Sinistar
En-Route
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2016
- Messages
- 3,734
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Display name:
Brad
Even before I started my lessons I had noticed this. While we were flying my wife would have me try several things 
....not those kinds of things! Anyway, what I noticed was that I would get very tense and then always comment afterwards that I would only be 90% or 85% after we landed. I was hell bent on figuring it out. In the end I think it was a couple of things:
1.) When I was flying, which was new to me I was all over the place so my balance / inner ear was off and this left me just drained (not sick, just out of energy). Of course she had done all this before so it didn't phase her at all.
2.) For part of the flight I was not in control! So any maneuvers she did to demonstrate left me feeling like I was on a ride and not in control of it (once again not sick, just drained).
...I mentioned this to PPL instructors as I interviewed them. One instructor in particular actually told me that what is happening is that I am tense, but more importantly my heart rate was somewhat elevated for the majority of the flight. He said in some ways it was just like a hour long light exercise workout and thus expect to be drained.
So I was worried about this during my lessons. Ironically, during lessons I have yet to experience this! Even after about 40 minutes under the hood last night (where I am the most tense).
I think it has to do with a couple things. I now eat something with energy right before a flight (think half a candy bar). I drink a bit of Gatorade and then some water. I always keep cabin air flowing during the lesson (unless it is cold). More importantly, I think it is because I feel in control and am not nearly as erratic after about 50 steep turns, power off glides right to power on climbs, etc.
I would recommend loading up on a bit of energy, definitely drink some water first, keep some cabin air flowing, make sure your headset is not overly constricting and if possible, try 2-3 lessons back to back since a month is a long time.
Also, often the plane is available sitting on the ramp. Ask if you can chair fly it. Put on your headphones and just go thru the motions for 30-60 minutes. It won't cost you anything and you will get more familiar with the environment. Tweak the headphones, try different cushions or pads, etc, etc.
My instructor says he tells all his students to chair fly in the plane if its available. No one ever does. I chair fly our plane at least 1hr between flight days whenever possible. And I will be doing more now that we're going to work on patterns and landings and he's defined exactly how we'll be doing it.
....not those kinds of things! Anyway, what I noticed was that I would get very tense and then always comment afterwards that I would only be 90% or 85% after we landed. I was hell bent on figuring it out. In the end I think it was a couple of things:1.) When I was flying, which was new to me I was all over the place so my balance / inner ear was off and this left me just drained (not sick, just out of energy). Of course she had done all this before so it didn't phase her at all.
2.) For part of the flight I was not in control! So any maneuvers she did to demonstrate left me feeling like I was on a ride and not in control of it (once again not sick, just drained).
...I mentioned this to PPL instructors as I interviewed them. One instructor in particular actually told me that what is happening is that I am tense, but more importantly my heart rate was somewhat elevated for the majority of the flight. He said in some ways it was just like a hour long light exercise workout and thus expect to be drained.
So I was worried about this during my lessons. Ironically, during lessons I have yet to experience this! Even after about 40 minutes under the hood last night (where I am the most tense).
I think it has to do with a couple things. I now eat something with energy right before a flight (think half a candy bar). I drink a bit of Gatorade and then some water. I always keep cabin air flowing during the lesson (unless it is cold). More importantly, I think it is because I feel in control and am not nearly as erratic after about 50 steep turns, power off glides right to power on climbs, etc.
I would recommend loading up on a bit of energy, definitely drink some water first, keep some cabin air flowing, make sure your headset is not overly constricting and if possible, try 2-3 lessons back to back since a month is a long time.
Also, often the plane is available sitting on the ramp. Ask if you can chair fly it. Put on your headphones and just go thru the motions for 30-60 minutes. It won't cost you anything and you will get more familiar with the environment. Tweak the headphones, try different cushions or pads, etc, etc.
My instructor says he tells all his students to chair fly in the plane if its available. No one ever does. I chair fly our plane at least 1hr between flight days whenever possible. And I will be doing more now that we're going to work on patterns and landings and he's defined exactly how we'll be doing it.
