Parsons...DUMP THE GUY
Hi:
I've seen a bunch of stuff on this thread that makes me cringe.
first off, presently 737 captain for a major US airline...but many years ago I was a CFIIMEI and taught lots of people to fly.
He (your crummy instructor) should have had you do the full walkaround inspection with him teaching you how to do it. AND you should ALWAYS do a walkaround inspection before each flight PERIOD. Just that he had done one earlier is reason enough to stay away from this guy.
When I was teaching...the very first lesson the student did everything...taxied, tookoff, climbed, straight and level, turns, descent and landing...certainly I was closely supervising and talking the student through everything...even working the radio , though that would be the last thing. The only reason I wouldn't do all of the above is if the weather changed and things got particularly difficult (eg: increase in cross wind).
I would report him to your ''academy'' right away...you can even take my comments here with you. I would also be very careful about spending my own money on any flying lessons anywhere.
where is shoreham? is it near West Point?
your lessons should go like this:
ground briefing in which the instructor tells you what you will do in the plane today and a full explanation of how to do it, why, etc.
thorough preflight inspection...and he should accompany you throughout this inspection until you are very good at it...and always remember to untie the ropes.
flight lesson....he (cfi) may be demonstrating the lesson objectives (eg stalls) but if the CFI is flying the plane for more than 5 minutes in a 1 hour lesson, you are getting gyped.
securing the plane after landing, tie down, shut down checklist.
walk to school room, turn around once to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.
post flight briefing...review what you learned, what problems you had and a sort of assignment for th enext lesson to prepare.
don't bother talking to him...and don't listen to this bit about each instructor having his own way. if you only ''learned straight and level"" then this guy is borderline.
im if you like
you should read a book called, ''stick and rudder'' before you take even one more lesson.