Hope you guys don't mind me posting here but I've got problems
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Hope you guys don't mind me posting here but I've got problems
I'm a student who's very new to flying.
I've had constant attitude holding problems and seem to fly with one wing down all the time but despite this, up until now I think I've absorbed everything my instructor's taught me and he thinks I'm a natural - but now I feel I'm letting him down.
My instructor decided to put me in the circuit because he thought it would force me into improving both of the above issues as it would make them far more obvious to me if I'm trying to fly a lower level rectangle rather than be at 2-3000 ft up.
He was right - bless him!! - but I know I still need to improve as I still go wonky at the slightest sign of workload increasing.
That's the background to how I got here...
My problem is my total inability to get the wheels of the 'plane on the runway when we're flying circuits.
He's normally VERY strict in all my lessons but with circuits was making me very tense at just the wrong time.
As nothing was working he's actually backed right off (cutting me a little slack) and is now a little sweetheart - but I still can't do it.
I don't know if my problem is now of my own making because I want him to be proud of me for all the effort and encouragement he's giving me - but I just can't seem to make the grade!!
I know I'm probably not the first student in the world to feel like this (nor will I be the last) but do any of you have any tips on how I can progress from here?
I've had constant attitude holding problems and seem to fly with one wing down all the time but despite this, up until now I think I've absorbed everything my instructor's taught me and he thinks I'm a natural - but now I feel I'm letting him down.
My instructor decided to put me in the circuit because he thought it would force me into improving both of the above issues as it would make them far more obvious to me if I'm trying to fly a lower level rectangle rather than be at 2-3000 ft up.
He was right - bless him!! - but I know I still need to improve as I still go wonky at the slightest sign of workload increasing.
That's the background to how I got here...
My problem is my total inability to get the wheels of the 'plane on the runway when we're flying circuits.
He's normally VERY strict in all my lessons but with circuits was making me very tense at just the wrong time.
As nothing was working he's actually backed right off (cutting me a little slack) and is now a little sweetheart - but I still can't do it.
I don't know if my problem is now of my own making because I want him to be proud of me for all the effort and encouragement he's giving me - but I just can't seem to make the grade!!
I know I'm probably not the first student in the world to feel like this (nor will I be the last) but do any of you have any tips on how I can progress from here?
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I've had students with similar issues to yours. As soon as their workload increases, they tense up which results in them hanging onto the yoke with an iron grip, which means they lose all finesse. This may sound daft but try to fly holding the yoke/stick in your fingertips rather than a fist. If the aeroplane is properly trimmed, it will pretty much fly straight and level all on its own with the pilot only having to make small corrections. This also means you can make much smaller, more accurate movements of the controls.
But above all, relax!!!
But above all, relax!!!
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I had a similar problem early on with my landings.
The instructor took control on one landing and told me I was holding the yoke as if it was a cobra about to strike me!
I used to sweat so much that I found it difficult to hold the controls,I bought a pair of thin riding gloves,about £6 a pair which allowed me to keep a more gentle grip and it all began to get better after that.
I also found that if I was distracted ,for example by map reading, my altitiude could drop a couple of hundred feet.
Sounds like you have a good instructor and I can't give any other advice as I'm only just qualified, but it does get easier,honestly!
Lister
The instructor took control on one landing and told me I was holding the yoke as if it was a cobra about to strike me!
I used to sweat so much that I found it difficult to hold the controls,I bought a pair of thin riding gloves,about £6 a pair which allowed me to keep a more gentle grip and it all began to get better after that.
I also found that if I was distracted ,for example by map reading, my altitiude could drop a couple of hundred feet.
Sounds like you have a good instructor and I can't give any other advice as I'm only just qualified, but it does get easier,honestly!
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A good instructor will keep moving you onto different exercises before you really feel you've got the hang of the last thing. I remember when I learnt to fly that I never really felt I had practised each new thing sufficiently. Now I look back I realise that my instructor was doing the right thing.
By moving onto the next thing you start to learn a new skill but are of course still practising the ones you learnt before. If you did each one until you were perfect at it then you'd probably take 100 hours rather than 50. So rather than just bash on flying around your instructor has started pattern work.
Just think back how far you've come, I assume you can take off and fly around OK. I bet that seemed strange when you first started.
Its also quite normal to get stuck with something. My problem was steep turns. We just moved on to other things and then came back to them and they clicked into place.
Rely on your instructor, if he/she says you're a natural then they are either correct or flattering you (or both). They have seen lots of students and can set the pace as required. Its fairly normal to feel that things aren't going well but if you ask your instructor then they'll probably let you know how you are doing.
One thing that many schools do is to let you fly a lesson with another instructor who can then give you an independent assessment of progress. You could try this.
Don't forget to enjoy it though!!!
By moving onto the next thing you start to learn a new skill but are of course still practising the ones you learnt before. If you did each one until you were perfect at it then you'd probably take 100 hours rather than 50. So rather than just bash on flying around your instructor has started pattern work.
Just think back how far you've come, I assume you can take off and fly around OK. I bet that seemed strange when you first started.
Its also quite normal to get stuck with something. My problem was steep turns. We just moved on to other things and then came back to them and they clicked into place.
Rely on your instructor, if he/she says you're a natural then they are either correct or flattering you (or both). They have seen lots of students and can set the pace as required. Its fairly normal to feel that things aren't going well but if you ask your instructor then they'll probably let you know how you are doing.
One thing that many schools do is to let you fly a lesson with another instructor who can then give you an independent assessment of progress. You could try this.
Don't forget to enjoy it though!!!
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Thanks for the encouraging words.
I've been kicking myself 7 days a week, and have worked myself into a right state by the time I take each lesson.
I find that I don't feel "too" bad around the circuit until I've overshot the turn from base to final and then I just jam up and make a right "pigs ear" of it. Flying all over the place like a total idiot.
Any suggestions from anyone on how to "relax" down the final approach?
Being told to relax is easier said than done when the anxiety levels have gone through the roof.
Thinking about something else (less stressful) hasn't worked either, because then I'm not concentrating on what I'm doing.
I've been kicking myself 7 days a week, and have worked myself into a right state by the time I take each lesson.
I find that I don't feel "too" bad around the circuit until I've overshot the turn from base to final and then I just jam up and make a right "pigs ear" of it. Flying all over the place like a total idiot.
Any suggestions from anyone on how to "relax" down the final approach?
Being told to relax is easier said than done when the anxiety levels have gone through the roof.
Thinking about something else (less stressful) hasn't worked either, because then I'm not concentrating on what I'm doing.
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It's not possible to undesrtand exactly what's going on based on your posts ...but whatever it is it sounds like you need a different perspective.
My advice is to ask to fly with a different instructor until you've got yourself sorted.
My advice is to ask to fly with a different instructor until you've got yourself sorted.
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I know it costs an arm and a leg, but all you need is a bit more time. Flying is not a precise thing - you invariably end up with your aircraft going in the wrong place at the wrong time and the trick is to spot it doing something wrong and correcting it before it makes any difference! You have overcome the first hurdle - you can spot when it goes wrong - now all you need is the confidence to take the necessary corrective action before your instructor nags you! As everybody else has told you:
RELAX!
The idea is to enjoy your lesson which is costing you so much money, so concentrate on holding the column gently with two fingers and sit back. When you recognise that something has gone wrong, do something about it as soon as you can. Your instructor will have noticed that something has happened before you do, but he will be giving you time to recognise it yourself and apply the necessary correction before he says anything as he doesn't want to nag you and increase your stress level!
You'll get there!
P.P.
You'll get there!
P.P.
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Ahh the olod 'death grip'....
Been there, done that!!! You get the hang of it before too long. My big problem was lack of sufficient trim. Once my instructor forced me to let go of the yoke every now and then (and of course the aircraft then shot up or down, depending on which direction it was out of trim) to demonstrate 'it's not in trim, you pillock!', I figured it out.
Been there, done that!!! You get the hang of it before too long. My big problem was lack of sufficient trim. Once my instructor forced me to let go of the yoke every now and then (and of course the aircraft then shot up or down, depending on which direction it was out of trim) to demonstrate 'it's not in trim, you pillock!', I figured it out.
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I've done the "proving" I'm trimmed bit.... My instructor still asks if I'm trimmed and I remove my hands to prove it to him (and me). I don't think this is the problem.
When I first went into the circuit it was a day when I had higher stress levels than the norm - obviously my instructer didn't know this as it was caused by personal issues - and he can't read my mind.
He drove me extremely hard that day as I had my attitude and heading issues to deal with as well as the huge increase in workload levels that the circuit brings. I also wasn't supposed to be doing circuits that weekend but the wx dictated that we couldn't do stalls and slow flight.
To be honest I was within 60 seconds of bursting into tears after an hour of being driven and was more mentally exhausted than I've ever been after a lesson.
I did tell him about my problems after the lesson and he made sure I was calm and laughing before I went home, but he doesn't know how close he was to "cracking" me - I don't cry easily!!!
For 3 days after that weekend I thought about changing my instructor but kept coming back to the fact that he usually brought the best out in me by challenging & pushing me, I've always felt totally safe in his hands and on the ground he's a really nice guy.
But ever since then I've gone backwards to the point where all my attempted landings are "Go arounds".
aaaaagh!!!! - sheer frustration...
When I first went into the circuit it was a day when I had higher stress levels than the norm - obviously my instructer didn't know this as it was caused by personal issues - and he can't read my mind.
He drove me extremely hard that day as I had my attitude and heading issues to deal with as well as the huge increase in workload levels that the circuit brings. I also wasn't supposed to be doing circuits that weekend but the wx dictated that we couldn't do stalls and slow flight.
To be honest I was within 60 seconds of bursting into tears after an hour of being driven and was more mentally exhausted than I've ever been after a lesson.
I did tell him about my problems after the lesson and he made sure I was calm and laughing before I went home, but he doesn't know how close he was to "cracking" me - I don't cry easily!!!
For 3 days after that weekend I thought about changing my instructor but kept coming back to the fact that he usually brought the best out in me by challenging & pushing me, I've always felt totally safe in his hands and on the ground he's a really nice guy.
But ever since then I've gone backwards to the point where all my attempted landings are "Go arounds".
aaaaagh!!!! - sheer frustration...
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Hi,
I started gliding before power and was fortunate enough to find I was a "natural". This was great in the sense that I went solo very quickly, but had the disadvantage that once solo, I was virtually left to my own divices as everyone thought I was ok (gliding is a slightly different discipline in that once solo there little else to teach "but lots to learn" as it's all done pre-solo). I think I must have had a bad landing at some point because all of a sudden my landings went to pot. Nobody seemed to notice but I really started to beat myself up over it. The more I thought about the landing, the worse it seemed to be! In the end I went to one of the instructors (not easy as a know-it-all teenager) and fessed up that I was having problems. She took me up, but rather than bang on about landings, just ran through some upper air work excersises and chatted away. I ended up so relaxed about the whole flight that the landing just merged into what was a very enjoyable 45 minutes. I never had a problem landing again?
The above may sound like waffle ... and probably is; but the point is that if you get to hung up over one aspect of a flight that you're having problems with, you will naturally tense up and fear a repeat ... which almost always happens. It might be better to forget circuit bashing for a while, go off and do other stuff and relax about the landing, which then just becomes the conclusion of a flight that was all about something other than landing. It might just help.
SS
I started gliding before power and was fortunate enough to find I was a "natural". This was great in the sense that I went solo very quickly, but had the disadvantage that once solo, I was virtually left to my own divices as everyone thought I was ok (gliding is a slightly different discipline in that once solo there little else to teach "but lots to learn" as it's all done pre-solo). I think I must have had a bad landing at some point because all of a sudden my landings went to pot. Nobody seemed to notice but I really started to beat myself up over it. The more I thought about the landing, the worse it seemed to be! In the end I went to one of the instructors (not easy as a know-it-all teenager) and fessed up that I was having problems. She took me up, but rather than bang on about landings, just ran through some upper air work excersises and chatted away. I ended up so relaxed about the whole flight that the landing just merged into what was a very enjoyable 45 minutes. I never had a problem landing again?
The above may sound like waffle ... and probably is; but the point is that if you get to hung up over one aspect of a flight that you're having problems with, you will naturally tense up and fear a repeat ... which almost always happens. It might be better to forget circuit bashing for a while, go off and do other stuff and relax about the landing, which then just becomes the conclusion of a flight that was all about something other than landing. It might just help.
SS
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I notice you talk about doing things like flying through the final approach and then tensing up when you get it wrong like this. Rather than think about how to get it right, try thinking over the bits you get wrong and how to sort it if this does happen, once you realise that you can sort out the things you get wrong you will hopefully relax and either sort it out or (more probably, because you relax) not get it wrong in the first place.
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When I learnt to fly, many moons ago, I had a similar problem.... Only mine revolved around mastering an aerotow...... I flew with a number of different instructors, none of whom seemed to know what I was doing wrong. At last, I flew witha a wizened up old guy, somewhere between 80 and death, who flew once, with me, and succintly told me that I was overcontrolling, strangling the stick.... he suggested that I imagine that I was Princess Anne, holding a tramps di*k..... It worked immediately, and my problems vapourised...
Cheers
Mark
Cheers
Mark
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Thanks for the Image
My lesson was cancelled this weekend due to Bank holiday UK weather (I'm starting to hate this country) so I'll have to wait until next weekend before trying this out.
You certainly made me laugh but I'm just wondering what my Instructor is going to say when I start pursing my lips in disgust and trying to push the yoke away from me with thumb and forefinger.
I suppose the worst that can happen is me bursting out laughing and him having to take control. This image will stay with me all week - thanks.
You certainly made me laugh but I'm just wondering what my Instructor is going to say when I start pursing my lips in disgust and trying to push the yoke away from me with thumb and forefinger.
I suppose the worst that can happen is me bursting out laughing and him having to take control. This image will stay with me all week - thanks.
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Hi,
Sit before the flight where you can see the runway and circuit and think about how the wind will affect the circuit pattern BEFORE you get airborne. This is especially important on the turn from base on to final. Think about the TIME you have available to start your descent due to for example a tailwind on base and therefore re assess power settings. A good base leg will normally result in a good final approach which will give you a chance of making a good landing.
Trimming, as mentioned, is very important – let the aircraft fly itself while you assist occasionally.
In the hold off, look to the horizon and try your best to keep the aircraft airborne – try to stop her landing a couple of feet above the floor. Gravity will win as you settle on the runway…but only just!
If you still have problems, wll, so do nearly every single student – you Are just getting your eye in that’s all. I normally take my student away from the circuit, say nav or some fun stuff like wing overs. This gets you out of the rut, and most times the student returns to the circuit refreshed and BINGO, it clicks!
Most of all, try not to punish your self for a bad circuit. Forget it and enjoy the challenge of the next one. This is not a race, it is fun and will come – trust your instructor, he sounds like he is right for you as a mentor.
Happy landings!
KK
Sit before the flight where you can see the runway and circuit and think about how the wind will affect the circuit pattern BEFORE you get airborne. This is especially important on the turn from base on to final. Think about the TIME you have available to start your descent due to for example a tailwind on base and therefore re assess power settings. A good base leg will normally result in a good final approach which will give you a chance of making a good landing.
Trimming, as mentioned, is very important – let the aircraft fly itself while you assist occasionally.
In the hold off, look to the horizon and try your best to keep the aircraft airborne – try to stop her landing a couple of feet above the floor. Gravity will win as you settle on the runway…but only just!
If you still have problems, wll, so do nearly every single student – you Are just getting your eye in that’s all. I normally take my student away from the circuit, say nav or some fun stuff like wing overs. This gets you out of the rut, and most times the student returns to the circuit refreshed and BINGO, it clicks!
Most of all, try not to punish your self for a bad circuit. Forget it and enjoy the challenge of the next one. This is not a race, it is fun and will come – trust your instructor, he sounds like he is right for you as a mentor.
Happy landings!
KK
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Start gliding.. you'll soon realise that you can't grip the stick to fly efficiently, rather you need a light two finger hold. You will also learn that there is a rudder on board an aircraft, and it is there to use!
Engines are for Pilots who cant keep it UP!!! MUHAHAHAHAHA
As for the one wing low... maybe you have wonky eyes lol jks... choose an attitude which you think is right, then cross reference your instruments and fix it if necessary. Too easy!
Carro
Engines are for Pilots who cant keep it UP!!! MUHAHAHAHAHA
As for the one wing low... maybe you have wonky eyes lol jks... choose an attitude which you think is right, then cross reference your instruments and fix it if necessary. Too easy!
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Nerves,tension etc
You may want to look at my post in Private flying about my nearly solo.
I found several factors can either combine to make a great flight or a crap one.
Two most important for me:Preparation and the personality of the FI ( don't be frightened to ask for another-at these prices you can afford to be choosy)
Yesterday,I spent a long time listening to other pilots on an airband radio ( get one if you haven't already).I prepared my knee board,just leaving a few blanks for QNH, info status etc,I even wrote out what I thought my readback would be.
I calculated my headings to allow for xwind and wrote them down
Result:much less to worry/think about.
Had an older FI who really set me at ease ( without actually saying much).
Pulled off some great circuits and landings and not a bead of sweat.
( I was rubbish the day before).
It will happen for you.
Modelman
I found several factors can either combine to make a great flight or a crap one.
Two most important for me:Preparation and the personality of the FI ( don't be frightened to ask for another-at these prices you can afford to be choosy)
Yesterday,I spent a long time listening to other pilots on an airband radio ( get one if you haven't already).I prepared my knee board,just leaving a few blanks for QNH, info status etc,I even wrote out what I thought my readback would be.
I calculated my headings to allow for xwind and wrote them down
Result:much less to worry/think about.
Had an older FI who really set me at ease ( without actually saying much).
Pulled off some great circuits and landings and not a bead of sweat.
( I was rubbish the day before).
It will happen for you.
Modelman
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geezer,
get everything sorted at 500' so the damn thing flies without you yanking it about, (fingertip control),
put your body on the centreline and don't use any other external reference.
Put the threshold one third of the way up the windscreen.
scan runway aspect and speed.
adjust gently and accordingly.
Do all this and you will crash the aeroplane on the threshold.
The last bit is where you need to ask your instructor how effects of controls 1 and straight and level 2 (appreciation of) allows you to not only live, but land on the centreline really rather nicely.
Chop it, kick it, dump it.
you'll get it mate, as long as you don't fly like a tennage girl with having her first experience. Put some swagger into it and smile!
Have a nice cup of tea before you go next time.
Bp.
get everything sorted at 500' so the damn thing flies without you yanking it about, (fingertip control),
put your body on the centreline and don't use any other external reference.
Put the threshold one third of the way up the windscreen.
scan runway aspect and speed.
adjust gently and accordingly.
Do all this and you will crash the aeroplane on the threshold.
The last bit is where you need to ask your instructor how effects of controls 1 and straight and level 2 (appreciation of) allows you to not only live, but land on the centreline really rather nicely.
Chop it, kick it, dump it.
you'll get it mate, as long as you don't fly like a tennage girl with having her first experience. Put some swagger into it and smile!
Have a nice cup of tea before you go next time.
Bp.
Tabs please !
Been there done that !
Early on in my PPL, one of Human Factor's colleagues was taking me around the circuit and on a nice easy approach said, "look at your knuckles, I have control". They were white ! I was trying way too hard and was not feeling the aircraft. On the next t&g, I flew with my fingertips and suddenly felt what the aircraft was doing. I think SKYYACHT puts it rather well.
I flew on Saturday and did bad weather circuits at 500' in the p*ssing drizzle at cloudbase and had a great time. Crap viz really does make the runway appear further away however after one lousy circuit, I think I improved (or was I just less bad ?). I just love it when the stall warner begins to chirp as the wheels touch. I asked my instructor how I was doing and he said "I'm just sitting here admiring the view, I would send you solo but I'm not walking back from the hold in this crap".
I did an hour solo on Sunday and hated it. I have no idea why, you just get the odd off-day. Steep turns were a doddle but I couldn't do a PFL to save myself. It happens but next time will probably be different. Stick in there !
Early on in my PPL, one of Human Factor's colleagues was taking me around the circuit and on a nice easy approach said, "look at your knuckles, I have control". They were white ! I was trying way too hard and was not feeling the aircraft. On the next t&g, I flew with my fingertips and suddenly felt what the aircraft was doing. I think SKYYACHT puts it rather well.
I flew on Saturday and did bad weather circuits at 500' in the p*ssing drizzle at cloudbase and had a great time. Crap viz really does make the runway appear further away however after one lousy circuit, I think I improved (or was I just less bad ?). I just love it when the stall warner begins to chirp as the wheels touch. I asked my instructor how I was doing and he said "I'm just sitting here admiring the view, I would send you solo but I'm not walking back from the hold in this crap".
I did an hour solo on Sunday and hated it. I have no idea why, you just get the odd off-day. Steep turns were a doddle but I couldn't do a PFL to save myself. It happens but next time will probably be different. Stick in there !
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I also have very similar problems to Helpmeplease so have read this thread with interest and tried to absorb the advice.
Went up yesterday for circuits and "just" managed 2 landings, with difficulty, and was absolutely knackered at the end of 50 minutes.
As I'd been having problems getting the wheels on the runway, my instructor was ecstatic on the first one, but I was far too tense to enjoy it too as the moment my mind goes somewhere else, so does the 'plane.... I started to go to pot after that.
Two's better than none (trying to be positive!!).
He says he can't believe how easily I'm "giving up" the attempt.
I wasn't happy with one approach and glanced at him to say "go around?" - we were 50 ft up at the time and he had to save us - he told me I owed him one - Just one???
(To put this in perspective, I do aero's with the same FI, and if he pushes me I usually do what he wants when he wants it, whether it be Flat or Aero's - hence his disbelief with the "giving up" in landings.)
Apparently I can now fly the approach (most of the time) keeping the stationary point where I want it, but when we get to about 200 ft - It's gone - I totally destabilise everything I've done.
I'm actually afraid of heights (and I fly!!!), and seeing the ground that close, rushing up at me is freaking me out.
He's away next week so I'm going up with a different instructor (got to keep up the practice). Luckily it's someone I've been chatting with for a while, so I should be relaxed!!, and I'm hoping she can sort out my "Phobia" so that he's a very "Happy chappy" when I next go up with him.
I really want to sort this out because I feel that I'm letting him down - He always gets more excited when I do something right than I do!!!
What is it about you guys that you can create this huge undying devotion to you from your students??
I love my instructor to bits but feel crap at my inability to do this one thing right for him.
Went up yesterday for circuits and "just" managed 2 landings, with difficulty, and was absolutely knackered at the end of 50 minutes.
As I'd been having problems getting the wheels on the runway, my instructor was ecstatic on the first one, but I was far too tense to enjoy it too as the moment my mind goes somewhere else, so does the 'plane.... I started to go to pot after that.
Two's better than none (trying to be positive!!).
He says he can't believe how easily I'm "giving up" the attempt.
I wasn't happy with one approach and glanced at him to say "go around?" - we were 50 ft up at the time and he had to save us - he told me I owed him one - Just one???
(To put this in perspective, I do aero's with the same FI, and if he pushes me I usually do what he wants when he wants it, whether it be Flat or Aero's - hence his disbelief with the "giving up" in landings.)
Apparently I can now fly the approach (most of the time) keeping the stationary point where I want it, but when we get to about 200 ft - It's gone - I totally destabilise everything I've done.
I'm actually afraid of heights (and I fly!!!), and seeing the ground that close, rushing up at me is freaking me out.
He's away next week so I'm going up with a different instructor (got to keep up the practice). Luckily it's someone I've been chatting with for a while, so I should be relaxed!!, and I'm hoping she can sort out my "Phobia" so that he's a very "Happy chappy" when I next go up with him.
I really want to sort this out because I feel that I'm letting him down - He always gets more excited when I do something right than I do!!!
What is it about you guys that you can create this huge undying devotion to you from your students??
I love my instructor to bits but feel crap at my inability to do this one thing right for him.
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MadGirl
You've only got a (relatively) few hours under your belt. Don't be so hard on yourself. It will eventually all fall into place and become much, much easier. As everyone here as stated - relax. Much easier said than done when the ground is rushing up to meet you, but just take your time. Your instructor is there to take over if things go awry so just do it in your own time and go with the flow. Relax and have confidence.
You've only got a (relatively) few hours under your belt. Don't be so hard on yourself. It will eventually all fall into place and become much, much easier. As everyone here as stated - relax. Much easier said than done when the ground is rushing up to meet you, but just take your time. Your instructor is there to take over if things go awry so just do it in your own time and go with the flow. Relax and have confidence.