myblog

I have about 8.5hrs now and I’m still loving it.  I’ve had a couple minor set backs, much of it instructor related.  Therefore, I’ve recently changed instructors. I’m amazed with how much I’ve learned from my new instructor in 2 lessons. 

I noticed from the beginning that my old instructor wasn’t very motivated but I wanted to give her a shot because she seemed like a really cool person to work with.  6hrs later we still had not done any ground training, we still weren’t really connecting any kind of a personal level and I realized by overhearing a conversation she was having with another instructor that she wasn’t teaching me things like go arounds and ground reference maneuvers yet, not because I wasn’t ready for them, but because she didn’t like teaching them.  I’ve been struggling since the beginning with the wind steering me off course and she’s never mentioned crabbing at any point.  My first lesson with the new instructor and I no longer have any issues with this.  Also, she never told me that when power is pulled back past a certain point that carb heat has to be set.  I was extremely worried about what other things she was NOT teaching me and figured with how hard I have to work to come up with the money to pay for these lessons that I want to have the most quality experience possible.  I have no hard feelings towards the old instructor and I really hope she is not upset with me.  She’s a very nice girl but I just feel that this is the best move for my training.

Ryan, my new instructor is a really great instructor.  He is a gold seal instructor who has been flying for 15yrs.  He’s flown corporate and made the big bucks but never felt as fulfilled as when he instructed so he gave up the corporate gigs to come back and teach beginners how to fly.  He loves it and you can tell.  He’s huge on ground instruction, which I think I need a lot of.  He’s very patient and very encouraging but honest also.  I’ve already really clicked with him and very much enjoy our lessons.  I think I’ve learned more from the last 2 hours from him than all 6 previous.  I think that he’ll have me confident and ready to solo in no time. 

I’m still loving it.  Still hanging in there and flying as often as I can afford.  I’m having Ryan check out everything I know, beginning with preflight to make sure I’m doing it all right and I understand everything to the degree that I should.  Lately we’ve been working on ground reference maneuvers, go arounds and forward slips.  We also took a little time yesterday to practice my taxiing a little more.  It wasn’t bad but now it’s much better and I’m much more confident.  I’m very happy with my decision to change instructors and very excited to see what lies ahead.