Worst day of flying so far...

[DrewWalden]

I had a bad day flying.

First off getting used to a Cessna after flying Diamonds is weird.

I kept messing up on the check list. I almost got into a spin doing powered on stalls. I couldn't land the thing worth crap, it kept floating down the runway. A new plane, and a new instructor. I think he made me nervous. I guess I was just having an off day. So far, I am not liking high wing A/C.


AHHH!!!

Thanks for letting me vent.

[HOTDOG]

Originally Posted by DrewWalden

I had a bad day flying.

First off getting used to a Cessna after flying Diamonds is weird.

I kept messing up on the check list. I almost got into a spin doing powered on stalls. I couldn't land the thing worth crap, it kept floating down the runway. A new plane, and a new instructor. I think he made me nervous. I guess I was just having an off day. So far, I am not liking high wing A/C.


AHHH!!!

Thanks for letting me vent.

Don't worry too much about it. We've all had bad days. The trick is to get back on the horse...more experience in the high wing will cure most of those ills.

[RightSeatGirl]

I'm sure it wasn't your first and it won't be your last. Don't beat yourself up over it. Tomorrow is a new day.

[Doug Taylor]

It happens, no worries.

You should have seen my very first 767 simulator.

Felt like handing in my books and hightailing it back to the mad dog.

[Jets n props]

Thanks for the reassuring words Doug. My first day in the 767 sim happens in about 5 hours. Fun times!!

JnP

[Doug Taylor]

If it's a -300, you'll be fine. The -200 was like a flying squirrel!

[MQAAord]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

If it's a -300, you'll be fine. The -200 was like a flying squirrel!

"Moose and squirrel"?

[Doug Taylor]

Go for the long pass, Rocky!

That's the only play you know, Bullwinkle!

[cwu50]

I also had a bad first flight after transitioning from diamonds to a 172. It takes a few flights and then you will be fine. I found I floated the plane because I was used to not having to flair a great deal in the DA-20 for it to float a bit, then if I did that in the 172 it would drop like a rock, so I flared a little too much and I floated half way down the runway. It took me about ten touch and go’s and I was good to go.

[turbojet28]

I did all my PPL and IFR stuff and lots of time building all in Cessnas and lately have flown quite a few hours in a Warrior, Arrow, and Apache (old twin Piper). I am of the opinion that the Cessnas are the most difficult to land. Especially in a crosswind. Those things just want to keep flying, especially if you come in too fast. One of the important parts of a safe landing is getting the weight of the aircraft transferred from the wings to the wheels. At their most basic, most light planes are the about the same once you get the feel for them, but I can see how going from something else to a Cessna might be a little more difficult than the other way around.

[ILSstud]

Not to worry...we have all had days like that (especially in the 172 I am sure). Those planes are squirrly when trying to land in even the slightest of headwinds. It happens to the best of us, just get back up in the sky and do better next time :-)happy landings!

[FlyChicaga]

I couldn't but happen to notice that you posted this thread a day after your "cheating girlfriend" thread. Personally, I know that I wouldn't have a clear head for a few days (or weeks) if something like that happened to me. Maybe a few days off to recuperate and get things in order is on tap... Get out, go to a bookstore, coffee shop, the movies, for a run, anything like that the next few days, and you'll be ready to go back at it again with a clearer mind. I'd probably steer clear of the bars, because alcohol is a depressant and most women in bars act like fools.

My ex-girlfriend told me she was planning on moving out while I was on an overnight. I finished a trip the next day, and went home to an empty apartment since she was out of town. I only had two days off, but I ended up calling in sick for my next trip since my mind was preoccupied about things at home. So I took a week and did things to keep busy, and things I enjoyed... By the end of that week, I was able to go back to work and focus properly.

Maybe I'm off-base here, but sometimes these things go hand-in-hand. Just relax... We've all had "off" days during flight training. It happens once in a while.

[777forever]

Yeah Cessnas will do that to ya. I think its just a high wing thing. Of all the airplanes Ive flown high wings were the trickiest to learn to land, ESPECIALLY in a crosswind. Ask any ATR pilot

[Pfactor8]

I have a perfect flight and perfect landing every time I fly... just ask the boxes!

[trafficinsight]

It's just an airplane... Don't worry, you got this!

[BajtheJino]

Originally Posted by Pfactor8

I have a perfect flight and perfect landing every time I fly... just ask the boxes!

I do, too!


No, seriously.

[BCTAv8r]

As for the power-on stalls turning into a spin, that's not a very hard thing to do (getting into a spin that is). Up into just a couple of flights ago I was trying to use the aileron to keep the wings level and was entering a spin just about every time. Just use mostly the rudders with a small aileron input and you should be fine. They are definitely harder than power-off stalls.

Don't worry about messing up. There are days that I get very frustrated and find myself thinking "man, this is really not as fun as I thought it'd be". But it all pays off once you get it.

[DrewWalden]

The problem with that stall is I couldn't see the wings to try to keep it coordinated. I'm so used to flying a low wing. Where you can see which wing to step on. So I stared at the turn coordinator during the stall and ended up putting to much right rudder in, and she finally stalled and banked hard right. I about crapped my pants!

But on the other hand, I was happy with myself. I did the correct thing and got out of the stall. I did it without even thinking, So I guess I am learning something!

[Number1atNumber2]

Transitioning to a different plane can screw anyone up. Personally I HATE high wings because they do seem so different to me when it comes to landings. Wait till you get to type rating land, then you'll learn how much of a pain it can be to go from one plane to another!

Also, as was mentioned before, you're going through this thing with your girl, it may not be a bad idea to put flying on hold for a bit. There is NO shame there, I've had really bad flights before and in hindsight I realized I had tons of crap going on that I thought I had under control, but stress is insidious and you may not realize how bad things are until something happens (hopefully a minor 'something'). I love to fly, but I wouldn't say it's a good stress reliever. If I have a good flight I feel like a million bucks, if it's bad I'm pretty miserable. But that's just me.

[aviatorrbt]

I totally agree above about the plane. You said also that the instructor made you nervous. I had an instructor that I did not really like and because of that I was nervous. Long story short, I had the worst flight of my life -seriously. The next week I went up with an instructor that I did not know, but because he cracked a couple jokes and made me laugh, I had a great flight because I looked at him more as a friend than an instructor.

So my advice for you is to fly with him/her a few more times and see if you get less nervous. If not, I think you should try another instructor. Your paying for the lessons, you should get the best training and you really can't when your not relaxed.

[killbilly]

I had a similar issue happen and posted about it here at JC. Got much the same advice you have, and it was good. We all have the bad days.

The stuff about relationships messing with your head flying is dead on - same thing happened to me, too.

It gets better. You just sorta "punch through" the barrier.

[KLB]

Transitioning to new aircraft can be quite difficult. I wish I could say it gets easier as the aircraft get bigger, but I'd be fibbing. You'll be fine though.

I recall that Cessnas seem to break left or right in a power on stall more than other light aircraft. That doesn't necessarily mean that you're going into a spin, but it means that you could probably be a little more coordinated on the stall and the recovery. Sometimes I had students who continued to hold the rudder when the plane stalled. As soon as it stalls make sure the you are simultaneously the lowering the nose (to the horizon) and releasing some of the rudder pressure. If you keep the rudder pressure in there it will want to break right.

I also remember you could do the stall procedure perfectly in some of the Cessnas that I flew and they would still break in one direction or the other.

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Pfactor8

I have a perfect flight and perfect landing every time I fly... just ask the boxes!

Perfect flight + Metroliner = I wish you weren't a liar.

[Number1atNumber2]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Perfect flight + Metroliner = I wish you weren't a liar.

No offense intended to those who fly them, they just aren't a plane for me.

To the OP, as for the stall thing: I'd recommed watching the horizion and engine cowling more. The ball is a day late and a buck short for giving you info. I instructed in Piper Tomahawks and those things just love to try to rip into a spin, I found that watching the ball was just not good enough, but if you watch the horizion and the cowling they would behave just fine.