I got a new CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) today. My old one got a job flying rich people around in corporate jets. (a common career for CFI's) As it turns out, my old CFI wasn't doing much of a job. I like this new guy a lot more and I learned more from him in this hour than I did from the last 3.
However, that meant that I had to start at the beginning. I never did the basics like climbs, descents, turns, etc...
The best part, tho, was "slow flight". There you learn how to fly the plane as slow as possible without falling out of the sky. In a Cessna 172S, that means about 55 knots--that's just over 63 mph. I know that doesn't sound too slow, but remember that I'm keeping 2,300 lbs aloft just using the same air you feel when you stick your hand out the window while driving down the road. And at 2,500 feet in the air, it really feels like treading water.
The only bad part of the hour was the landing. The air was really rough for the last 800 feet. (not unusual, but it was worse than usual) I was all over the place. I'm told that a good landing is any one you walk away from--I'm shooting for a little better than that.
Another good thing is that I finally got an answer from my CFI as to how I'm doing overall. My last one never said anything. It's tough to gage my progress because I've got no standard to base it against.
He said I'm doing ok. He said I'm just a little "ahead" of normal. (but nothing phenomenal) He seemed to think that I'll be soloing after about 15 hours.
Finally, I've got my eyes on a yoke and pedals on eBay for Flight Simulator. If that shaves even an hour off my training, they will pay for themselves.
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