my checkride.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: spacer on November 03, 2007, 01:22:32 AM
Bingo, Eagle...
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Frank N. O. on November 03, 2007, 03:50:03 AM
Congratulations, that is really wonderful news. And yes I thought the she was the plane too but I started to wonder after you said she spoke to you and her headset wasn't working :D
I can't wait to get back in the air again, and it's been years for me. My signature quote really is true.
Frank
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Fabo on November 03, 2007, 02:42:17 PM
Yep Frank, could not be more truthful.
It actually replaced my old motto I had on room door: Order is for stupid, Intelligent handles chaos ::angel::
As for flying, I do as well feel like that. List time I was in the air was when I flew back home from Bulgaria. I still wish the friend that took me flying in L-200 (my first fire picture in Eye of camera thread if you can remember) would take me to air once more this year. If I could at least do my drivers license to keep me busy, but that comes next year only (18yr legal minimum for license in Slovakia).
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: spacer on November 03, 2007, 05:46:31 PM
Yes, the instructor is a female, and a rather attractive one at that. Fortunately I love my wife and have no trouble with this. Heck, I'm not distracted at all... really!
One thing she did, before the flight, was ask me where I wanted to go with it. Well, I'm not a big fan of the Rat Race, and don't really care to go through a lot of what my fellow students are putting themselves through in the headlong pursuit of ratings in order to hopefully get a job with an airline (though it appears to be getting easier. Many of our flight instructors have been snatched up by airlines, some with only a few hundred hours). Naw, I've had plenty of time on the road, and my wife is a professional (in HR, for you dirty minded scumsuckers... you know who you are ;D ) so I'm not under enormous pressure to take that path. Rather, I'm looking at getting my PPSEL, IR, multi, and light-sport instructor ratings, with endorsements for taildraggers and seaplanes, and maybe open a flight training service for light sport pilots. I'd have to check, but I may then be able to offer the taildragger and seaplane ratings to private pilots. If not, I know an independent instructor nearby who can do those for me.
Whatever I do, I want it to be fun. I've had enough 'not fun' work in my life.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: G-man on November 03, 2007, 11:10:34 PM
for you dirty minded scumsuckers... you know who you are ;D
That would be us firefighting pilots.. ::whistle:: ::thinking:: ::whistle::Good to hear you are back in the air..remember..
"Time spent in the air is NOT subtracted from ones lifespan."
Good, cuz I wanna live forever!
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: spacer on November 07, 2007, 10:43:30 PM
Well, we went flying today, and Zoe got to go. She was strapped in to the back seat of the 172... snoozing the whole flight. It was pretty bumpy today, though not a lot of wind, so getting the bird trimmed was a bit of a challenge for a newb like myself. My instructor told me I did fine, and I kept the plane well within the VFR deviation standards the whole time... Ok...
There is one thing... she had her hand on the yoke the whole time, and while she told me that she was not going to take control unless she had to, and that she'd tell me in no uncertain terms (the ol' handoff procedure), it didn't really instill confidence, and every time a bit of turbulence gave me feedback, I looked over at her to make sure she wasn't trying to take over. I know it must seem like a small thing, but I've flown with a couple of guys who crossed their arms and sat back... and I flew much better with their show of confidence. Also, they let me land the airplane from the start, and this instructor seems to be afraid to let me... and this is actually affecting my confidence in that area, as well.
Am I being silly? We get along just fine... but seeing her hand on the yoke through the whole flight just unnerves me.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: airtac on November 08, 2007, 09:35:45 AM
Time to change instructors friend---If she feels she isn't competent enough to salvage the airplane from a relaxed position---well, she's not, and you'll do both of you a favor by finding someone who does :-[
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Turbomallard on November 08, 2007, 02:09:55 PM
I concur with Airtac... fire her. You can't teach that way. What I've learned (and I'm by no means an expert... instructing is a part time fun job (and about half the time I do it for free anyway)) for me, but... half or more of the job is psychological-- making the student believe they can learn to fly. The instructor knows they can (90% of the time or more... there are a few people who don't have what it takes) learn, even when the student thinks they cannot, and the instructor must make the student understand that yes, they can do this.
I NEVER have my hand on the controls unless I'm flying the airplane. When we're learning how to land (such that the airplane can be used again afterwards, that is) I have my right hand resting on my leg, fingers ready, two inches from the yoke... I can grab it in an instant and won't hesitate to do so if need be. When the ground is that close and a quick intervention is needed, you gotta be ready to do that. At altitude, there is no reason to do that. If the student messes up a steep turn or stall, there should be more than enough time to reach up.
Speaking for myself... you have a bad instructor there. If that's how she feels about things, she has no business being in the right seat teaching. And I would guess most or all instructors and examiners would concur.
You're the customer, and you deserve better.
Comments....?
TM
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Fabo on November 08, 2007, 03:57:42 PM
Agree on off-the-yoke part. Many instructors agree on this, and just for example, Yershov, Russian long-year aviatior and one of the best, if not the very best, Tu-154 instructor, clearly states this in his book (Zapiski yezdovogo psa - a very good book on aviation, it is being translated to English right now I believe), and yes, he talks about confidence and self-cofidence part here.
Maybe you don't need to fire her right away, especially if you are getting well. Tell you what you feel about it - maybe she just do not know. If she disagrees, then comes the point of firing her.
edit: transcription from cyrillics
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: spacer on November 08, 2007, 06:26:25 PM
Agree on off-the-yoke part. Many instructors agree on this, and just for example, Yershov, Russian long-year aviatior and one of the best, if not the very best, Tu-154 instructor, clearly states this in his book (Zapiski yezdovogo psa - a very good book on aviation, it is being translated to English right now I believe), and yes, he talks about confidence and self-cofidence part here.
Maybe you don't need to fire her right away, especially if you are getting well. Tell you what you feel about it - maybe she just do not know. If she disagrees, then comes the point of firing her.
edit: transcription from cyrillics
That's kinda where I am right now. I discussed it with Mrs V, and HR is her field of expertise. I'm going to talk about it with her in the morning, and if she doesn't agree to let go of the yoke, I won't have a choice but to find another instructor. I'm not made of money, after all, and I have to wonder how many 'missed starts' occur merely because of this sort of thing.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: TheSoccerMom on November 10, 2007, 04:22:53 AM
Oh, Velo, Your instincts are TRUE and GOOD. There is no reason she should have had her hand on the yoke... nope, nyet, non, nada.
I would have been VERY unhappy in your situation. You are right ON to question this aspect of her instructor's approach. :(
She may be new -- and, may have just had a WILD ride with a total nutcake, where she was SURE she was going to not make it to happy hour at the airport bar.... BUT.... YOU are the paying customer, and NO, the instructor should NOT have his/her mitt on the yoke all the while. Trust me, after a few adventures (such as the middle eastern man who pulled out a prayer card before the run-up, the doctor who snapped "Gimme a complex check-out -- I got 45 minutes!" ET AL....), I came to see instructing as "Wow... I get to go up in an airplane with a total stranger who is trying to KILL me"... BUT -- the job is the JOB..... there's no reason for the constant paw-paw attachment.
ALWAYS go with your "little voice". In flying, it's known to never lie to one. ::bow:: You are wise to see this already. ::bow::
8)
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Turbomallard on November 10, 2007, 04:37:45 AM
ALWAYS go with your "little voice". In flying, it's known to never lie to one. ::bow:: You are wise to see this already. ::bow::
Very true! The little voice in my head told me there was no Easter Bunny... and I consider that a reliable piece of information since the voice was Santa Claus.
TM
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Frank N. O. on November 10, 2007, 06:01:08 AM
I remember my driving instructor one time had his foot on the extra clutch pedal as I was about to start driving, I respectfully said that it was a little distracting for my feel with the car and he apologies and said it was a habbit when driving with girls/young women since he'd had experience with them letting go of the pedals if they saw a cute boy on the sidewalk. I really hope they get rid of that habbit when they're driving and the car is in gear, and for the record, the minimim driving age in Denmark is 18, and you have to learn by a licensed instructor, no homeschooling on a sidestreet with your parents.
I do seem to have heard that you can get a glider-license when you're maybe 16 in Denmark though?
Frank
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Fabo on November 10, 2007, 10:20:11 AM
Quite much like that in Slovakia as well.... I think legal limits is GPL at 15, PPL at 17 and Drivers at 18. Still not sure how would I react if my instructor were about to ride the pedals for me. So long I have only had one of my parents in our family Daewoo next to me, and there is no pedals in that :)
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: spacer on November 10, 2007, 02:47:00 PM
Flew yesterday morning with her. On takeoff and climbout she had her hand on the yoke. I looked at her and asked if she wanted the airplane, she said "No, you're doing fine." I replied that I can't consider myself as having done fine if my instructor feels compelled to hold the controls, and that it made me very nervous. She said "OK" and let go of the controls.
After that, it was a very enjoyable flight. We did ground reference maneuvers, and after the first couple attempts, I was able to do well on the S turns over a road, a rectangular pattern, and turning circles around a point, without losing so much as 10 feet in the process. We had to land at an alternate airport as Little Rock had a freak temporary IFR condition, then we took off and returned with an IFR flight plan (had to land to get an approach plate), which we turned into a special VFR as we got closer. So, I logged .1 hrs "actual" in my 2.1 hr flight. Even with the reduced visibility and no good horizon for all the haze, I was far more comfortable flying yesterday than during the previous flight, and was able to keep my mind on the task at hand.
Thanks for the advice, folks. She's only been an instructor for 3 months, and I think there's hope.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: airtac on November 10, 2007, 07:12:01 PM
ALWAYS go with your "little voice". In flying, it's known to never lie to one. ::bow:: You are wise to see this already. ::bow::
8)
|:)\Soccermom ::bow:: That's so true, I wish I'd said it ::bow::
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: PiperGirl on November 10, 2007, 08:48:48 PM
Glad she let go for you. Sounds like she maybe just needed the heads up of how her actions inspire/confuse the student. Hope it goes well from here on out for you.
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: FlyboyGil on February 23, 2008, 09:30:18 PM
I thought I'd update this post to my case. After a year and a half absence, today I finally once again climbed into the cockpit of a Cessna Dollar Seventy-two, and rotated dat propeller. The flight was if I never really left the cockpit. I was with an instructor for this time. I have to go once more again with an instructor to do a simulated engine failure and few other things. I could've done them today, but although my skills weren't very rusty, my stomach was starting to speak to me. Rather than risk being "Digestively Challenged" in the plane without a plastic bag, I though best to come back down for today, and finish the rest of the lesson later. My skills are good, just need to get the ol' stomach used to it again. I'll go with the strippers, but until my stomach is settled, I'll forgo the beer for today. My face is still beaming!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D FLYING ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy::
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: gibbo_335 on February 24, 2008, 01:48:47 AM
I thought I'd update this post to my case. After a year and a half absence, today I finally once again climbed into the cockpit of a Cessna Dollar Seventy-two, and rotated dat propeller. The flight was if I never really left the cockpit. I was with an instructor for this time. I have to go once more again with an instructor to do a simulated engine failure and few other things. I could've done them today, but although my skills weren't very rusty, my stomach was starting to speak to me. Rather than risk being "Digestively Challenged" in the plane without a plastic bag, I though best to come back down for today, and finish the rest of the lesson later. My skills are good, just need to get the ol' stomach used to it again. I'll go with the strippers, but until my stomach is settled, I'll forgo the beer for today. My face is still beaming!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D FLYING ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy::
WAY TOO GO GILLY!!!!!! |:)\ ::wave:: Way glad to hear you are back there Rotatin' Dat Prop!!!! ::drinking:: and <insert G-mans stripper smilie here> ;D all 'round mate...Congrats again!!!
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on February 24, 2008, 07:05:23 AM
I thought I'd update this post to my case. After a year and a half absence, today I finally once again climbed into the cockpit of a Cessna Dollar Seventy-two, and rotated dat propeller. The flight was if I never really left the cockpit. I was with an instructor for this time. I have to go once more again with an instructor to do a simulated engine failure and few other things. I could've done them today, but although my skills weren't very rusty, my stomach was starting to speak to me. Rather than risk being "Digestively Challenged" in the plane without a plastic bag, I though best to come back down for today, and finish the rest of the lesson later. My skills are good, just need to get the ol' stomach used to it again. I'll go with the strippers, but until my stomach is settled, I'll forgo the beer for today. My face is still beaming!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D FLYING ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy::
RIGHT ON, GILLY!!!!! YOU ROCK, DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy:: ::cowboy::
We'll forgo the usual beer and strippers on account of your "delicate" stomach condition. ;) Next time, try to eat some starchy foods before you slip the surly bonds of earth. Something that'll line your stomach and stick to your ribs. Biscuit and Gravy is a good pre-flight meal, so is Oatmeal or Grits. Try to avoid greasy food. You want something that will absorb the extra stomach acid your stomach produces when under stress, otherwise it starts attacking the lining of your stomach and you get queasy. ::sick::
I actually learned this lesson some years before I started flying while I was serving in the US Navy. Uncle Sam's Gray Ship Cruise Line has had plenty of experience with seasick landlubbers who needed to acquire their "sea legs" quick. I applied that advice to my aviation career and it has never let me down. I have also given that advice to students who had trouble with airsickness and it helped each and every one of them.
Now all we gotta do is convince you to keep at it long enought to get yer PPL. Hehe ;D
Again, Congrats and ^555555555555's Gilly!!! <Insert Rock and Roll Guitar Smiley here>
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Oddball on February 24, 2008, 12:08:43 PM
thought i would be able to get behind the sticks of one of my model planes this morning first time in months.......but forgot to put in a crystal into the reciver ::complaining: ::eek:: ::loony:: only found that out when i was putting the reciver in at the field after taking it from the spare cabbnet (DOH!!) could that be a chuck moment?
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: FlyboyGil on February 24, 2008, 03:37:35 PM
Thanks for the kudos guys. I have my private license already, but it was layoff that made me quit flying for a while :-[ But now I'm getting my recurrency, and then once again be able to fly anywhere! Just one more flight left!! Course now I'm starting to think again. Should I go commercial? That one always eats away at me. I spent $6000 to get my truck license, to get a job which pays $40000 a year to start. Or I could spend an additional $40000 to get a job which pays about $16000 a year to start. How is that fair? ::silly:: ::silly:: ::silly:: ::silly::
In the mean time, my stomach has settled, so BEER AND STRIPPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on February 25, 2008, 05:13:37 PM
Whoops! 'Scuse me, Gilly. I didn't know you already had a PPL. Never ask about fairness when it comes to flying jobs though. You either want to do it bad enough to spend the money and pay yer dues, or you don't. If you start doing cost/benefit analysis, you'll quickly find you will do better as an Accountant or Finance manager.
Flying is not a logical career goal, and its not about Dollars and Cents... its about Love, Life, and Passion. |:)\ |:)\ |:)\
Now, lets go back to the Beer and Strippers!!! WHOOP!!! WHOOP!!! Hehe. ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking::
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Oddball on February 25, 2008, 06:29:51 PM
i agree show me the way to the beer and strippers ::drinking:: ::cowboy::
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: Frank N. O. on February 27, 2008, 06:25:18 AM
Sorry for the late reply, still got some catching up. Congrats for escaping the grounded-list that me and mom are still on sadly :D
Frank
Title: Re: Finally... In the air again!
Post by: FlyboyGil on March 15, 2008, 06:36:34 PM
Did my final flight today. Practiced some forced approaches today. Pulled them off no problem. Setting up for the circuit, she pulled the power unexpectedly. That was not nice >:( >:( >:( But I was able to pull that off. Engine failures can happen anywhere, good to have practice! We did a couple circuits afterwards, and then I pulled one solo circuit. WOOHOO!!! I am now current again!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D And this time I had no problems with my stomach!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D BEER AND STRIPPERS!!! And pizza. A tradition after each flight is to go out and get some slices of pizza! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
