Author Topic: Need some encouragement from real pilots (Read 902 times)

muckmaw · « **on:** June 13, 2004, 12:25:53 PM »

This is the only place I can find some real pilots in such short notice so please excuse my puss-ness.

Anyway, its a beautiful sunny sunday here in NY and I heard a small plane fly over. I thought, what a great day to fly.

So I called the School, printed up the $49 certificate from Be A Pilot.com...and can take my first flight in 7 years at 4:30.

Why am I frozen with fear?

I took 1 hour intro lesson 7 years ago. It was exciting and terrifying. I felt my stomach dive into my bellybutton as we took off and thought for sure I would heave. Mid flight I was confortable, but got nervouse on approach. Still, I never got sick, but I never went back.

Why am I so scared when it's something I've literally dreamed about my whole damn life?

I need some help to get past this from some guys who know what I'm talking about.

I know if I log a few hours I'll get past it, but I can't pick up the phone and make the call!

WTF is wrong with me?

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:27:08 PM »

your scared until you start flying.

AKIron · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:28:25 PM »

Come on, do it! Nothing else like it.

Toad · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:33:32 PM »

It's a mind over matter deal.

Remember when you didn't want to jump into the swimming pool even though your dad was in there holding out his arms to you?

Flying's safe. Initially, it's an unknown and that's why you're holding back.

Like your dad holding out his arms to you, the instructor will make sure all comes out just fine.

Jump in and begin to relax! It's a great sense freedom.

muckmaw · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:33:42 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by B17Skull12
your scared until you start flying.

What do you mean?

It stops after a lesson or 2? or it stops after the first few minutes??

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:34:27 PM »

muck once you get airborn and get *used* to the plane you become alot more relaxed

AKKarma · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:48:28 PM »

It's been a while, but I can remember feeling very nervous during the drive out to the airport, but I always felt better once I was strapped in. That being said, I'm quite sure that I was a much more 'religious' guy back when I was flying every week!

I can remember feeling uneasy about banking the aircraft during my first few hours. I always felt like the damn thing was going to flip over or something... it takes a while before you come to appreciate just how stable those airplanes really are.

Make sure that the first thing you do after climbing into the left seat is to adjust the vent so that you have plenty of fresh air in your face. That always helped me with the butterflies.

Relax, have fun and enjoy!

AKKarma

muckmaw · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:53:11 PM »

4:30 pm..I'm going up...

Trying to relax...

Thanks guys

Toad · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:55:37 PM »

You are going to find that your thousands of hours in AH helps it all look pretty familiar and you'll relax sooner than you think.

You hands and feet already know what to do when presented with certain visual cues.

Relax, enjoy!

(Oh, btw, when you head back to the field, try not to roll in on the guys below you in the pattern while yelling "The Vultch light is lit!" Most likelyl that would cause your instructor some concern.)

Golfer · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:58:55 PM »

Im sure you'll let us know how it goes, the ink on my initial CFI certificate is still wet but i would have been happy to take you up! I had a group of boyscouts not long ago who were a real great group of kids and was really impressed with their interest in aviation...I can only imagine after years of flight simming you're level of delight when you come back to us with your newly signed logbook!

EDIT

I still remember the day of my first flight lesson. The airplane, the wind (lack thereof), the evening and how excited I was to be running an engine start checklist for the first time. I didn't get nervous until we started rolling, rotated and started our climb, the world was rushing by pretty fast then and I tensed up for only a moment until I looked around and started smiling. I took the controls soon after takeoff and had a blast the rest of the night doing stalls, steep turns and even tried my hand at landing.

That was 8/1/2002 and now I'm Commercial Single and Multiengine, Instrument Rated and a CFI! Pretty soon I'll be turning jet fuel into noise and speed

Creamo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2004, 12:59:10 PM »

Muck, my first flight in Atlanta, a young black dude instructor that had a really soothing voice took me out. He took us out to the runway, told me to stop turning the controls when we turned on the taxi way like I was driving a car, and embarrassed, I learned to turn with the foot pedals. Don’t do that. Think AH in that aspect.

Anyway, I was thinking this was a nice tour for the intro flight.

When we lined up on the runway, he said to put in the throttle, and off we went. He never touched the controls from there on out. I mean he was a passenger. I shat myself in half.

The next words he said before pull Charles,….Pull up Charles!….was he said I was deviating from the runway heading. At about 1,500 feet, and to look over my shoulder and correct. I woke up for sure then. And….

I was surprised I was flying. I was more surprised he wanted me to fly a heading. You have been warned! FL2004 is a good tool.

Be prepared, it’s not a scenic flight. They expect you to fly if it’s a flight instructor that wants you to actually fly. Be prepared. It’s fun, but you have been warned. Your flying to be a pilot. Anyone can ride.

I had no flightsims at that time, you are way ahead. Lucky bastard, have fun!

Russian · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2004, 01:11:36 PM »

Complete ground school. Get knowledge first and then start flying. It will be cheaper in a long run. I never got scared my first time, why should I be? I got an instructor that can always grab controls when I ef up.

muckmaw · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2004, 01:59:29 PM »

1.5 hours to go...

Toad, you really made me laugh there...

Thanks.

I aready called ths school 2x to cancel, but hung up each time they answer.

Feeling more relaxed now...like a man about to walk down the aisle...I've accepted that I'm not turning back so theres no point in worrying....

*SIGH*

muckmaw · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2004, 02:00:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Russian
Complete ground school. Get knowledge first and then start flying. It will be cheaper in a long run. I never got scared my first time, why should I be? I got an instructor that can always grab controls when I ef up.

Agreed, Russian, but I need to know I can do it at all before I spend the $$ on ground school.

Toad · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2004, 02:01:07 PM »

RELAX.

You aren't going to die or get injured.

Your instructor wants to go home to mamma too.

You're going to find, in the early stages at least, that AH will give you more SA than his usual student.

Enjoy.