Originally Posted by BroomstickPilot
G'day Andy_P,
Congratulations on your first solo; that's the one flight above all you will remember for the rest of your life.
In regard to anti-spin training, I think this modern practice of training people, who have never experienced a spin, how to avoid something they have only read about is creating an irrational fear of even anti-spin training, not to mention the spin itself.
may I suggest that it would be a good idea to take just one flight with an aerobatics instructor in a proper aerobatic aeroplane and let him/her demonstrate a couple of fully developed spins. And then show you how spinning should be avoided.
Good luck Dig!
BP.
Thanks.
The idea of doing a lesson with an aerobatic pilot has been in the back of my head for a while now. For me, I think it would be beneficial. In fact I think several hours would be better.
One of my instructors did a couple of incipient spins and it freaked me out. But then again, 2 weeks ago I was !!!!ting my self just letting go of the yoke. Today we did half a circuit (till base) with no hands on the controls, only rudder and trim, and I was totally at ease. That was an exercise to force me to relax.
FWIW, I am just shy of 40. 15 years ago there is no way I would even set foot in a jet aircraft, let alone a 4 seater! The only reason I got on a plane, was because it was either that or lose a job. The fear is totally irrational, I understand the aircraft from a technical perspective, and I know that a Cessna 172S is a very stable aircraft. So for me its just a matter of conquering those demons. I am pretty proud of where I am now, and it may take a while to get my PPL, but I will get there!
I was !!!!ting myself today. We did a full stop and the instructor said to taxi back out to the holding point. I thought we were going to practice an aborted take off! I was totally surprised when he jumped out. I guess I did not have time to take it all in at the time, but I was shaking after I landed. My first take off was the same!
Originally Posted by MyMeowCat
Congratulations Andy_P!
I found after your first solo the next several become less stressful.
I remember you had a thread up about what was holding you back (the whole flare thing)...did you ever figure out what were the issue(s) and what your cure(s) were??
Yes, the main issue was fear and target fixation. I am a motorcycle rider, so I should know better. Been on the bike for a lot of years now, and the principles are the same. There is also a lot of other issues too, I am well aware of all of them.
So the problem is thus, and still is:
Fear: Death grip on controls. You cannot control a motorbike if you have a death grip. Same goes for aircraft. I have since learned to relax a lot. This is easier for younger people, cause they have less fear. On a gusty hot day, this is still a problem for me, but I am learning to deal with it. You have to relax and trim the aircraft, something I dont do enough of.
Throttle control: managing speed on final with the updrafts and downdrafts. Not so much of an issue when there is no wind and the air is cool. Our airport is at 07, typical wind is 040 or 140 depending on the time of year. Its coastal, so typically you take off over water, land over land. Lots of turbulence on base and final. This is still a big problem for me, I am having issues with crosswinds and updraft/downdraft. The instructor today said I almost have it sorted.
Target Fixation: Yup, sometimes I still look at the lines on the runway, not the horizon. Look where you are going. This will kill you on a motorcycle, and it will kill you in a plane also. Its such a simple thing, but so hard to accomplish at times. Its also heavily associated with fear ( a common factor with all my issues).
One thing that has helped, is that many times I wanted to do a go around and the instructors encouraged me to keep trying. Some resulted in poor landings, some resulted in go around. When solo, if I am not comfortable I will ignore any advice and go around though!
I must admit, a lot of ppl here pointed me in the right direction. Got to give some credit to Flare Pilot though!