Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: muckmaw on June 13, 2004, 12:25:53 PM
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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?
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your scared until you start flying.
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Come on, do it! Nothing else like it.
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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.
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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??
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muck once you get airborn and get *used* to the plane you become alot more relaxed
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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
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4:30 pm..I'm going up...
Trying to relax...
Thanks guys
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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.)
;)
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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 :D
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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!
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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.
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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*
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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.
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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.
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Thanks, Toad.
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Toad, you could have told him to wear a trout in his pants and drive the controls like a Playstation racing game.
Too funny.
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It's going to be hard at first. Anything worthwhile doing always is.
Yes, air sickness can be a pain at first. But remember this, once you have a few hours and the instructor let's you actually fly the plane it will go away.
Did you ever get 'car' sick when you were driving? No! It only happens when someone else is at the wheel. It's the same with flying. You will NOT get sick when you have the controls. Trust me....:D
Relax, have some fun, and good luck...:aok
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Muck,
Try to remember this, you need to have a life of adventure or you will end up having lead a life of nothing
Helen Keller once said that security in life is an illusion, and "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
Live the daring adventure.
If and when you learn to fly, you will learn how safe it can be when a person does not act recklessly. Too many times peoples impressions are formed by television drama and not real life. On the basic small airplane, the engine can quit and the plane will stay very controllable and can in almost every case be glided down to a safe landing with no problem.
Not to minimize the risks, there are risks to flying as there are too everything, but after a little experience pilots normally become very comfortable flying.
If you don't, then it just isn't for you, truthfully, flying isn't for everyone. Hell, I dont like to be on boats in deep water, thats just me.
So, try it again, if you like it, great. If not, at least take credit for having tried.
good luck
dago
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Or just practice taking off in AH or FLT Sim 2004 and keep a runway heading and know the controls.
Jeez...
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That was a very insightful post Dago, but unfortunately it's after 4:30pm so he's probably dead by now.
AKKarma
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Originally posted by AKKarma
That was a very insightful post Dago, but unfortunately it's after 4:30pm so he's probably dead by now.
AKKarma
lol, if he is it's all you guys with the convincing arguments fault. ;)
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It sounds like you’re going under a knife or something. Just relax and enjoy your flight. Flight will last for only .5 hours.
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Originally posted by Toad
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.
I remember when i flew a plane in r/l for the first time. FS2002 help a ton.
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Muck, it's normal ;)
Relax and slip away from the surly bonds of earth.
Please update us with how the flight goes/went.
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Flying is only the second thrill to mankind, Landing is the 1st :)
Just paid homage to First Flight via a S-35 Bonanza my friend owns. I, to this day don't regret getting my License and neither shall you :)
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OMFG!!! THat was AMAZING!!!!
Holy ****! I cannot get over it. Oh my god. That was so cool!
Guys, I am just as high as a kite right now. You have no idea. I feel like I just found my purpose in life, had sex for the first time and won the superbowl all in one hour!
Holy ****.
That was awesome. Oh man!!! I gotta show you guys the pics I took!
I flew a Piper Cruiser....out around Jones Beach (Atlantic Ocean). I took off in front of...get this...a B-24 that was leaving the Air Museum right next to the school!! I got pics of the B-29 that was taxiing out after I landed!
What a rush. The takeoff was so smooth, I felt NOTHING. Never got uncomfortable. Hell, I was having such a great time I wanted to take a shjot at landing it!
Listen, guys, I cannot thank you enough. I never would have done this if guys like Toad, Creamo, Dago, Otto, Karma, Golfer, Iron...Crap, all you guys...youre the best!! Even my boss does not seem like a dick anymore! God everythign looks sso fukcing awesome!
Next flight...Sunday 2:30
Thank you all SO MUCH!!
<>
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I believe you are on your way to losing your shirt tail :)
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Originally posted by muckmaw
Next flight...Sunday 2:30
Woot! Grats.
Coupla of things for ya now that you're hooked...
Get your student pilot cert/medical asap
Find a medical examiner here (http://www.aopa.org/members/databases/medical/)
Call up AOPA to get 6 free issues of their flight training mag
800-USA-AOPA
Keep us posted on how it goes :D
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Good for you!
Now go get the groundschool going at the same time. It'll make more sense to you I think.
Cool, ain't it?
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Originally posted by muckmaw
Why am I so scared when it's something I've literally dreamed about my whole damn life?
you answered your own question. it's scaring you because it's a big deal to you, a dream being realized.
you screw it up and it's not just the physical danger, you've screwed your dream. which is way more scary to some people (myself included) than any threat of physical danger.
when the newness wears off you'll be fine.
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Now the only thing you have to fear is watching your bank account dwindle...rapidly. WTG Muck:aok
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if you feel like it, spend 300 bucks and get the cessna private pilot course on cd. Its produced by king videos and other then dealing with martha and tubby king its really good stuff.
It even has rick rockwell as one of the instructors, we all remember rick dont we?
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Well, not to be a wet blank :) it can get hairy. I began my fight adventure at a small paved field “2600ft.” at Pine Valley Airport in Albion N.Y., flying a Cessna 152. I soloed in 12 hours, flying once a week. Was having a great time and looked forwarded to my cross county later in the spring.
As luck would have it, my instructor took me up for some grass field practice. It was one of those days, were it was a *****, just to keep one’s feet on the rudder pedals. A strong wind, accompanied with abrupt up and down drafts. This was by far, the worst weather conditions I had flowed in up to this point.
We “bounced” our way over to that grass field. Got set up to land and was about 3/4 down final when we were hit buy a gust, micro burst or the finger of god, wasn’t really sure. We went from wings level, to a wing 12, 6 o’clock position in the time it took to snap your fingers. Hanging in the straps, I glanced at my instructor and noticed the only thing visible in the right window seat were treetops. I rolled the plane back left, about a half second ahead of his hands hitting the wheel. Finished the landing, rolled around to a takeoff position. As I reached to push the throttle in, a flood of sweat pored down my face and my flying days were at that moment, over with.
I got back on the horse, flew a haft dozen more hours duel and solo, but it was never the same. The minute I felt a bounce, I’d cringe, waiting for the plane to zoom off by itself again.
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Muckmaw, you mean you're actually landing with the plane?
That's dangerous.
I tell ya; it gets easier if you jump out once ya get some altitude.
Landing in a plane - that's scary.
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I believe that a healthy dose of fear (or respect) is what keeps you alive in the long run.
I've been only flying for 3 years now and have barely 200h. Done long trips (1800 NM), done twins, done aerobatics, done vintage planes, planning on taking the Helo PPL course, and everytime I fly I get the "what am I going to do wrong today" feeling.
Overconfidence will definitely kill you in aviation, so living with that fear and controlling it is what forces you to keep the tension and follow the procedures.
As for the blocking fear you described, I once heard that there are two main fears: fear of losing, and fear of succeeding. In your case I think it was: what if I don't have what it takes to be a pilot (what I have dreamed to be my whole life)? What if I get sick up there?
Just relax and enjoy. Your CFI knows what he is doing and he won't let you screw it up.
Daniel