Another David Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 In the process of learning to fly and loving it so far. At the stage of trying to master that landing thing. Controlled panic I think is a good description of where I am at currently. Just hoping one day it will all feel as easy as driving a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Evan. Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Hey David, welcome! Don't worry, I had trouble coming to terms with this landing business. Having the ground coming up towards me at 130 km/h made me nervous, but I found decent videos on YouTube and watched late final to touchdown bit over and over until I was de-sensitised a bit. Worked for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfGnome Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Controlled panic is fine Dave - it's the uncontrolled panic you have to worry about! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest davidh10 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Welcome, fellow David ;-) Try to relax and focus your attention on the things your instructor has told you. Fill your mind with the things you need to do, and don't think about things that you must not do. Your instructor won't want you to crash with him / her in the aircraft, so put panic of any kind out of your mind. CASA has a very good educational film clip called "Look Out", on situational awareness. Amongst other things, it talks about why you shouldn't be thinking about what not to do. I know it sounds strange, but it has to do with how the brain works and is very important. You should cover this sort of thing in your Human Factors training. Ask your instructor to be able to see it. It is very likely s/he will have it on DVD, or you can order it for yourself from CASA's web site. All their educational materials cost only the postage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pookemon Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Welcome David, I know exactly what you mean. Yesterday was my second solo and it was blowing a bit of a gale with a lot of turbulence around the circuit (I thought it was alot - my instructor said "Yeah, there's a bit, it's not too bad" - thats what experience does). We were bouncing all over the place on my first circuit and I was feeling rather ordinary (read terrified). After 6 circuits my instructor asked me if I wanted to solo. If he'd asked on my first circuit I would have said no - but it was the practise that gave me the confidence to do it (and I think I survived... Yep, definitely survived). I vaguely remember my first "solo" in a car being the same way (OMG, OMG, OMG....). Give it time - with every landing it gets that much easier (yesterday I had the revelation that my feet are starting to work the way they should). And Gnome's comment is spot on. It's when you can't control the panic that you need to worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Evan. Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Was that you in Tweetie late in the day? About 4-ish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pookemon Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I finished at about 4 ish then someone else took off for their flight test. [Edit]: Actually I probably finished flying about 3 or so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oksinay Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 If it's any help, for me the Eureka moment was understanding that I wasn't actually trying to land but rather to fly a couple of feet off the runway as far as possible and to just gently hold it off as it tries to settle. Practice, practice, practice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Evan. Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I probably finished flying about 3 or so... Aaah. We just missed each other, then! Next time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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