Discovery Flight today...unexpected results

"DGS" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:54:56 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

Hi all. I'm a 39 year old guy who has loved flying and dreamt of
being a pilot for a long time.

That says it all. Don't let a single bad experience ruin your dream.

It sounds like you went up on a bumpy, turbulent day, which can rattle
anyone. That feeling of being tossed around like a kite is still
uncomfortable, even after many years of flying.

Now that you've seen some bumps, you'll know what to expect on your next
flight. Explain this to your CFI, and try to make your next flight on a
calmer day -- you'll be amazed at the difference.

It was definitely a windy day...18 mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph.
Directly after rotation a major gust hit us and threw the plane at
least 10 yards to the right. That right there caused a major skip of
the heart and lump in the throat. I corrected the plane but just
feeling the wind shove that plane around the way it did definitely
freaked me out. I had no idea that you could FEEL it so much when
your hands are on the wheel...it was like driving a car through a snow
drift.

Unless the wind was nearly straight down the runway, that much wind could
very easily exceed the demonstrated crosswind component for landing--and
there are some considerations for taxiing as well. What type of aircraft
was used?

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:09:56 -0500, "Peter Dohm"
wrote:

"DGS" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:54:56 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

Hi all. I'm a 39 year old guy who has loved flying and dreamt of
being a pilot for a long time.

That says it all. Don't let a single bad experience ruin your dream.

It sounds like you went up on a bumpy, turbulent day, which can rattle
anyone. That feeling of being tossed around like a kite is still
uncomfortable, even after many years of flying.

Now that you've seen some bumps, you'll know what to expect on your next
flight. Explain this to your CFI, and try to make your next flight on a
calmer day -- you'll be amazed at the difference.

It was definitely a windy day...18 mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph.
Directly after rotation a major gust hit us and threw the plane at
least 10 yards to the right. That right there caused a major skip of
the heart and lump in the throat. I corrected the plane but just
feeling the wind shove that plane around the way it did definitely
freaked me out. I had no idea that you could FEEL it so much when
your hands are on the wheel...it was like driving a car through a snow
drift.

Unless the wind was nearly straight down the runway, that much wind could
very easily exceed the demonstrated crosswind component for landing--and
there are some considerations for taxiing as well. What type of aircraft
was used?

Piper Warrior II

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:09:56 -0500, "Peter Dohm"
wrote:

Unless the wind was nearly straight down the runway, that much wind could
very easily exceed the demonstrated crosswind component for landing--and
there are some considerations for taxiing as well. What type of aircraft
was used?

Also...wind was at 18 from 309, but we WERE taking off from runway 31.
Pretty good gust of wind I'd say around 50-100 AGL after takeoff from
left to right that had me pretty scared.

Also...wind was at 18 from 309, but we WERE taking off from runway 31.
Pretty good gust of wind I'd say around 50-100 AGL after takeoff from
left to right that had me pretty scared.

Okay, gusts to FORTY, did you say?

My opinion just changed 180 degrees. You weren't needlessly scared -- you
were properly scared. I've flown in winds like you describe many times, and
it is extremely uncomfortable.

Any CFI that takes a newbie up for a "Discovery Flight" in conditions like
you describe is what we call a "time-builder" -- a whore that is out to pad
his logbook, with no regard for you or your future.

Find another CFI -- pronto -- and go up again on a calm(er) day. You'll be
absolutely astounded at the difference.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

By all means, pursue flying lessons, only not with that particular
instructor. Look around -- you'll find communicators and non-
communicators. Go for the former.

If you are not confident in the instructor, you'll never have
confidence in flying. Shop around.

Goo luck & good flying.

AJ

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:09:15 -0600, DGS wrote:

He then told me that I would basically
be piloting the plane through take off, the cruise through the
practice area, and landing. At that point I essentially broke out
into a cold sweat.

From what you wrote, I'd say that the instructor accidentally triggered an
anxiety attack in you. I'd give him credit for recognizing it, but it
sounds like he didn't respond with an effective way to deal with it.

As others have said, try it again with another instructor, if you can. And
discuss with him what happened on that first flight while you're still on
the ground.


--
Dallas

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:55:30 -0600, Dallas
wrote:

From what you wrote, I'd say that the instructor accidentally triggered an
anxiety attack in you. I'd give him credit for recognizing it, but it
sounds like he didn't respond with an effective way to deal with it.

As others have said, try it again with another instructor, if you can. And
discuss with him what happened on that first flight while you're still on
the ground.

First of all. THANK YOU to everyone for taking the time to respond.
Needless to say it made me feel a lot better to hear that others at
least had similar experiences and that I wasn't just going nuts.

After many of the replies in here, I've decided to at least give it
another go, however I'm still undecided as to whether or not I will
stick with the same instructor. To be honest, I was scared enough to
where today I don't really even remember much about the whole thing,
so maybe I'm being too hard on the role the instructor played in the
event.

I am actually fearful that I had an anxiety attack...actually. I'm a
musician (used to be a professional one) and I can play in front of
2,000+ people and never feel nervous, however I've never experienced
the sort of white knuckle fear I felt yesterday. It was really scary
and also really unexpected. However, from talking to my family
(especially my dad who, even as a tough guy had to admit he'd been
pooping his pants as well) and listening to others in this group I've
got to at least give it another try. If I get that wigged out again,
I may reconsider. Somehow I have a feeling that knowing more what to
expect may make it a more pleasurable experience.

The REAL doubt that the experience gave me though, is making me wonder
how I will react when I have that first issue...the first failure, the
first cross wind landing, even the first time I'm lost and can't
figure out how to taxi to the correct runway. I do know that I have
to stay cool...so that's where yesterday's experience has turned me
into a doubter. Before yesterday, I figured this was a done deal.

I have an even greater respect for pilots now.

-----------------much snipped-------------
The REAL doubt that the experience gave me though, is making me wonder
how I will react when I have that first issue...the first failure, the
first cross wind landing, even the first time I'm lost and can't
figure out how to taxi to the correct runway.
-----------------some snipped-------------

If you have the same problem that I do, and sometimes have a little
difficulty recalling seldom used words, you might consider a brief page of
crib notes at the back of your check list--at a towered airport, where you
are confused about the taxi route, the nomenclature (IIRC) is "sequenced
instructions" and an airport diagram is a nearly indispensable asset as
well.

Peter

"Peter Dohm" wrote in message


If you have the same problem that I do, and sometimes have a little
difficulty recalling seldom used words, you might consider a brief
page of crib notes at the back of your check list--at a towered
airport, where you are confused about the taxi route, the
nomenclature (IIRC) is "sequenced instructions" and an airport
diagram is a nearly indispensable asset as well.

"Progressive taxi" has worked well for me.

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/TknoFlyer
http://sage1solutions.com/products
NEW! FlyteBalance v2.0 (W&B); FlyteLog v2.0 (Logbook)
____________________

"John T" wrote in message
m...
"Peter Dohm" wrote in message


If you have the same problem that I do, and sometimes have a little
difficulty recalling seldom used words, you might consider a brief
page of crib notes at the back of your check list--at a towered
airport, where you are confused about the taxi route, the
nomenclature (IIRC) is "sequenced instructions" and an airport
diagram is a nearly indispensable asset as well.

"Progressive taxi" has worked well for me.

Oops, I did not recall correctly, and need to take my own advice about those
crib notes.

Peter