Stuck in the circuit

[KandiFloss]

Juno78 - Standby ...I'll be back to reply to you in just a mo!

IO540 - "did not have big enough t*ts"

I actually think you have big tits ... well you certainly act like one for putting a statement like this ...

"And if the gurl has any brains and thinks you are a commercial pilot she will run a mile because they are mostly unfaithful."

... mostly unfaithful ... not all pilots are b*stards. My husband is an airline pilot and I think that you have just made a huge sweeping statement. So just watch it Mr! However i'm in a good mood today and so I will forgive you for your pompous opinionated statement.

Juno78 - It took me around 30 hours so do not be disheartened by 'sky-gods' who can solo in under 10 hours (like my hubby ). I gained my PPL at OFT (Florida) in 2006. I started my PPL trainning in a C-152 but just didn't get on with them. My landings were an issue, I was flaring either too high or too low. It got to the point that my instructor was unsure of what to do with me, so we used to fly off to quieter airfields to practice circuits there. I remember flying one day and I felt pretty unhappy about how unstable the aircraft felt as it was a gusty day and I had almost given up with the whole idea of trying to gain my licence. I told my instructor that I wanted to see if I felt happier in the Cadet (PA-28). I was glad that I asked to change aircraft because within 4 hours of changing I had gone solo. The fact that I also had 7 different instructors didn't help me either. In hindsight I now wish that i'd got my licence in UK ... but that's another story.

I remember my first lesson in USA and I did not enjoy it. I remember feeling unhappy about how bumpy it was in the air. I had previous flying experience of flying with instructors and experienced pilots in the UK, but I the idea of having to fly the aircraft on my own was not a happy one. I think that fact that I had set out on my goal of gaining my PPL in a short space of time made me feel really pressurised.

When you fly your circuits do you make sure that you fly accurate headings, have correct power settings and the correct heights? I know that sometimes it can be hard to do this bang on every time, but if you can get these as near to 'bang on' as possible your instructor might feel happier about letting you go. When I was learning to fly someone who I knew flew with had an instructor who didn't seem that comfortable with flying herself, and he felt that because she was nervous she was over-demanding. Who knows? He asked to fly with a different instructor and he solo'd shortly after this.

I've flown with instructors who unless you fly the circuit 'bang on' aren't happy to let you go. But as someone else on this thread pointed out, you don't have to do perfect circuits to be sent solo, just safe ones. You can go on to polish your circuits to perfection afterwards ... if you want! From talking to instructors (and my hubby who has also instructed) they just want to see 3 good circuits before sending you solo.

I think that if I was you i'd look into flying from Tollerton, but then i'm biased as i'm from Nottingham originally. I have also flown (prior to my PPL) with friends from there. It seems like a lovely airfield and they do have a warrior there. I don't think that flying from East Mids is a good idea because of the fact that they handle commercial traffic and if you are asked to hold for it, it will be eating into your circuit time ££££££

It's a shame that you aren't nearer as you could come with me as I fly regularly.

Keep us posted and feel free to PM me