Hello,
I'm a student approaching the end of my course, but I'm not that happy with my PFL's.
Usually, my instructor has a field in mind when he pulls the throttle back and thinks I'm a bit mad when I suggested turning into wind first.
His view is that:
1) fly the aircraft (correct of course)
2) Chose the field (which could be in any direction relative to the wind)
3) Work out how you are going to get into it and therefore adjust whether you are downwind already, cross-wind or whatever.
Consequently, I'm finding that I don't have a nice framework within which to work and therefore the PFL's are a bit hit-and-miss (excuse the pun!).
He doesn't want me to turn into wind first as his opinion is that in real life your best options may not be in that direction and therefore you ought to able to cope with whatever circumstances throw at you.
Thoughts appreciated........