Working towards my solo
 

So I have around 23 hours as a student pilot and am close to my solo flight. I feel that the fact that landings didn't come easily to me and required me to take several extra flights to finally get crosswind landings down pushed my solo date back :(

I'm here to ask if anyone has any tips on crosswind landings and also any tips on getting ready for the upcoming solo?

Im literally only a couple minutes old on this forum so I would love to start interacting with other pilots and student pilots!

Thanks!

Don’t worry; it will “click.”

Try to break your crosswind landing technique into smaller components:

a) Use rudder to align the longitudinal axis with the runway centerline.

b) Use aileron to lower the wing to control drift.

c) Flare normally.

Practice on narrow runways to hone your drift control.

Practice on long, long, wide runways to get the sight picture. I used to take students to a 12,000 foot military runway to practice slow flight at 3 feet agl.

You’ll get it. Good luck!

I had a similar issue. Ask your CFI if you can just work in the closed traffic pattern, doing touch & go's. It will surely come to you. I'm at 23.7 hours and going to solo this week. So right with you!!!

Second all that Seamus said. Also, slowly increase aileron and rudder input in the roundout and flare. This helps as your control effectiveness decreases as your airspeed decreases so you don't drift. To prepare for your solo (and any/all flights doing new stuff), chair-fly. Put yourself at the airplane mentally, have your notes and checklist with you and go through every part of the flight from the walk-around to when you get out after engine shutdown . Be as detailed as possible, talk yourself through each action. (Radio calls, turn to HDG XXX, set power to X rpm, etc) Good luck and don't forget to have fun!

Read:

Stick and Rudder
An Explanation of the Art of Flying by Wolfgang Langewiesche
Nothing will teach you better...

x3
.............

Tjis is only my opinion as a very beginner pilot: the main thing is to never press yourself for the solo.
Some people, especially with glider experience can do a solo after 10hours, others need 50hours, then what??

I really hated others when they asked "oh, you have 40hours and still no solo? its time to go"... I was always really angry.... thinking f..... you, I KNOW when I am ready.

I told my instructor to never ever try to stress me with getting out of the plane and send me fly alone as a surprise. Because I will feel when I am ready and I will ask the opinion of solo flight myself.

Some people react good in stress like this, I hate when i am pushed.
I fly, i do solo, I go to jog, drive a car, when I feel it. Than I always do better. Pushing me makes me stressed.

It probably sounds a little crazy, but my CFI took me to a 3000 x 25 ft runway for crosswind landing practice. It really helped compared to the practice at my usual 6000 x 75 home field.

Also, practicing in stronger crosswinds were more beneficial than in light crosswinds. It forces you to learn the technique and be sloppy.

Not related to x-wind landings, but honestly, I hope you never have a problem when you fly.

An instructor will solo you when he/she feels you’re ready, not when you ask. If you can’t handle the stress of a planned action, what will you do when something unexpected pops up and you’re by yourself.

A lot of very good and honest responses so far and i agree with all of them.

This was literally my favorite thing to work on with a student when I was instructing. Just simplify it to your feet point your nose where you want it, and your hands align where you want the nose to line up with.