On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 14:11:09 -0400, Todd Pattist
wrote:

I'd be interested in a few specific examples of what you
encountered and how you think it should have been done. For

Examples:
* First flight. Told moments before tow started that I'd be operating
the rudder. No instruction as to what the foot pedals did, or which
one to push to turn the desired direction.

* Early flight: I'm feeling the controls as the instructor did the
turns to base and final. He then tells me to land it. Land it where?
What's my aim point? Hold off as long as possible or fly it into the
ground? Once I'm on the ground do I use aileron or rudder to keep it
pointed in the direction I want it to go, or do I use both? Not a
word. ( I didn't get the answers to any of those until I asked
specific questions. )

* Recent flight: As with most flights at this gliderport, the wind was
cross. Started with too much rudder and roll into the wind.
Attempted to correct for it and quickly got into PIO from which I had
to be rescued. Asked question afterwards and was told at slow speed,
control movements must be large and quick and immediately canceled.
Used that on my susbequent 3 flights and found it took care of my
problems with control that happend the first second or two after the
front skid lifts off the runway.

* Approaches on all flights: How do I judge if I'm too high or too
low? If I'm a little high do I slip or use spoilers or both? If I'm
way high do I slip or use spoilers or both?

There's more but that's a start.

Of course, I've received instruction before attempting most manuevers.
For example, the back seat guy describes how to do a turning stall,
does one with me shadowing on the controls and then I get to do it.
No problemo. Seems like that is the method for the easy stuff. It's
the harder stuff, e.g. all my ranting about landing above, where
instruction is lacking. Shoot, I don't know how many gray hairs I
generated while flopping around on tow before I was told not to fly
coordinated on tow. Wouldn't it have been a whole lot easier to tell
me that up front? I don't get it.