Rusty Pilot Confessions

DonFromTX · #1 03-04-2017, 07:53 PM

I felt the need to share my recent experiences of trying to get back current after 24 years of not flying.
This came about since I had just received an AW for my RV 12 and needed to fly it of course. My gut feelings were telling me that you don't "forget" how to fly, so just crank her up and go be a test pilot! Another little voice inside said, hey look at all the old guys that built a plane then had bad experiences trying to fly it. I am lucky, there are several RV12 owners, CFI people, that have a LODA, letter of deviation authority, so they can instruct in their experimental. One was only 500 miles or so away (Jetguy) and I had received good reports from some friends who had used him, so I scheduled myself.
I am so glad I did that. Maybe you don't actually forget how to fly, but I can attest that you can sure get REALLY RUSTY! I could not believe how bad I had become, and had I decided to just go fly it, it would have ended badly for sure.. After 6 hours of dual in an RV12, I had to interrupt for weather and scheduling, and I am STILL not ready to fly this little simple plane by myself. With some more hours, hopefully I will get back my skills as a pilot. If you THINK you are ready, don't chance it, go get some dual and see if you really are.

gasman · #2 03-04-2017, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonFromTX

I felt the need to share my recent experiences of trying to get back current after 24 years of not flying.
This came about since I had just received an AW for my RV 12 and needed to fly it of course. My gut feelings were telling me that you don't "forget" how to fly, so just crank her up and go be a test pilot! Another little voice inside said, hey look at all the old guys that built a plane then had bad experiences trying to fly it. I am lucky, there are several RV12 owners, CFI people, that have a LODA, letter of deviation authority, so they can instruct in their experimental. One was only 500 miles or so away (Jetguy) and I had received good reports from some friends who had used him, so I scheduled myself.
I am so glad I did that. Maybe you don't actually forget how to fly, but I can attest that you can sure get REALLY RUSTY! I could not believe how bad I had become, and had I decided to just go fly it, it would have ended badly for sure.. After 6 hours of dual in an RV12, I had to interrupt for weather and scheduling, and I am STILL not ready to fly this little simple plane by myself. With some more hours, hopefully I will get back my skills as a pilot. If you THINK you are ready, don't chance it, go get some dual and see if you really are.

Sounds like you needed a flight review anyway to make you legal.

wirejock · #3 03-04-2017, 08:25 PM

You have a lot of credentials in your signature but one needs to be added.
All around smart guy.
You made a wise decision. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service.
BTW, I was born and raised in Brownsville. Spent many days in La Feria.

DonFromTX · #4 03-04-2017, 08:42 PM

Of course I did need it, but those are often given by pencil, and remember, you cannot flunk or pass one no matter how bad you are. I should have warned against doing an "easy" one also, just to make yourself feel good since you are "legal". Another thing, my insurance company only required one hour of dual, boy THAT would have been a mistake!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

Sounds like you needed a flight review anyway to make you legal.

BobTurner · #5 03-04-2017, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonFromTX

Of course I did need it, but those are often given by pencil, and remember, you cannot flunk or pass one no matter how bad you are. I should have warned against doing an "easy" one also, just to make yourself feel good since you are "legal". Another thing, my insurance company only required one hour of dual, boy THAT would have been a mistake!

Given by pencil? I hope not. You are correct that there is no "fail" sign off. But the cfi should not sign off a "pass" unless or until he is satisfied that you meet minimum standards. Don't forget a minimum of one hour ground review, too.

Mel · #6 03-04-2017, 09:23 PM

When flight reviews first came on the scene, I think that some CFIs might have "pencil-whipped" a few for friends that they regularly flew with.

But I think in today's world of class "B" airspace, transponders, etc. a CFI would have to be almost an idiot to do a "Parker P51" sign off on anything.

And if you don't recognize the "Parker P51" sign off, you are quite young!

mbauer · #7 03-05-2017, 12:54 AM

Agree totally with the extra time. Bought a flying RV-6, that is located in California, getting some tail dragger dual, before trying to fly it back to home here in Alaska.

So far after a 20-year layoff, straight and level was a challenge, for some reason 3-pointers were easy, not so much the wheel landings. Still looking to get some cross-wind TO/Lnd next.

Rusty in many areas, skill is very rusty, thought process is rusty as well as keeping up with the airplane. Knowledge part is going to take more than an hour of ground. Creating a list of questions to sit down with the CFI and go over, plus what ever he has planned.

RV6_flyer · #8 03-05-2017, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel

When flight reviews first came on the scene, I think that some CFIs might have "pencil-whipped" a few for friends that they regularly flew with.

But I think in today's world of class "B" airspace, transponders, etc. a CFI would have to be almost an idiot to do a "Parker P51" sign off on anything.

And if you don't recognize the "Parker P51" sign off, you are quite young!

The Young Guys can read all about it.

DonFromTX · #9 03-05-2017, 07:45 AM

You said it correctly! I guess I was too embarrassed to admit that even straight and level was a challenge! Landings are my greatest challenge, and that used to be my favorite part of flying! Yeah we are talking about landings in an RV12 being a challenge!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbauer

Agree totally with the extra time. Bought a flying RV-6, that is located in California, getting some tail dragger dual, before trying to fly it back to home here in Alaska.

So far after a 20-year layoff, straight and level was a challenge, for some reason 3-pointers were easy, not so much the wheel landings. Still looking to get some cross-wind TO/Lnd next.

Rusty in many areas, skill is very rusty, thought process is rusty as well as keeping up with the airplane. Knowledge part is going to take more than an hour of ground. Creating a list of questions to sit down with the CFI and go over, plus what ever he has planned.

goatflieg · #10 03-05-2017, 08:03 AM

After more than a decade of inactivity, I was surprised at how rusty my mind was, even after doing the King recurrency training syllabus. Flying the airplane wasn't too bad... but everything else seemed so foreign. Getting recurrent in a new state (MI instead of CA) and learning Foreflight and modern radio navigation made me feel like I was starting from scratch... or maybe that I should start from scratch. Got my medical and BFR no problem... but I hardly feel like a current pilot at this point. Now that I'm building, that will take most of the time and money... but I will at least seek out some tailwheel recurrency this year. Never want to get that rusty again.