Warbird Information Exchange

Mudge,
It could be pre-stage check jitters. On my first stage check, I almost landed in the marsh just off the end of the runway!
Seriously though, keep an eye on your relationship and communication with your current instructor. There's a reason I flew with 14 instructors before getting my PPL. Granted, most of those were single flights - total of 4 'primary' instructors. When communication in the cockpit breaks down and it impacts your flying and the enjoyment that flying brings....change instructors! I had a couple times that I 'walked away' for several months at a time when these things occurred. it's not that unusual. most of all....don't let it get to you and don't give up.
Cindy

My instructor and I get along great. We "hack" on each other from time to time (in fun) but he'll go over stuff as many times as I need him to without getting exasperated by it.
He also understands my slightly "obtuse" sense of humor.

Mudge the comic

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Land of the free because of the brave

Hope things go better next time. I just got down from my stage check and it went waaay better than I thought it would. Personally, having done part 61 for the PPL, I think I'm liking this better. It should make a big difference when you actually get to the real checkride. It'll be a lot less intimidating.

On to grey skies!

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Mudge,
I started taking lessons in a C-150 when I turned 12. I sat on a phone book with an extra cushion behind my back so I could reach the rudder pedals. Since I could not solo until 16, I spent four years as the "village bicycle", all the instructors at the local airport used me to build time and I learned something from all of them so it seemed like a great deal to me. As I was approaching 16, it was time to get a student pilot's medical. The local AME checked my eyes and discovered that I was legally blind in one eye and would need glasses to solo and at some point, a demonstrated waiver to finish my private certificate. This problem had been discovered by the local school nurse when I was about six years old. Back in 1969, the only option was a patch over my good eye and a ridiculous pair of glasses that made me look like Mr. Magoo. I kept loosing and or breaking them so my parents gave up. I learned to get along just fine with one working eye but I never had true stereo vision and my depth perception was limited or non-existent.

So at the age of 15 I suddenly found myself with a pair of really odd looking glasses and for the first time in my life, some level of depth perception. I had been flying as a student pilot for over three years and had accumulated time in seven or eight different nose wheel and tail wheel planes so I thought I was more than ready to solo and continue toward my certificate. It turned out that I could still fly with my new glasses but my first landing was, well, let's just say it sent everyone running. The next ones were worse and the problem continued for at least a month. It looked like I had suddenly forgotten how to land a plane. It was frustrating and demoralizing. While I was trying to re-learn my landing technique I started to loose confidence in other aspects of my flying. I nearly gave it up but eventually, I did firgure it out and adjust to my "new" mode of vision.

Keep it up, your persistence will pay off.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"