Second Flight Rattled me....

[muckmaw]

Yesterday was my second lesson of flight training, and I think I made what could have been the ugliest take off of all time!

AS we made our run up, I eased me foot off the right rudder pedal, causing the plane to roll to the left with the torque.

I banked right to correct and over corrected, making for a sloppy take off.

The instructor never made a move to take the airplane, and upon debriefing, I exhibited my dismay over the take-off.

He simply said, don't let it bother you.

The problem was that my nerves were rattled for the remainder of the flight. Though I did well in Turns, Climing Turns, Descending Turns, Climbs, Dives and Clearing turns, I could not get rid of the knot in my stomach and my mind back on my flight.

To top it all off, when we were on final, the tower cleard another plane to turn onto final too soon, putting him at my 9 at 500 feet!!

So we had to expedite our landing.

After last weeks flight, I literaly could not wait to get into the air. I would fall asleep every night going over my preflight checklist.

Now, for lack of a better term, I'm nervous again.

I'm not as nervous as I was before the first flight, but I'm filled with doubt. How the hell am I ever going to be able to do this solo? WIll I ever be confident enough to take up a passenger?

Self doubt is a killer.

I've asked myself..if I could drive tot he airport right now and go up, would I. I keep answering yes, but I'm still scared.

[gofaster]

I bet you can't wait for formation training.  

[Yeager]

Put the keys down and step away from the airplane......



Good luck!

[SunTracker]

Drink some chamomile tea or start taking fish oil.  Need to calm your nerves until you get comfortable with flying.

[Jasta]

Hey man, we have all had bad days like that.

One time, I forgot to continue climbing on the downwind for departure, and the instructor got so pi**ed, that he took the controls and flew me down.

But I didnt know what I had done yet. Instead of telling me what happened I had to wait until we got on the ground until he told me what I did wrong. I just forgot to continue the climb, and he turned it into how I hadn't taken ground school and all sorts of things. I have since fired him.

[Eagler]

we all die sometime  

[Virage]

Hi muck.  Your takeoff adventures are rights of passage EVERY pilot has gone thru, you are in good company.

If I can offer 1 bit of advice (nother thing every pilot does btw ) is to find the right fit for YOUR instruction.

Maybe a smaller uncontrolled airport would let u cut ur teeth before you need to worry about 'expediated landings'.

If your current airport and instructor are convenient, suggest visiting a smaller one nearby for circuit practice.

Good luck !

[muckmaw]

Originally posted by Eagler
we all die sometime  

Thanks for the encouragement....(Including all except Eagler!)

I'm going back. I have to.

I just need to know most new pilots were nervous the first few times, it all.

[Airhead]

The same thing happens to me every time I log onto the MA. It gets worse, too- wait until some jerk vulches you on your take off.

[Halo]

It's the plane's fault.  Just accumulate a few more perks and be sure to select auto takeoff.

[xrtoronto]

Originally posted by Halo
It's the plane's fault.

[Toad]

Like everyone's telling you, we all had those days. You'll have more; we all did. Press on.

Oh, here's one for you. If there's no crosswind to speak of, you can do the first part of your takeoff roll with your hands in your lap. Teaches you to steer with your feet intially. It seems everyone tries to correct with the ailerons at first; crossover from driving a car, I guess. Just tell your instructor what you're doing.   Grab aholt of her well before rotation speed though; don't want any unpleasant suprises!

Enjoy! It's highly unlikely that you'll be the discoverer of some new, incredibly stupid student mistake. They've pretty much all been discoverd already.  

[Sabre]

Had a similar experience.  At least your IP didn't take the airplane from you (I can't say the same:( ).  That means that it wasn't as bad as it seemed to you at the time.  Take a deep breath, remember why you're doing this, and get back up there as quick as you can.

[GreenCloud]

muck..take it from a pilot with 42 hours ....hahah..

over steering with rudder is a common problem..

wait till your solo....now tht is a bit unerving...


taking up your first passanger is a bit aways..and by that time..you will be flying like a champ


BTW!!!!  i was refueling in the cherokee....and was just going to taxi back to park...I said..bahh i dont need a check list to start up and taxi..


sat there for 3 minutes..which seemd like 20 minutes.. trying to start engine..

crapppppp...forgot fuel pump....

Ok...CHECKLIST!!! never become lazy!!!


more embaresment then danger..but that hurts almost as bad..

1 more thing  NEVER FLY TIRED OR HUNGRY!!!!

I flew tired and hungry one time..we were doing stall work....and i was feeling like crap..  amazing the amplifying effect Gs have on your head when you dotn feel good..the CFI looked at me ..and said..I think we should go home..


I love flying

[Golfer]

Always double check to make sure you've got chocks out and your airplane is untied.  I saw some knucklehead break a nosewheel on a dutchess because they left a chock up front.  A few weeks later there was a renter that left all 3 tiedowns on and started up the airplane, you've never seen me run so fast to get this moron to kill the engine.   Then there was the time I 'helped' a friend and re-tied down the tail tiedown, hehe.

Also, think about what folks are asking you around the airport.  Some folks might ask you to go get them 15 feet of Flight Line, a bucket of Prop Wash or a left handed monkey wrench.  Good lord some folks are too easy

Happy landings, muck.

Here's a little homework assignment on finding airport information.  You may use your Airport Facility Directory, airnav which is a great resource or AOPA to find the info.  I was up in a C-152 the other day practicing carrier landings (very short field) that had the airplane down and stopped in under 200 feet.  Look up KLNA and tell me a little bit about the airport.  It's listed under West Palm Beach as Palm Beach County Park Airpark, but its known as 'Lantana' airport.  I'd like to know how many feet there are between the approach end of Runway 21 and the crossing runway 15/33.  Good luck, if you need any help  email me here.

This stuff will come in handy when flying to that far off destination for your $100 hamburger with your significant other or your buddies on a saturday afternoon.

Oh, more importantly...its your 2nd flight, you need to SMILE big and not worry so much  Before you know it you'll be handling all the radios, nailing your steep turns and heading off on solo cross countries.  Just try to fly at least once a week or you'll never get done, it will take you months!  Microsoft flight sim is a great trainer for your instrument rating and procedures practice.  Use it.  Fly the flight sim.  fly your cross countries before you fly your cross countries and you'll be surprised how everything will fall into place.

By the way, THANKS for the 1946 aviation magazine, that is a neat little time capsule!  I'd be happy to loan you bits of my small library of Flying Magazines if you'd like to catch up on some of the latest and greatest things in flying over the last few years.  Lane Wallace writes some great stuff from your typical VFR general aviation pilots perspective.  I loaned the '46 issue to a friend/squaddie/coworker of mine down here who is a world class aerobatic pilot (he doesnt frequent the boards) and he was really tickled by it.  If you're ever in Florida, 'Gimme a call, I'll fly with ya'