A Confession

[Fly-GUY]

Before my confession let me start with:
Got my PPl in the early 90s and logged about 250hrs in four years before quittting because of new wife, new job and new commitments. Things were good back then, but back to my story. Back when I had about 30hrs I was practicing stalls with my instructor, I had done stalls many times before and was just getting comfortable with the maneuvers, but on this day while doing a stall the plane (c-172) broke in a way that I had not experienced before. It was like being on the roller coast at 6 flags and taking that first big drop. Both of my hands flew off the yoke as if I was dropping a hot potato, one hand grabbed the window and the other the instructor knee. I thought many times what would have happened if I had been alone in the plane. Would I had been startle just momentary but recovered in time to gain control or would I had stayed frozen all the way to the ground?
My instructor simply reduce power to idle, leveled the wings and we were once again flying, he later explained how I was in uncoordinated flight and the importance of being coordinate. Many stalls later, I became comfortable enough to perform them with no problem. Recently, after a long time off I'm back flying, but here's my confession, I have never performed a stall without an instructor in the right seat. I realize that I wasted a lot of opportunities to address a weakness or hole in my piloting skills. I'm embarrassed by that fact but I'm back now after more than a 15 year absence and this time I intend on doing something about.
Any similar stories out there or advice?

 

[ClimbnSink]

Dude it is a 172 let go and it flies better. Unless you overspeed the thing you ain't going to hurt anything.

 

[asechrest]

The advice for an irrational fear is often to conquer it. Go up with an instructor, admit you freak out when you drop a wing during a stall, and then start doing a ton of stalls. Train your brain and body to react rationally.

Interestingly, in the scenario you relate, assuming you are flying a typical trainer, the plane likely would have recovered on its own after you took your hands off the yoke. Still, freezing up and doing nothing is not often the best course of action during an event.

 

[Geico266]

Seriously, take some aerobatic instruction. Stalls will become so routine and a non event that you will look forward to them and never worry about them again.

If that is too much for you to take on all at once then go up with a good CFI and tell them you need to work through a series of stalls again.

You need to be able to stall any airplane you fly. You need to know where the stall is so that you can make good landings and avoid stalls in the pattern. Don't be that guy who is afraid of them!


Welcome to POA.

 

[brian]]

Hey, I'm still getting used to doing stalls in my (new to me) airplane. Hard to admit, this time last year it scared the foo out of me.. So I contacted a bonanza instructor. The best thing he did for me was take me up a couple of times to do lazy 8s and some other commercial maneuvers.

(He also took the yoke - the Bo has a single throw over wheel - and told me to fly the airplane. Did most of the ppl maneuvers myself with the trim wheel, and rudder pedals.)

Best option is to just go flying and like others, spend some quality time with an instructor you can trust.

... Say, I might just give mine a call...

 

[Witmo]

Get some spin training.

 

[RV10flyer]

All good advice above. Practice, practice, practice! I am about where you are hour-wise. I initially practiced in a -10 with a transition trainer/cfi, then solo in my own. My family now always goes up with me to practice maneuvers. They understand the importance and know I will knock it off if anyone gets queazy. A 4-point harness sure is more secure than my old Cessna belt. Have fun getting back in the groove and welcome. Great flying wx here!

 

[olasek]

but here's my confession, I have never performed a stall without an instructor in the right seat.

I find this strange, my instructor sent me on a few solo flights just to practice stalls (of course after she showed me how to do it) during my PPL training. I thought it was part of the standard PPL curriculum.

 

[somorris]

I second (or third) the suggestion to take an unusual attitude or aerobatic course. Unless you have a lot of trouble with vertigo or your stomach, you won't regret it. You need to get more comfortable near the edges.

 

[Mike Smith]

I still don't like power on stalls. I have only done one solo, it was fine, but I still don't like them. I have done dozens dual and recovered them all without help. I am going to do more of them solo, a couple a flight, until I get comfortable with them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[frfly172]

Get an unusual attitude course.will help you feel more comfortable doing stalls. Then stalls in a 172 will be a non event.

 

[AuntPeggy]

Before my confession let me start with:
Got my PPl in the early 90s and logged about 250hrs in four years before quittting because of new wife, new job and new commitments. Things were good back then, but back to my story. Back when I had about 30hrs I was practicing stalls with my instructor, I had done stalls many times before and was just getting comfortable with the maneuvers, but on this day while doing a stall the plane (c-172) broke in a way that I had not experienced before. It was like being on the roller coast at 6 flags and taking that first big drop. Both of my hands flew off the yoke as if I was dropping a hot potato, one hand grabbed the window and the other the instructor knee. I thought many times what would have happened if I had been alone in the plane. Would I had been startle just momentary but recovered in time to gain control or would I had stayed frozen all the way to the ground?
My instructor simply reduce power to idle, leveled the wings and we were once again flying, he later explained how I was in uncoordinated flight and the importance of being coordinate. Many stalls later, I became comfortable enough to perform them with no problem. Recently, after a long time off I'm back flying, but here's my confession, I have never performed a stall without an instructor in the right seat. I realize that I wasted a lot of opportunities to address a weakness or hole in my piloting skills. I'm embarrassed by that fact but I'm back now after more than a 15 year absence and this time I intend on doing something about.
Any similar stories out there or advice?

Welcome to PoA. It is good to have newcomers come in with new questions.

Stall recovery can be scary at first. After you become comfortable with them, just keep on improving your skills. Good luck.

 

[steingar]

I think I've only done one stall without an instructor, and it was inadvertent. The point of stall training isn't to do them right, it's to keep them from happening in the first place. Staying coordinated is really important, since most stalls result from a lack of coordination turning base to final.

 

[gismo]

I think I've only done one stall without an instructor, and it was inadvertent. The point of stall training isn't to do them right, it's to keep them from happening in the first place. Staying coordinated is really important, since most stalls result from a lack of coordination turning base to final.

I haven't had an inadvertent stall in an airplane since I quit flying acro several years ago but I've done plenty of deliberate ones and IMO it's important to experience a few actual stalls in any airplane you fly regularly so you're prepared for the inadvertent ones.

 

[CharlieTango]

... most stalls result from a lack of coordination turning base to final.

Stalls occur when the wing exceeds the critical angle of attack.

The base to final issue is from limiting bank and skidding into a spin entry.

 

[marcoseddi]

I've never done a stall myself either only 60 hours though ppl

 

[ChrisK]

I've never done a stall myself either only 60 hours though ppl

That seems strange to me. I got a stall demo on my first flight.

 

[RV10flyer]

That seems strange to me. I got a stall demo on my first flight.

Started practicing them on my second or third training flight and still do with the family several times every year. I remember a couple of CFI's that did not care for them. Glad mine did.

 

[pete480]

I've never done a stall without my instructor.

 

[MAKG1]

Slipping stall?

Experiencing one of those for the first time can really scare the heck out of you. The "wrong" (top) wing stalls. If you react with the ailerons rather than rudder, it will be a whole lot worse.

Stalls are a routine part of proficiency. Student pilots should get their instructor's OK to do them solo, but certificated pilots should just be able to do it. If you're not confident, go with an instructor and change that. At least falling leaf stalls.

 

[Rick Wallace]

After some spin training in a super decathlon, stalls are not intimidating at all and I was overly fearful of stalls before the spin training. Just something connects in your head after spinning toward the ground and being able to recover then doing a simple stall with minimal altitude loss.

 

[Geico266]

I haven't had an inadvertent stall in an airplane since I quit flying acro several years ago but I've done plenty of deliberate ones and IMO it's important to experience a few actual stalls in any airplane you fly regularly so you're prepared for the inadvertent ones.

+1.