Rudder Help and Soloing Question
07-03-2014 | 08:57 PM
#21
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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.
07-04-2014 | 04:24 AM
#22
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From: Admiral
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.
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.
07-04-2014 | 06:03 AM
#23
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Volleyball Player
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.
. That was a long time ago. Carry on.
07-04-2014 | 10:42 AM
#26
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From: Admiral
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.
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.
07-04-2014 | 11:06 AM
#27
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So I have about 18 hours of flight time and when I went up earlier today with my instructor, a couple of hours before I was supposed to complete a pre-solo check-ride (my flight school requires it). The landings were bad but not completely horrible (the plane was able to be used again), however, they were far from solo quality. His biggest complaint was the lack of rudder usage. However, the flight before he said my rudder usage was excellent. Does anyone have any tips for using rudder on landing? Any exercises or tips to help build rudder usage? And a completely random question but, how many hours is average for soloing?
Sounds silly...but it works.
07-05-2014 | 07:34 AM
#28
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From: C172, Left
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
07-05-2014 | 05:35 PM
#29
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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.
