Landing Streaks

Flying a taildragger you use your peripheral vision to determine height
above the runway. Over the nose is used to gauge pitch attitude.

Stealth Pilot wrote:
I landed in the twilight the other day. landing into the sun I couldnt
see the runway or gauge the height I was above the surface. I had no
idea whether I was 1 foot or 15 feet above the runway so I poled
forward gently in the hopes that I'd hit a shadow change and be able
to see something. The wheels touched and I thought bounced me back in
the air so I just eased the stick back and back until eventually the
tailwheel made contact. still couldnt gauge my height so I just waited
with the stick full back until the mains touched again.

I follow the camp that says tension is the culprit. I just recently
did a renter's check ride in a 172 at Camarillo, CA (CMA). The check pilot
(a CFI) had me do 3 T&Gs, in addition to the other stuff. They were okay,
but just okay. My personal gauge said they were not very good landings.
Later on in the day, I absolutely greased four in a row.... with the right
seat empty. I really think it had to do with trying too hard. Forcing the
skill, so to speak.

Casey Wilson wrote:
I follow the camp that says tension is the culprit. I just recently
did a renter's check ride in a 172 at Camarillo, CA (CMA). The check pilot
(a CFI) had me do 3 T&Gs, in addition to the other stuff. They were okay,
but just okay. My personal gauge said they were not very good landings.
Later on in the day, I absolutely greased four in a row.... with the right
seat empty. I really think it had to do with trying too hard. Forcing the
skill, so to speak.

When training for the PP I usually always greased them when I was solo, no
so much when with an instructor. Even now, (with a commercial and multi-engine
rating) I still think my landings are alot better by myself Vs when I'm with
a safety pilot (or instructor) when I'm practicing instrument approaches.

I think its just a normal psyche-karma-thingy that causes my nerves to
operate at an elevated state when I feel like I'm being observed or "graded".
:^O Its just human nature.