I think I only died once

[cjsmith]

After my lesson Benjamin asked "So what's your assessment?"

My reply was that I was all over the sky. He claims it wasn't that bad, and on rational reflection I have to admit that there's only one time I would have failed to land safely (one of the simulated engine failures). But it just wasn't solid, y'know?

There's a lot of LITTLE stuff that needs fixing. I'm usually, but not always, keeping the ball centered on climbout. I'm usually, but not always, keeping good control of the airspeed both on the climbout and on the approach. I'm usually, except for just one time, keeping very good alignment of the aircraft with the runway centerline on short final and flare.

Benjamin says there's not one thing that stands out for me to work on: "it all just needs to gel." Me, I get worried when I hear something like that. I start to think "So I just wait for the Good Piloting Fairy to wave her magic wand?" I have had lots of situations in my life where the only thing I could really do was wait for the ________ Fairy to come by. So far I have been disappointed every time. I hope this isn't one of those.

LVK tomorrow, if the weather holds.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

This is exactly where I was with the Pitts, once upon a time. My acro was flawless; even my instructor, who I now think frankly didn't want to see me ever solo the Pitts, gave me that. But my landings -- while he claimed every single one of them was safe -- just weren't quiiiiiite consistent enough. For many months. I don't want to total how many thousands of dollars I spent before I decided I wasn't playing the fool any more. I quit cold, walking away from the whole thing.

I hadn't been back to fly an aircraft until now.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I'd cross my fingers for the Pilot Fairy to wave her magic wand over you, but would it be more productive to discuss anything in more detail with your current instructor?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It might be time to tell him this bit of my history. He should know that I have little patience left, and that when I get this kind of feedback what it tells me is "quit flying forever".

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's something that it would be good for him to know.

I'm not sure if this is relevant or if it's the same kind of situation, but there's things, mostly physical things like juggling, that I've learned by - first understandiing how it works with my conscious brain, and then just doing it over & over & fucking over until my muscles have learned it or my subconscious has learned it or whatever. There's no substitute for repetition nor can I predict when, or even if, it will work. But it does, mostly, eventually work.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

A flight student at work said something similar: that really, repetition might indeed be the key. I honestly didn't have any trouble with that when I was working toward my license. Maybe I'm just too proud, now? I don't think I should have to do the hard work?? But in any case, you've said it and he's said it and gdmusumeci below said something similar... it helps. Thank you. I'm oversensitive, but once I know that, I can buckle down.

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Cool. Yeah, it's very annoying when repetition is the best thing, because I'm like "I did this already! I'm not learning anything new!" But in fact parts of me are. The very slow parts. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Article on how to become good at stuff - the graphic says it all. Most people aren't willing to suck at something for as long as it takes. That would SO be me.