Convince me to stick with it . . .

OK, I had just about "2 steps backward" day yesterday flying.

We're just focussing on pattern and landing.
I'm fine on everything. then after the turn to final,
things start falling apart.
Holy crap!
In fact, I did so bad, I called it quits after 3 times
around. I was just completely flustered and embarassed.

I'm not 100% starting abeam the numbers, not getting the
plane setup right - but I generally make up for that.

I correct a bit on base and final for "high/low fast/slow",
but still have a few issues getting the right airspeed.

By short final, I'm not on the centerline, can't quite
get back on, and then blow the flare, and things go goofy.

OK - I've read the posts before. But now I'm just about
to the solo point, and am feeling that I'm not having any
fun now.
I am embarassed by my peformance.

- So, ar there some tactics I should consider?
- Take a couple weeks off and relax?
- Take some time to read and review some videos?
- Go fly somewhere else once or twice and see if a different
instructor can connect?
- Take clarinet lessons with Squidward?
- Get a vasectomy?

I'm really frustrated today and haven't even booked another flight
because I'm pretty underconfident at the moment.

OK-the boilerplates.
About 18 hours flying.
About 42-45 landings (although I figure the first 10 or so don't count
as they are just still in the "what the hell is an airplane" phase -
ha!)

Thanks and regards,

Gary

Sorry - I posted this to the wrong group.
Meant to post to .student

Gary G wrote:
Sorry - I posted this to the wrong group.
Meant to post to .student

No problem - go ahead.

I started flying powered aircraft at an age
of nearly 40, and it's not as easy to learn
as earlier. I flew gliders for some time
and started again after a pause of 20 years.

It took me 10 hours and 103 landings before
the first solo. The airspeed problems feel
familiar - IMHO, they belong to the learning
curve. My training airplane, a Piper Tomahawk,
is particularly difficult to trim properly
for an airspeed, as the trim mechanism is a
spring instead of an aerodynamic tab.

Just count the frustration as a necessary
evil, bite the bullet and go ahead. Training
makes the master.

The feeling of the first solo is unique, you'll
remember it the rest of your life.

--

Tauno Voipio (CPL-A, CFII)
tauno voipio (at) iki fi

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 21:32:06 GMT, Tauno Voipio
wrote:

It took me 10 hours and 103 landings before
the first solo.

Forty? We *dreamed* of being forty!

I took my first flight lesson at 66. Various problems intervened, but
48 hours dual and 115 landings got me to solo a year later.

It was all fun (well, mostly). Stick with it, Gary!


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

Gary G wrote:
Sorry - I posted this to the wrong group.
Meant to post to .student

gary
I am also a student pilot who soloed in September. Before that I also
was at the same point you are. I could not get lined up on final I
forgot to watch airspeed and as for the center line forget it I have
been to both sides and even completely off the edge of the runway ( my
cfii had to take over more than once) I also stopped a lesson after
three attempts when I just did not think I was learning anything .
Yes I also did some introspective thinking along the line will I
EVER get this. Yes it souds so simple line up keep the numbers (
airspeed) and flare at the right point to gently touch down.I would
miss an approach and then have my cfii take over and gently land saying
see nothing to it.
Well after bouncing down the runway..... landing HARD nothing like
running out of air speed when 3 or 4 feet up and just plain missing
everyhting I started to get it first one then two then all of a sudden
it just clicked ... I can not explain it but my cfii said all along
stick to it it will come to you. he was right. as a side note it took
me 35 hours to solo. so do not feel bad.
My advice is stick to it. learn from your mistakes and let bad
lessons go much better to be on the ground wishing you were flying
than be flying and wishing you were not. Do not be afraid to say I have
had enough today and know your limits.
Soon you will be past this learning step and look back on it like I
do and chuckle at why did it take so long.

Gary
As a check pilot in a 141 school, I do the pre-solo phase checks and
you are just about at the point of can or can't. I've found it takes on
average 45-55 landings to get the idea of how to do it safely? You are
not off the mark and going thru the usual frustrations. Stick with it
and suddenly it will make sense and you'll look back and laugh.

Gary G wrote:

snip

OK - I've read the posts before. But now I'm just about
to the solo point, and am feeling that I'm not having any
fun now.
I am embarassed by my peformance.

snip

I'm really frustrated today and haven't even booked another flight
because I'm pretty underconfident at the moment.

snip
Thanks and regards,

Gary

Hi Gary,

I've often found, for myself, that I suck worst JUST before the "click".
that indefinable moment when it starts to come together on a particular
maneuver or procedure.

Early on, once I was cleared for solo, I went up by myself and did nothing
but landings because I was unhappy with them. One after another.

first 11 were just awful. Rotten. Then, all of the sudden, the 12th was
pretty good. From there it was onwards and upwards.

Lots of people feel embarassed at one point or another. Feel like the
present problem presents an insuperable wall. But they get through it.

I won't presume to try and convince you of staying with it, but just recall
you aren't the first person to be in this situation. and lots of them got
though just fine.

Gregg

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:55:23 -0600, Gary G
wrote:

OK, I had just about "2 steps backward" day yesterday flying.

We're just focussing on pattern and landing.
I'm fine on everything. then after the turn to final,
things start falling apart.
Holy crap!
In fact, I did so bad, I called it quits after 3 times
around. I was just completely flustered and embarassed.

I'm not 100% starting abeam the numbers, not getting the
plane setup right - but I generally make up for that.

I correct a bit on base and final for "high/low fast/slow",
but still have a few issues getting the right airspeed.

By short final, I'm not on the centerline, can't quite
get back on, and then blow the flare, and things go goofy.

OK - I've read the posts before. But now I'm just about
to the solo point, and am feeling that I'm not having any
fun now.
I am embarassed by my peformance.

- So, ar there some tactics I should consider?
- Take a couple weeks off and relax?
- Take some time to read and review some videos?
- Go fly somewhere else once or twice and see if a different
instructor can connect?
- Take clarinet lessons with Squidward?
- Get a vasectomy?

I'm really frustrated today and haven't even booked another flight
because I'm pretty underconfident at the moment.

OK-the boilerplates.
About 18 hours flying.
About 42-45 landings (although I figure the first 10 or so don't count
as they are just still in the "what the hell is an airplane" phase -
ha!)

Thanks and regards,

Gary


Man, you need to relax a little and focus on throttle corrections and
slow corrections on control inputs.

Make one good pattern entry and remember to maintain the exact pattern
altitude each time.

Sheesh when you get to the right position on the runway cut the
throttle your bound to land.......lol

Are these all solo?


Regards
Daveb

None of them are solo. I'm hoping I might
actually learn how to fly first . . hee hee.

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:55:23 -0600, Gary G
wrote:

OK, I had just about "2 steps backward" day yesterday flying.

We're just focussing on pattern and landing.
I'm fine on everything. then after the turn to final,
things start falling apart.
Holy crap!
In fact, I did so bad, I called it quits after 3 times
around. I was just completely flustered and embarassed.

I'm not 100% starting abeam the numbers, not getting the
plane setup right - but I generally make up for that.

I correct a bit on base and final for "high/low fast/slow",
but still have a few issues getting the right airspeed.

By short final, I'm not on the centerline, can't quite
get back on, and then blow the flare, and things go goofy.

OK - I've read the posts before. But now I'm just about
to the solo point, and am feeling that I'm not having any
fun now.
I am embarassed by my peformance.

- So, ar there some tactics I should consider?
- Take a couple weeks off and relax?
- Take some time to read and review some videos?
- Go fly somewhere else once or twice and see if a different
instructor can connect?
- Take clarinet lessons with Squidward?
- Get a vasectomy?

I'm really frustrated today and haven't even booked another flight
because I'm pretty underconfident at the moment.

OK-the boilerplates.
About 18 hours flying.
About 42-45 landings (although I figure the first 10 or so don't count
as they are just still in the "what the hell is an airplane" phase -
ha!)

Thanks and regards,

Gary
I was checked out for solo at about 12 hours and with the exception
of wind it just seemed second nature, lucky I suppose.
This was in a pa-28-140
Daveb