Glint

I am well on my way learning to fly now with 4 solos under my belt and now getting the feel of flying as opposed to just going through the steps. I am also teaching my son to drive at the moment and believe it or not being the "instructor" has helped me a lot to being the 'student' of flying. I can now see some of the frustrations an instructor must feel when they are trying to teach something that has become 'so easy'. I have been driving for 30 years and it is really hard to relate to how something so second nature to me can be a struggle for someone else. So when I sit in the plane as the student it becomes very clear that the one thing you cannot teach is experience and getting the 'feel' for flying or driving. It just takes time behind the wheel (car or plane). I changed instructors recently and my flying improved immediately. It is so important to feel compatible with your instructor and if you are not enjoying learning to fly then think about trying a different instructor. Once I changed I went from feeling unsure about continuing to learn to not being able to wait for my next lesson! Cheers Glint

Thanks for all the good advice and positive approach to my 'learning experience'. To answer your question re 'why did I fully raise the flaps?' This is how I have been instructed on the C172 and on my second solo the last thing I would do is start changing things. I got into enough strife doing the correct sequence but rushing it a bit!! Cheers Glint.

Two weeks ago I did my first solo and and some of you probably read my post. I was so pleased with myself and really felt I was the man! Last Sunday I flew again for the first time since doing my solo so I was really excited about getting back up there. I did a few circuits with my instructor and he said it was time I did my next solo. The plan was to do one touch & go and then a full stop. I was nervous but keen to do my next solo. So off I go, nice take off, good cross wind leg, got to circuit height as I turned downwind, got my call in, did my checks, nice base leg, good final but I ballooned a little before finally touching down a little heavily than I would have liked and because of the balloon I was a bit further down the runway than expected. Flaps up, full throttle but to my suprise a major veer to the left, right rudder to compensate but clearly overcompensated now major veer to the right, heart in mouth now left rudder but again to much so I have pulled the throttle to kill the power applied max braking and finally managed to stop the C172. Scared the bejesus out of me and I could not believe how fast it can all go pear shape. Reason for the initial major veer left was that I applied full throttle to quickly. Why did I do that? I think because I landed a bit further down the runway than expected so I hit the gas quickly instead of slowly increasing the power. My reaction to rectify this and lack of experience resulted in the major veer right and then left again before I made the decision to quickly pull the power and get this thing to a stop. No damage apart from the severe hit to my ego and self confidence. I am pretty embarrassed by the event, but if it helps someone else from applying the power to quickly on a touch & go then at least something good will come of it. I am also pleased that I was able to rectify a very ugly situation safely, but it is one lesson that I would have preffered perhaps on my 25th solo instead of my second solo. It also highlighted that just because I have done a solo, I still have much to learn. Being over confident can give you a false sense of seccuity and eventually this is going to lead to a major kick in the pants. I was having trouble coming down from the ectasy of my first solo, but this certainly sorted that out. Cheers Glint

Thanks for the support it is much appreciated. Glint

Today is a momentus day for me and only people like you can fully understand just how awsome it is to do your first solo circuit. After waiting 30 years, today I realised a dream that for many years I thought would always remain just a dream. I have done 14 hours of instruction and today I booked in with our CFI only because my usual instructor was not available. Little did I realise that today I would solo. After 3 nice circuits and one go around and a full stop landing that I really got right, the CFI told the ATC that he was getting out and I would be doing a solo circuit. That was the first I knew about it. Next thing he is gone and it is just me and the C172. I did not have time to worry about it, just did it. Landed a little harder than I would have liked but nothing serious and there it was, done!! I landed about 3 hours ago, but it is going to take me many days to come down from this high!!! Oh what a feeling!!! Glint.

I think your right Doug I am focusing a lot on the touch down point perhaps looking at the end of the runway a bit earlier will help. I am really suprised just how much input has been provided. It must be a more common issue than I had thought. Here I was thinking I was a freak! Cheers Glint.

If I ever find myself flying a 747, the passengers wil be the ones holding their heads between their legs as they search for their light and whistle!!

Thanks for all the great input. At least I now know that it is not just me and this is something that will come with a bit more experience. Cheers Glint

Hi Pud, I am learing in a C172. Thanks so much for the explanation and the Tony Hayes article. Seems like I am not going mad! I will try out his suggestion. It sounds similar to what I have been doing with the rivits on the cowling. I appreciate your input. Cheers Glint.

Hi all, This might sound a bit weird but I would like to find out if others have had the same problem I seem to be having with regards to lining up the aircraft on final. I am about 3 hours into circuits and despite the work load I am really enjoying it but... I don't know if its due to 30 years of driving a car and keeping to the left of the white line on the road, but when I think I am lined up on the center line on final, my instructor says I am way to the left. To get around this I have needed to line up the rivits on the engine cowl which are to the left of the aircraft center, this then gives me what he says is correctly lined up, but it feels to me I am way to the right. He is definately correct because I tend to land to the left of the center line even using this method. I feel I need to have my head removed and put back on 20cm to the right? Is it just me or have other experienced this? Cheers Glint

Tomo were you the one filming the formation video of the scouts planes on Saturday? Looks fantastic! Cheers Glint

You are all too kind! I am learning at the Scouts flying school at Camden. Cheers Glint

Hi I'm a 47 y/o student pilot. Living a boyhood dream and absolutely loving it. Learning in a C172 and have a huge 12 hours under my belt Hope I can learn a little from you all. Cheers Glint