First flight, woohoo!

[Scott]

Today I took my first flight lesson! A whole 0.9 hours logged - level
flight, a few climbs and descents, some gentle turns. Quite an experience,
both harder and easier than I had imagined.

We flew out of KSLC, a midsize class B field. Apparently it's not uncommon
to get a lot of turbulence over the airport by midday? I thought it was
uncomfortable but not awful, although my instructor later mentioned that it
was pretty bad. He mentioned that a different airplane might help with
that, too; I'm not a thin man and we were near gross with half fuel in a
Tecnam Sierra LSA. I was told that a beefier airplane like a 172 would be
worth trying.

Being my first time, I didn't have to use the radios. Mastering the chatter
at towered fields will be a challenge for me as I'm a bit shy. We spent
about 15 minutes just sitting on the ramp waiting for permission to move,
apparently it was Ground Control Amateur Hour. Sounded like our guy was a
trainee or something. I tried to concentrate on the experience instead of
how expensive it was.

I'm still not sure what to think of the rudder situation. I had a heck of a
time keeping the ball anywhere near the center. I elected to fly wearing my
artifical leg this time, and ended up basically letting the fake leg rest on
one pedal while I pushed on the other. That got tiring pretty quick. I'll
try going once without it, to see if it's any more practical to manage the
rudder just by moving the one foot back and forth. Toe brakes will surely
be more interesting than the LSA's handbrake in any case.

I have another "first flight" scheduled for tomorrow, this time at an
uncontrolled field flying a glass 172. This school's rental rates are quite
a bit more attractive, and while that's not the only factor to consider,
it's a significant one to me.

[BeechSundowner]

Post by Scott
I have another "first flight" scheduled for tomorrow, this time at an
uncontrolled field flying a glass 172.  This school's rental rates are quite
a bit more attractive, and while that's not the only factor to consider,
it's a significant one to me.

Every flight is my first flight 900 hours later :-)

Welcome to the wonderful world of aviation. I sure hope you continue
to post your experiences!

Allen

[Mike Ash]

Post by Scott
Today I took my first flight lesson! A whole 0.9 hours logged - level
flight, a few climbs and descents, some gentle turns. Quite an experience,
both harder and easier than I had imagined.

Congratulations!

Post by Scott
We flew out of KSLC, a midsize class B field. Apparently it's not uncommon
to get a lot of turbulence over the airport by midday? I thought it was
uncomfortable but not awful, although my instructor later mentioned that it
was pretty bad. He mentioned that a different airplane might help with
that, too; I'm not a thin man and we were near gross with half fuel in a
Tecnam Sierra LSA. I was told that a beefier airplane like a 172 would be
worth trying.

Definitely not uncommon to get turbulence over large paved areas at
midday. They're thermals caused by heating of the ground, and as a
glider pilot that's the sort of thing I live for. For people with
engines, it's not so helpful and so is generally seen as an
inconvenience instead of a great source of fun. Not that this attitude
is *wrong*, it's just a different perspective on things.

You'll probably find turbulence to become less bothersome as you get
used to it. Past a certain point, turbulence can trouble even an
experienced pilot, but typical midday afternoon thermals are no big
deal. If you found them to just be uncomfortable now then you're
probably in a great place to start from, and your discomfort will fade
with time.

Post by Scott
Being my first time, I didn't have to use the radios. Mastering the chatter
at towered fields will be a challenge for me as I'm a bit shy. We spent
about 15 minutes just sitting on the ramp waiting for permission to move,
apparently it was Ground Control Amateur Hour. Sounded like our guy was a
trainee or something. I tried to concentrate on the experience instead of
how expensive it was.

My experience at towered airports is minimal, but I can say that using
the radio gets a lot easier with practice, just like everything else.
It's perfectly normal to feel intimidated by it at first. With time,
that will fade too. I'm pretty shy as well, but once I got used to the
idea, I found using the radio to be pretty easy. As you gain experience,
you stop feeling like you're talking to some frightening authority and
start feeling like you're talking to your peers. (But I'm only talking
on CTAF, no controllers around....)

Post by Scott
I'm still not sure what to think of the rudder situation. I had a heck of a
time keeping the ball anywhere near the center. I elected to fly wearing my
artifical leg this time, and ended up basically letting the fake leg rest on
one pedal while I pushed on the other. That got tiring pretty quick. I'll
try going once without it, to see if it's any more practical to manage the
rudder just by moving the one foot back and forth. Toe brakes will surely
be more interesting than the LSA's handbrake in any case.

I have this memory of another one-legged student in this group from a
while back. I believe he worked the rudders by moving his foot back and
forth between the pedals. Sounded like it took some getting used to, but
worked out well in the end.

Post by Scott
I have another "first flight" scheduled for tomorrow, this time at an
uncontrolled field flying a glass 172. This school's rental rates are quite
a bit more attractive, and while that's not the only factor to consider,
it's a significant one to me.

All else being equal, fly at the cheaper place! Aside from simply saving
money, lower rates will let you fly more, and that's a big help too. The
best instructors aren't in it for the money (are any of them in it for
the money?) so your odds of finding a really great instructor are
probably just as good at the cheap place. I don't know if anything like
this exists in the powered aircraft world, but I learned to fly with a
glider club that has both really good rates and a really spectacular
instructor corps.

Please do keep posting your experiences, and enjoy!

[Steve Hix]

Post by Scott
Today I took my first flight lesson! A whole 0.9 hours logged - level
flight, a few climbs and descents, some gentle turns. Quite an experience,
both harder and easier than I had imagined.

Congratulations; there's not an awful lot you can do with your clothes
on that's more fun.

Post by Scott
We flew out of KSLC, a midsize class B field. Apparently it's not uncommon
to get a lot of turbulence over the airport by midday? I thought it was
uncomfortable but not awful, although my instructor later mentioned that it
was pretty bad. He mentioned that a different airplane might help with
that, too; I'm not a thin man and we were near gross with half fuel in a
Tecnam Sierra LSA. I was told that a beefier airplane like a 172 would be
worth trying.

The Sierra is a nice proper little airplane. I've been flying (and the
similar Tecnam Bravo) for the past year or so, and it generally punches
through bumpies like you felt today a bit better than, say, a Cessna 152.

The 172 is worth trying, too, but the visibility won't be a nice as the
Sierra.

Post by Scott
Being my first time, I didn't have to use the radios. Mastering the chatter
at towered fields will be a challenge for me as I'm a bit shy. We spent
about 15 minutes just sitting on the ramp waiting for permission to move,
apparently it was Ground Control Amateur Hour. Sounded like our guy was a
trainee or something.

Don't forget, we're all trainees, more or less, as long as we're flying.

I got back to flying after a 31-year gap, and the extra workload getting
used to the significant increase in necessary radio work was about the
last thing that I finally got in hand.

Flying in Class C or lower airspace would be easier, but getting used to
flying around KSLC should make outlying areas easier for you.

Post by Scott
I tried to concentrate on the experience instead of how expensive it was.
I'm still not sure what to think of the rudder situation. I had a heck of a
time keeping the ball anywhere near the center.

It will come, don't worry. You could, after all, be flying something
with lots of adverse yaw, like a Champ or J3. You don't have an hour
yet, you know. :}

Post by Scott
I elected to fly wearing my
artifical leg this time, and ended up basically letting the fake leg rest on
one pedal while I pushed on the other. That got tiring pretty quick. I'll
try going once without it, to see if it's any more practical to manage the
rudder just by moving the one foot back and forth. Toe brakes will surely
be more interesting than the LSA's handbrake in any case.

Let us know how that works out, given your leggage. It took me only a
little bit to get used to the Tecnam's brake setup, it feels quite
natural now. (Still not used to the Remos G3, which has a handbrake that
you push, rather than pull like the Tecnam...)

Post by Scott
I have another "first flight" scheduled for tomorrow, this time at an
uncontrolled field flying a glass 172. This school's rental rates are quite
a bit more attractive, and while that's not the only factor to consider,
it's a significant one to me.

Don't worry if you don't solo/progress/get your checkride in the legal
minimum times, almost nobody does. Keep at it, do it right, and have fun.

[Chris]

Today I took my first flight lesson!  A whole 0.9 hours logged - level
flight, a few climbs and descents, some gentle turns.  Quite an experience,
both harder and easier than I had imagined.

Congratulations!

We flew out of KSLC, a midsize class B field.  Apparently it's not uncommon
to get a lot of turbulence over the airport by midday?  I thought it was
uncomfortable but not awful, although my instructor later mentioned that it
was pretty bad.  He mentioned that a different airplane might help with
that, too; I'm not a thin man and we were near gross with half fuel in a
Tecnam Sierra LSA.  I was told that a beefier airplane like a 172 would be
worth trying.

I found I got a little queasy my first lesson, somewhat less queasy in
the second, and by the third light to moderate turbulence doesn't
really bother me at all. Flying under the hood for extended periods
still makes me feel a little unsettled, though. Don't worry; you
should adjust pretty quick, you'll normally barely even notice it
while you're at the controls.

Being my first time, I didn't have to use the radios.  Mastering the chatter
at towered fields will be a challenge for me as I'm a bit shy.  We spent
about 15 minutes just sitting on the ramp waiting for permission to move,
apparently it was Ground Control Amateur Hour.  Sounded like our guy was a
trainee or something.  I tried to concentrate on the experience instead of
how expensive it was.

I kinda find towered airports easier. You just follow a standard
procedure, and you have an extra set of eyes looking out for
problems. Once you get used to the types and order of calls, the
radio's pretty simple. I'm a pretty quiet guy too, but it's pretty
routine -- jitters will go away with time.

You can listen to ATC sites online, which I found quite helpful.
Looks like there's one for KSLC:
http://www.liveatc.net/flisten.php?mount=kslc

I'm still not sure what to think of the rudder situation.  I had a heck of a
time keeping the ball anywhere near the center.  I elected to fly wearing my
artifical leg this time, and ended up basically letting the fake leg rest on
one pedal while I pushed on the other.  That got tiring pretty quick.  I'll
try going once without it, to see if it's any more practical to manage the
rudder just by moving the one foot back and forth.  Toe brakes will surely
be more interesting than the LSA's handbrake in any case.
I have another "first flight" scheduled for tomorrow, this time at an
uncontrolled field flying a glass 172.  This school's rental rates are quite
a bit more attractive, and while that's not the only factor to consider,
it's a significant one to me.

[p***@gmail.com]

Today I took my first flight lesson!  A whole 0.9 hours logged - level
flight, a few climbs and descents, some gentle turns.  Quite an experience,
both harder and easier than I had imagined.
We flew out of KSLC, a midsize class B field.  Apparently it's not uncommon
to get a lot of turbulence over the airport by midday?  I thought it was
uncomfortable but not awful, although my instructor later mentioned that it
was pretty bad.  He mentioned that a different airplane might help with
that, too; I'm not a thin man and we were near gross with half fuel in a
Tecnam Sierra LSA.  I was told that a beefier airplane like a 172 would be
worth trying.
Being my first time, I didn't have to use the radios.  Mastering the chatter
at towered fields will be a challenge for me as I'm a bit shy.  We spent
about 15 minutes just sitting on the ramp waiting for permission to move,
apparently it was Ground Control Amateur Hour.  Sounded like our guy was a
trainee or something.  I tried to concentrate on the experience instead of
how expensive it was.
I'm still not sure what to think of the rudder situation.  I had a heck of a
time keeping the ball anywhere near the center.  I elected to fly wearing my
artifical leg this time, and ended up basically letting the fake leg rest on
one pedal while I pushed on the other.  That got tiring pretty quick.  I'll
try going once without it, to see if it's any more practical to manage the
rudder just by moving the one foot back and forth.  Toe brakes will surely
be more interesting than the LSA's handbrake in any case.
I have another "first flight" scheduled for tomorrow, this time at an
uncontrolled field flying a glass 172.  This school's rental rates are quite
a bit more attractive, and while that's not the only factor to consider,
it's a significant one to me.

Hi Scott,

I am the one-legged student another poster mentioned. I have had to
stop my lessons for the time being because of rotator cuff surgery,
but I have about 20 hours logged in the Flight Design CT flying with
one leg and moving it back and forth on the rudder pedals. It works.
My rudder control is not as smooth as it would be if I had two legs,
but it is good enough. Because I am concerned about using the rudder,
I actually have a tendency to over-use it and I have been trying to
use it a little less. Ironic, eh?

I definitely don't think I can fly a plane with toe brakes (although I
have to admit I have never tried). But I don't use a prosthesis. I
have a at-the-hip amputation, so a prosthesis is pretty useless for
me. If you do have trouble with toe brakes, but you still want to
move to something heavier than an LSA, there are a lot of Piper
Cherokees out there with hand brakes.

Congratulations on completing your first flight. That is a big step.
I remember driving home from my first flight feeling totally
overwhelmed and wondering what I had gotten myself into. But as I got
more experience I felt more and more comfortable in the cockpit and in
the air. If you experienced something similar, I encourage you to
work past those feelings. They will go away with time.

Good luck, Scott. I hope you enjoy flying.

Phil

[a***@yahoo.co.uk]

Welcome aboard Scott. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Feel
free to continue sharing! :-)