Talking to the aircraft really does help! I do it all the time : )
" you Bitcx I am in command here " works wonders.
Shame I can't do the same with women : )

Pace

LOL. I do that in the flare, my words are usually 'Sit down you bitxx..'

FWIW at my club we call final before we turn final, about 3/4 of the way down base leg. Don't ask me why, one of those weird RAF things. So if I'm landing at a 'normal' strip somewhere I have to remember to call final when I'm actually on final.....

Grob Queen are you at Cranwell? Sometimes I say 'final' sometimes I say 'finals', depends how stressed I am....:). Hardly worth loosing sleep over.

Another tip
 

Jim,

Another tip occurred to me just now. Whilst flying with two or three fingers for minor corrections is great in the cruise or in gentle maneuvering, in the circuit and landing phase, or steep turns and stalls, where you need greater force and more movement, that won't work as well.

My solution to that one is to not hold the yoke with my whole hand as though it were a pistol, but to just curve my fingers around the yoke using only the first two pads/knuckles, and then the first pad of the thumb. It gives you a positive grip, enough strength to get the job done, but won't let you get a hamfisted strangle on the yoke.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Moving from the 150/152 to the 172 does cause a few problems for the first few hours. The 172 will tend to float a lot more if not flown at the correct speed, and the 'springy' u/c will cause you to bounce much more readily than the 152.

Hi eveyone,

Firstly thanks for getting back! I didnt think the intricacies of landing a 172 would get so much attention!

I've been busy training the past few days so apologies for not getting back sooner. I've been trying the tips suggested on here, even talking to myself and swearing at the poor a/c!

The two finger technique is slowly starting to get the required results! I did find it was a case of just relaxing and remembering the basics. With that came a little bit of confidence. I still have good and bad landings but I think I'm trending in the right direction.

The pencil between the fingers is a novel idea, I'm going to try that on my next set of circuits!

I've done 3 solo hours now so my instructor must be happy that I wont damage myself or the a/c t this stage.

Once again thanks for the help and keep this discussion going, I for one am finding it very interesting and in the true spirit of this forum!

Jim

JimPilot, last year i took a mate flying, who happens to be a visiting surgeon from Kings in larndarn (he works with my mum) anyway this man can tie a knot in surgical silk with one hand wearing gloves. To say he was a deft touch would be an understatement.

I took him for a site seeing tour round the vineyards and as i am want to do at safe altitude i encouraged him to take control, he did so and for the next 5 minutes grabbed the yoke like butcher grabs a ham hock! i'm talking +/- 500 ft altitude control and a 5-10 degree side to side rock!

I was amazed that a man who has a 'surgical touch' could be so rough with an airplane!

Don't beat yourself up i had an awful set of landings a few weeks ago in a 172 with the slightest of crosswinds, it made me question a few things about my percieved abilities. incidently i don't have dainty mits either!!!

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