When does learning to fly become fun

[AdamFrisch]

Well, I can attest to how stress and disappointment in oneself can mentally block you from enjoying and learning anything. This has recently happened to myself.

I've been chasing the standalone FAA PPL and it's taken forever. Mainly because I have to go away on jobs all the time and don't get the recency that's needed. I also have a very strict instructor, and although I welcomed that as good thing - I want to be held to high standards - it recently became too much for me. I felt like a worse pilot every time I went up, like I was unlearning. Screwing up the most basic stuff at times. And the minute I screwed something up I got it good. This stressed me out and inevitably the next maneuver/radio call/whatever would also be fouled up.

Los Angeles is busy airspace and there is no real time to "catch up" with stuff until you're into the next high workload scenario. I know my instructor is very knowledgeable and was just increasing the workload as I got nearer my checkride (as he should do), but nevertheless the last times were no fun at all and I questioned my abilities as a pilot. I realize this is all just stress from my own disappointment in myself, but nevertheless I've decided to finish with another instructor that's a little more patient, hopefully. I feel bad as I think he's good, but I have to have a gentler touch (even though he did always praise when I did good). For some reason I think I'd do better with a female instructor.

Everyone learns differently. I don't learn well in a high amplitude scenario between praise and criticism - some do. I can do without the praise when I do something good, but then I don't want to be beat up when I screw stuff up. Just less of an arc between the two extremes is better for me personally.

So, flying has not been fun at all recently. And since I'm stuck in America, I can't go off and fly on my UK PPL either just to get a break from instruction and regain a bit of confidence (when I fly alone I never feel stressed). But it'll all be good in the end.