You're bringing back the memories Timbo! My first primary instructor just wasn't getting through to me. It didn't help that I had some exposure to instrument flying prior to officially beginning my primary training... I was transferred to the Chief Pilot. After seeing what I had, which wasn't much; he did something very unexpected. After he finished yelling and just after turning downwind, he said "Take off your shirt!" I hesitated and the yelling started again, "Take off your shirt!" We covered the entire instrument panel and it was then that I started to learn to fly.

It's been years since I flew up there, so my poor memory won't be to much help. I do remember that GAI gets some pretty nice winds in the fall, but I doubt you'll want to wait until October....
Don't worry though, it'll come to you. As an instructor, it still amazes me that you can see the moment when it "clicks" for a student, just as clearly as flipping a light switch.

I was thinking about that the entire time while reading this thread. I don't want to sound negative, but I honestly didn't have a clue how to land during my private instrument and probably most of my commercial too. As I started my CFI, I made that one of highest priorities to actually learn and understand it and then do it well. Hopefully I impressed that on a few students along the way and they didn't have to suffer cluelessly like I did.

Gee, I soloed at 8.5 in a 150. I guess I was special:cool:. That was a long time ago. Carry on.

Many folks soloed in less than ten hours, "Back in the Day" They were typically woefully unprepared for anything to go wrong and often it wasn't all that pretty. Thankfully those days are gone.

My last student soloed at 15.4 hours, and he was an exceptionally good student. Students under my tutelage don't solo until they are ready, and when there is absolute confidence on my part (if something happens, it's my metal getting bent). Striving for a quicker solo time shouldn't be part of a student's thinking, it can easily become a distraction that hinders progress. Safety should be the ultimate key and this required a long term approach.
All to often I see young instructors at the pilot factories pressured into soloing low time students, most of the time the students land without incidence, but not always. The NTSB reports are littered with initial solo accidents to proving it an unwise practice.

Chair flying.....visualize the landing in your mind working your feet and arms for the proper inputs.

Sounds silly...but it works.

Hahaha must have been some interesting lessons, but whatever works!

I just tell myself that I'm building experience and get as close to perfect as possible. :)

I've done that with my maneuvers, will have to try that with landings.

During last fall and winter the winds were bad! Had a few flights that had to be cancelled because of them. Thanks! Guess I gotta wait for my moment:)

I have to assume you weren't around "Back in the Day". That was actually pretty typical then. Things and times were different then. I tend to agree with you on unprepared, but, it's been 41 years for me, and I am none the worse for wear. Deal with it.

Wizepilot, I meant no ill toward you or with my post. Matter of fact, I was very much there "back in the day" Never assume...