Pilot in training update. 3.2 hours so far!

J

Josh Parker

Filing Flight Plan
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Oct 26, 2018
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Display name:
Park6361
I didn't think I'd get this many hours so quick. But I'm 3.2 total hours since 10/25 and three lessons (1.0, 1.0, and 2.2). Overall, I think I'm solidly hooked and want to go through all the way! Looking at headsets/ipads blah blah. Thoughts below;
1. The second lesson I did at a different school to test them out. The plane was a lot older (carb vs. fuel injected). He built off my first lesson and I taxi'd, took off (he controlled radio), did power off stalls, and I did a landing (he helped, said he did 40%). Overall I didn't like him as much as he was fidgeting and constantly hovering over controls. But, good 1.0 hour logged in really bumpy air. Side note, I got queezy! I'm sure it's nerves from him and the new work I was doing, but wow it was there.
2. Had 3rd lesson with original CFI and was reminded I like this guy even though he's new to CFI. I taxi'd, took off, we did ground reference maneuvers, flew to small non-towered airport and I did pattern work, which was A LOT remembering to use radio, set speeds/altitude, and flaps, I wasn't great but got it right some of the time. I did 4 landings with some assistance, and one he asked my opinion and I called it off for a go around and he was very pleased I chose that. I'm learning sight picture, AIRPSEED!! and I love it. We even dabbled in VOR which I picked up on really quick.
3. I told him I want to learn charts/manual way old school first, BUT I'm leaning toward andoird tablet with fltplan go as opposed to FF with ipad. I'd have to buy ipad. Is fltpln go okay for VFR and using for flt plans and flt tracking verifying VFR? Or is FF just the bees knees and worth it?
 
You’ll have to learn charts and manual navigation for your checkride. I came to like the chart process. If I have a GPS I’ll typically put my destination into the GPS but I like pilotage and dead reckoning.
 
LoLPilot said:
You’ll have to learn charts and manual navigation for your checkride. I came to like the chart process. If I have a GPS I’ll typically put my destination into the GPS but I like pilotage and dead reckoning.
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I agree! I've done a lot of good Navigation work with my time in the Army. Yesterday I learned how to do VOR, and dead reckoning with heading, and pilotage using landmarks. It's awesome.
 
Save FF as a reward to yourself after you pass your checkride. It is very nice to fly with, but best left alone until after the checkride.
 
tawood said:
Save FF as a reward to yourself after you pass your checkride. It is very nice to fly with, but best left alone until after the checkride.
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I like that. I'll put it on the goal for my checkride. I have much more important things to focus on right now. I can't even land on my own yet :)
 
tawood said:
Save FF as a reward to yourself after you pass your checkride. It is very nice to fly with, but best left alone until after the checkride.
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I third it. I don’t allow my students to use it n XCs. If they bring it anyway, it goes right back in their flight bag. Nothing against it and I think it’s wonderful, but we have to train the chart way for now.
 
Enjoy the training. Be on a lookout for a nearby taildragger CFI. A few hours of TG pattern work will greatly improve your landings.
 
texasclouds said:
Enjoy the training. Be on a lookout for a nearby taildragger CFI. A few hours of TG pattern work will greatly improve your landings.
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Saw a vintage aerobatic and cessna tail dragger hanging around yesterday. Next lesson is pretty much Touch and Go pattern work to drill it in.
 
Josh Parker said:
3. I told him I want to learn charts/manual way old school first,
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I've started my ground schooling for CFI-A.

One of my thoughts when I do start teaching is to remain with paper charts throughout much of the training. In my opinion, the student needs to have a firm footing in the foundational material presented on paper sectionals and their use before moving up to electronic solutions.

My primary instructors were big fans of basic pilotage skills. And being taught this way has served me well ever since.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Common CFI humor about the cost of flight lessons....
Learning to take off......$500.00
Learning to land........$7,500.00​
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Nailed it! Although hopefully it'll be cheaper than 8K for me! I'm paying $89 an hour dry for plane, then $35 an hour for instructor.
 
One suggestion that really helped me improve landings.......

Once established on stabilized final approach: Take a deep breath, roll my shoulders to loosen any tension, and take my hands off and either clap or do "jazz hands".

The latter is sorta silly, but made sure I wasn't death gripping the controls, and demonstrated the aircraft was trimmed properly for the desired speed. If needed, make a slight change to trim.

But the former really helped reduce the chance of my over controlling the aircraft.


Also, study the Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 8. The information and images there can really help you at this stage of your flying.

upload_2018-10-31_11-40-50.png
 
Josh Parker said:
Nailed it! Although hopefully it'll be cheaper than 8K for me! I'm paying $89 an hour dry for plane, then $35 an hour for instructor.
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You have found a very good deal. Take every advantage of it.
 
I knew a Josh Parker in the Army. He was a horrible IP! :D
 
AggieMike88 said:
One suggestion that really helped me improve landings.......

Once established on stabilized final approach: Take a deep breath, roll my shoulders to loosen any tension, and take my hands off and either clap or do "jazz hands".

The latter is sorta silly, but made sure I wasn't death gripping the controls, and demonstrated the aircraft was trimmed properly for the desired speed. If needed, make a slight change to trim.

But the former really helped reduce the chance of my over controlling the aircraft.


Also, study the Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 8. The information and images there can really help you at this stage of your flying.

View attachment 68604
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And nail your airspeed, especially short final.
 
bobmrg said:
Not following a syllabus? Seems early for pattern work.

Bob
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We do have a syllabus, but the CFI did say we'll try things out to gauge when to make next step. He told me at any point I didn't feel comfortable to speak up.
 
bobmrg said:
Not following a syllabus? Seems early for pattern work.

Bob
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Yep. Teaching landings is one of the last things I do with my students before they solo. They don’t even get to go in the pattern until they can demonstrate proficiency in rectangular patterns.
 
Apparently you young folk haven't heard the term "Parker time".
 
Peter Parker?
Parker Colorado?
Parker Watch Repair?
 
Google doesn't even help with "Parker Time"...and I'm 51 and also never heard of it...
 
gdwindowpane said:
51 years old and have not heard the term "Parker time". Please explain.
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It's the embellishment of one's logbook (usually to get around some regulation.) Parker = Parker Pen, as opposed to actual flight time.
 
Josh Parker said:
Wow...you are right, Can you tell I calculated it after flying 2.2 hours straight? I was brain fried...
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Hmmm.... that can be a sign of an instructor who isn't quite up to the expected level of awesomeness....

Mental fatigue can come on pretty quick in low time students. Best to keep flight times of early lessons to about 1.0 to 1.2 hours. Otherwise the capability of student to listen/grok/apply/remember the teachings will quickly diminish as they tire.
 
I bet you can't wait until you start doing flight performance and weight & balance calculations.
 
I definitely wouldn't embellish lowering time as opposed to actual flight time :D . But we both agreed to keep it below that 2.2 time until my brain can handle more.
 
Josh Parker said:
We do have a syllabus, but the CFI did say we'll try things out to gauge when to make next step. He told me at any point I didn't feel comfortable to speak up.
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The ad hoc approach works, but it takes more time and money than the tried-and-true building block system that is part and parcel of a syllabus.

Bob
 
bobmrg said:
The ad hoc approach works, but it takes more time and money than the tried-and-true building block system that is part and parcel of a syllabus.

Bob
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I've heard arguments both ways. I personally am a fan of having a true syllabus, but training to standard, not to time. If I master something in .5 hours that says 1 hour, why not move on and build where that mastered maneuver will be repeated anyway once you build to next lesson? If that "check on learning" proves that .5 wasnt enough, then go back and revisit.
 
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