Whew! I saved a 172 today...

mcsteatlh · #1 02-29-2008, 11:00 AM

There I was, doing T-G's all morning long with my instructor scolding me about keeping the nose straight. Keep the nose straight! Stay on the Center line. Your drifting! Small Corrections! TOO MUCH! Light on the controls you lead foot! The approach was good, the speed was mostly good, and just then, 10 feet off the ground, I would drift, mostly to the left, and I would over correct and get all cattywhumpus just before touching down. GRRRRRR. After 10 or so of these, my instructor stopped the plane short and tried to get out ofthe **** thing

!!!!!! He obviously didn't like the look in my eyes, or the vice grip I plunked on his forearm when I told him "tomorrow. We will do it tommorrow."

Whew. Saved that 172 for another student today.

McSteath

rv9aviator · #2 02-29-2008, 11:08 AM

Pray for light winds.

That is the greatest feeling taking off for the first time with no one in there but yourself. It sure climbs better but floats further too. There is no way the instructor would get out of that plane unless he new you were ready. It might not have been pretty but I'll bet you would have done just fine. This is a special time in you flying adventure so try to enjoy every minute. Good luck tomorow!!

Jamie · #3 02-29-2008, 11:22 AM

One day you will "gel" with that 172 and you'll be making landings like an old pro. You showed great judgment by not soloing until you're ready. Keep at it and remember to wear an old shirt the next time.

allbee · #4 02-29-2008, 11:50 AM

Ah! those training days. I had times like that also. When it came time for my solo I put a stipulation out to my instructor. You see I wanted to make it something that I would always remember. What did I do? Well I wanted to solo at our class C airport during busy time. The instructor finally agreed and he made sure I was on my game. So we flew all sorts of landings for 1 hour before hand, than it was time, talk about butterflies. I went out to the runway and almost got lost, you see taxiway G is wider than the runway which is 150ft wide and 9000ft long, and it runs a long side the main runway. I actually asked for a progressive to help out, again butterflies, being this was my training airport, they just widened this taxi way. I made it to intersection D for take off and was asked to hold short for landing traffic. This is way cool because you are about 50ft from where a 737 will land with main wheels touch down, and I got a front row seat. I looked over to the approach end of the runway and saw 3 more passenger jets taxi to the approach end. I sat there waiting some more and looked to my left and saw another 737 coming in, cool, I think I'll just sit here a little longer. Soon as the 737 rolled by I was told to possision and hold. So out onto the runway I go, with the 737 still rolling out on the runway. Than I heard the tower tell another 737 to possision and hold, there will be a Cessna taking off at mid field. Now I was feeling weard, I felt like a sandwitch, a 737 in front and one in the back. As soon as the 737 in front turned off I was told to take off and make a left turn out as soon as possible and not go over 3100ft. OK, here we go. I pushed the throttle in, as soon as I left the ground I pull a left turn and went for the 3100 ft. As I was making my turn I heard the rumble of the 737 taking off behind me, soon I saw him making a left turn above and kind of to the right of me. I did my three touch and go's with a bunch of traffic, but was it fun. Will never forget it.

Back to your little problem, this is normal, I had many times that I was just scared, cautious. I still have that today, if I try something new I try to talk myself out of it. I guess try little things that lead up to it. Like yesterday, I always wanted to land on a frozen lake. I would get right down to doing it and chicken out. Well yesterday I finally did it and it was a breeze.

Yukon · #5 02-29-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcsteatlh

There I was, doing T-G's all morning long with my instructor scolding me about keeping the nose straight. Keep the nose straight! Stay on the Center line. Your drifting! Small Corrections! TOO MUCH! Light on the controls you lead foot! The approach was good, the speed was mostly good, and just then, 10 feet off the ground, I would drift, mostly to the left, and I would over correct and get all cattywhumpus just before touching down. GRRRRRR. After 10 or so of these, my instructor stopped the plane short and tried to get out ofthe **** thing

!!!!!! He obviously didn't like the look in my eyes, or the vice grip I plunked on his forearm when I told him "tomorrow. We will do it tommorrow."

Whew. Saved that 172 for another student today.

McSteath

Never heard of that before. My students were always **** glad to see me get out of the airplane. They always seemed to look forward to the peace and quiet of solo flight.

Enjoy your solo. Best day of your life.

Rivethead · #6 02-29-2008, 11:57 AM

Get yourself another instructor. If you truly feel scolded this guy is not creating the proper environment for you to learn in.

Yukon · #7 02-29-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivethead

Get yourself another instructor. If you truly feel scolded this guy is not creating the proper environment for you to learn in.

I disagree. Any instructor who doesn't critique your progress is just building time.

videobobk · #8 02-29-2008, 12:19 PM

You may wonder how long it will be before these doubts go away. Short answer--hopefully never. As long as you push your own envelop carefully, you will continue to learn, and more importantly, continue to live. Stay heavy on the caution. Today I looked at the winds--4o degree cross from the left (over trees) and gusting. Hadn't done that in a while. Too long. But I said it was time to brush up, and it worked really well. I feel better about turbulence on final and in flare as it was good practice. A few more knots wind, and I would have stayed home. BTW, set a new personal GS record over the airport, slowed to 21.5 mph. Yup, flying is something you will always learn from.

And yes, you need someone to pick your flying apart. Otherwise you'll think you are better than you really are, or at least develop bad habits. At 1000 hours, I still take a really critical instructor along from time to time to whip me into shape.

Bob Kelly

N941WR · #9 02-29-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcsteatlh

...Keep the nose straight! Stay on the Center line...

These two things are key to good landings and when, not if, you learn to fly a tail wheel, they will become even more important!

RV8iator · #10 02-29-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

These two things are key to good landings and when, not if, you learn to fly a tail wheel, they will become even more important!

Those two things should be taken as "givens" if you are going to call yourself a pilot. Folks who don't land on the centerline are usually just lazy and not making the airplane do what they want. It's not rare though.
When I was line checking at my old airline, I saw a lot of it. Never accept it and always try harder to do it right!