Rob's Private Pilot Training Experience

Lesson 6
Date: April 14th, 2007
Hours: 1.6
Total Hours To Date: 8.1
Summary: 0.5 instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind

Previous Lessons Summary
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

This was my first intermediate check ride with another instructor. My main instructor has 4k hours and is very laid back. This one is younger with less hours, but very qualified and more by the book. I like the diversity in styles.

15 kt winds with 25 kt gusts. 320 direction using NW 35. Good experience in these conditions. Flew to practice area and then put the foggles on first. We spent a solid half hour doing all basic maneuvers by instrument. It was more difficult than I expected. I got the hand of it and he even had me close the eyes, set me up unusual attitude and I had to recover by instruments. Good experience and when foggles came off it was a funny sensation for a minute as I felt overwhelmed I now had to look outside AND in.

We did S-Turns and then a point turn. Approached Alliance and did 3 go arounds all practicing aileron and rudder control right above runway. I also did my first ATC response, but Alliance had much going on and instructor did most. We had extended downwinds and even a 360 after on approach.

Confusion between different towers and officials on any TFR's today. Alliance was saying no, but someone said auto-TFR with any event having 30k people, which the BUSCH race will have.

I did all the NW communication, feeling very comfortable with that, taxiing, flight checks, and takeoffs. Approaches and pattern flying is getting to a medium comfort level even with the strong crosswinds past few lessons. I haven't really been getting full control of touchdowns that I know about, so would say confidence there is nil.

Have 3 lessons scheduled next week and main goals are landings in prep of solo.

 

Lesson 7
Date: April 16th, 2007
Hours: 1.6
Total Hours To Date: 9.7
Summary: practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC

Previous Lessons Summary
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Finally got a solid lesson just working on landings. We’ve only had a few here and there before. We did 8 touch & go’s at Alliance and that was great practice as we were in same pattern with constant winds. I was able to robot the pattern and concentrate on the landing. I’ve become very comfortable with approaches, but with lack of practice previously haven’t done much with the final 50 ft. Even though my approaches were consistent, those last 50 feet were looking different each time. I wasn’t smooth at all and a little frustrated I didn’t do better. After the lesson we talked over my main mistake today was pulling back too early. Especially with 20 degree flaps, I just haven’t trusted the sight picture those last 50 feet. I am flaring way too early and hurting us by loosing airspeed and then after the corrections everything botched up. The slower, then the less control too for corrections. I think the verbal que I will use in next lessons is to trust flying down into the ground effect before flaring. Yes we are looking straight down and to me I was doing the right thing by pulling back as it feels like we’re going to hit nose wheel, but really I guess we need to keep it down longer for the flare. I’ll give it a try next time.

So I guess I can’t expect to be greasing them the first day of real landing practice. Positive notes on the lesson is I had first landings and go arounds with no input at all from instructor. There were several he had to help, but there were several I did all on my own, although maybe a little rough. Also did really well on the radio, take offs (straight out), and pattern.

4 lessons scheduled over next 9 days, I hope to be writing 9 days from now how comfortable I am with landings.

 

Lesson 8
Date: April 18th, 2007
Hours: 1.2
Total Hours To Date: 10.9
Summary: foggles, 45 degree turns, forward slips, 3 touch & go's

Previous Lessons Summary
4/16/07: Lesson 7 - practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC (1.6 hrs)
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Main instructor had to cancel our 4 o'clock, but my backup I've been flying with was available at 1pm and with no meetings, I just took a LONG lunch. Everything great through takeoff, heading to practice field did some more foggles w/turns. Main new skill today was 45 degree turns. Instructor demonstrated both directions for the sight picture reference. I then did a few both directions. I was surprised how much fine control you still have on the plane at 45 degrees, so maneuvers went well, but perfection will take practice. However, a BAD first for me today. When instructor was doing the 45's, I got first signs of light headed (pre-motion sickness). No upset stomach, but head a little loopy (actually, my head is still a little loopy). It was hot up in the cockpit and I just had some nice tex-mex an hour before. Only when he was in control, I did turns with no problems, except for the lingering. As I said before, I have a history of getting sea-sick (100 mile out Red Snapper fishing in HUGE swells). Until today not even slightest signs of motion sickness. Oh well, I'll have to watch this now that I proved I'm not immune or have grown out of it.

We then practiced forward slips at speed, then approach speeds. We practiced an S and point turn. I had to get back to work, but we went over to Alliance for 3 touch & go's. The worse one today was better than the best Monday. This instructor didn't have me use flaps and beforehand we had really talked about the sight picture and keeping it down into ground effect, then adjusting to next target. There might be hope for me yet I don't have to parachute out now the landings are getting better.

 

Lesson 9
Date: April 21st, 2007
Hours: 1.4
Total Hours To Date: 12.3
Summary: emergency procedures, ATC pattern drills, 4 touch & go's

Previous Lessons Summary
4/18/07: Lesson 8 - foggles, 45 degree turns, forward slips, 3 touch & go's (1.2 hrs)
4/16/07: Lesson 7 - practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC (1.6 hrs)
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Good lesson again today. Beautiful day for flying, a little hazy up 2k AGL and windy, but beautiful day. Skys a little crowded. Was with backup instructor again, which was fine, because we had worked hard on landings Monday together and this was just a continuation.

Main new skill today was emergency procedures. I had already done the ground school for this, so was OK, except I just went off memory, never time to get checklist out. I have problems flying the plane and then looking for the proper checklist. I’ll need to work on this. About 10 times today in our practice and different situations he would say “engine out” and pull power, then I would have to respond. I would pick out some good fields and then he would speak up and say “well, how about that grass strip right below us?”. I was picking good fields, but I’m amazed how many private grass strips there are NW of town and he seemed to find them all right away. It was fun, because we would do an approach and on the grass strips down to about 200 AGL before power back in. Felt a little like a barnstormer. These went well. Even once without instructor telling me to I pulled out the forward slip skill we worked on last couple lessons.

Headed back to Alliance and did 4 touch & go’s. Instructor called into ATC to do pattern drills, which was fun. I had no idea what the controller was going to throw at us and a few of them were new to me, so I had to take time to think through… “0 – Hotel – Romeo fly through base 270 right turn to base for 16 L”. Another one was a short final and then a runway switch. I did most of the radio calls, I don’t feel great at it, but instructor says I’m doing well.

Landings were all pretty good. I’m still having the tendency to start pulling back early and getting speed too low. I also can do better at lining up those last few feet. Take offs are nice and straight out, but rotating a little fast (65-70 kts).

Instructor is talking solo, next lesson is a review and confirmation I can handle everything we’ve learned so far. Then I think the pre-solo test. This next lesson they say many students do it several times before they pass everything. Basically after this one and solo test, then you solo, so they want you to get it right. I feel like I could solo now safely, but I’m hungry for a few more lessons to really fine tune.

 

Lesson 10a
Date: April 23rd, 2007
Hours: 1.4
Total Hours To Date: 13.7
Summary: G1000, check review, 4 touch & go's

Previous Lessons Summary
4/21/07: Lesson 9 - emergency procedures, ATC pattern drills, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/18/07: Lesson 8 - foggles, 45 degree turns, forward slips, 3 touch & go's (1.2 hrs)
4/16/07: Lesson 7 - practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC (1.6 hrs)
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Back with regular instructor today. Our reserved plane was stuck in Tulsa, so we got a G1000 Skyhawk SP. We were in a G1000 for discovery flight, but regular instrument planes since. I was a little nervous about this as I'm in a critical time getting checked off on past skills and closing in on solo. So we had to spend some time familiarizing myself with the G1000, but I was able to fly with it OK for first time. Going through the check list I wouldn't say everything was as tight as if the panel I’m use to, but not too bad. I can't really say the G1000 benefited us in any way except watching the rain off to the west.

Attached is the printout from Lesson 10. You can see all the things he had to check me off on. I didn't have any problem, except first power on stall I wasn't hard enough on right rudder, but we did again and I got it straight. We didn't get to the steep turns, rectangle, point, and S turns. I feel comfortable with these maneuvers and see no reason I wouldn't have completed them today.

We then headed over to Alliance and did 4 touch & go's. First two I wasn't lining up the nose (rudder) up to standard on touch down. Next 2 times around he had me purposely keep it just off the runway feathering between the stall warning and more power to keep us off the pavement while also doing some side to side aileron and nose rudder drills. We've done this several times in past, but usually with the instructor demonstrating. This was the first time I was doing these drills with full control. This gave me a ton of confidence how much control you have in the ground effect. Also helped me feel the proper balance between not enough and overcorrecting control. I think my problems first 2 landings were not wanting to put too much control that late in the game, I was afraid of overcorrecting and balling the thing I guess. Turns out you can man handle it down there and a soft touch isn't always best, more important to get her straight. Last landing at Alliance and then back at NW side walk with about 10 kt 30 degree cross wind I did much much better.

I've got the solo written test to do. Think I'm still a little bit off the solo. Instructor says I'm doing very well, but he wants to see me do 15 landings in a row where he doesn't have to do or say anything. Wednesday we'll finish the check offs and then hopefully get plenty of landing practice.
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Lesson 10b
Date: April 25th, 2007
Hours: 1.2
Total Hours To Date: 14.9
Summary: completed check review, 7 touch & go's in 60 degree 15 kts wind.

Previous Lessons Summary
4/23/07: Lesson 10a - G1000, check review, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/21/07: Lesson 9 - emergency procedures, ATC pattern drills, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/18/07: Lesson 8 - foggles, 45 degree turns, forward slips, 3 touch & go's (1.2 hrs)
4/16/07: Lesson 7 - practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC (1.6 hrs)
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Wow, 60 degree crosswinds 15 kt. sustained with 25 kt. gusts. This is definitely the most severe crosswinds I’ve flown yet. Although the past 2 weeks we’ve received plenty of 30 degree 10 kt. practice. Good take off out of NW. Went to practice area first to finish check review items. Turn around a point, S Turn, and then did an engine out practice for fun. Then flew to Alliance for landing practice. Still a 60 degree crosswind. Was doing OK all considered, no flaps, and kept the speed up a little higher. I was good on the approaches doing a combination of forward slips and crabbing. First few landings critique was not holding nose gear off, putting down a little quick and even close to landing flat. Also did not go full aileron into the wind and nose down for take off roll. I had on initial take off out of NW, but had since forgot in the previous 30 minutes that half wasn’t enough, especially in this wind. Paid more attention next landings and started doing decent job. Last one at Alliance had nice control on side wheel down, other, then nose.

Went back to NW and boy was I looking forward to the crosswind sidewalk landing. Approach was good like Alliance, from 400 to 50 ft. we were getting rocked everywhere, obvious with the speed up the plane was doing a little better. So not very confident at that point and all of a sudden around 50 ft. everything got smooth and controlled (I guess down below the tree/building line). We lined up nicely, I still had left aileron in it, left gear down, right gear down, and then the nose. I couldn’t believe it, I just greased a 15 kt. crosswind on the NW sidewalk! Instructor swore he didn’t do anything, I know for a fact his hands were in his lap. Wow, what a confidence boost to handle the crosswind landings today.

I turned in my solo knowledge test, man that was a pain in the butt, although I think a very good one. I haven’t seen others, but this one was 7 pages single spaced. Had to answer and also reference the source (FAR/AIM, Marcair OM, Cessna 172S OM, Charts, Cessna Training Book, etc).

So next step is solo, instructor says next lesson that weather is acceptable and I do 6 independent landings, that I can then drop him off.

I’m ready, but doing those 6 landings will be a final confirmation. I’m past the point thinking I’m at any risk of dying on my own. I feel confident I can get up and back with me safe. That last confidence will be I can get the plane up and back safe. I heard they can take abuse on landings, but I would rather not test that.

 

Lesson 11
Date: April 30th, 2007
Hours: 1.7
Total Hours To Date: 16.6 (0.5 PIC)
Summary: Solo!!!

Previous Lessons Summary
4/25/07: Lesson 10b - completed check review, 7 touch & go's in 60 degree 15 kts wind (1.2 hrs)
4/23/07: Lesson 10a - G1000, check review, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/21/07: Lesson 9 - emergency procedures, ATC pattern drills, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/18/07: Lesson 8 - foggles, 45 degree turns, forward slips, 3 touch & go's (1.2 hrs)
4/16/07: Lesson 7 - practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC (1.6 hrs)
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Where do I start, what do I say. As others have said, it was a little anticlimactic, although I can’t stop thinking about it now. I had a busy weekend and was really worn out today, not really in the mood, but maybe I was just a little nervous knowing a solo today was possible. I even offered the instructor that we just do ground today as I was a little tired and that rain was moving in. He motivated me to get up there and I knew if either of us weren’t ready for me to solo, then I wouldn’t do it. We fly out of NW, complete the pattern, and call into Alliance. The past two weeks all my landing practice has been with a cross wind. Today was right down the runway! Make approach with only a base leg, line it up, sight picture stays perfect all the way down, and nice smooth touchdown. Power back around setup again and same thing, I put power back in and was focusing on nice straight takeaway just right amount of right rudder and left aileron when 50 ft. off the deck instructor pulls power and says you lost your engine. I was not expecting this and luckily I didn’t have long to think about it, I just got the landing sight picture and put it back down. We go around and he scoots his seat back and folds his arms. Another good landing (man these straight wind landings are easy after all that cross practice) and he asks me about the solo, no doubts in my mind I’m ready. We get cleared for full stop. Taxi to tower, he signs my logbook and medical certificate and off he goes to the tower.

I was ready, I was calm, I was confident, I knew if landing didn’t look right, that I could just go around until I got it right, I knew eventually I would get it on the ground if problems. I cleared for taxiing. Maybe I shouldn’t share to the public (already told instructor), but I’m willing to share the goods and the bads for my complete training experience. We never use the emergency brake, maybe only when filling up with gas. For some reason today instructor put emergency brake on and I saw him do it, I did look through the pre-taxi checklist, but in the midst of my soloing brain fog I didn’t release the emergency brake for taxi. Big mistake and not a great way to start my first solo, my confidence took a little ding, but as soon as I did realize, I released. Seemed like one side was still sticking, so I stopped the plane, engaged it again and released and then rolled again. I thought about taking back to the tower and just having the instructor look everything over. Whether the best decision or not I determined on the rest of my taxi that everything was OK with the brakes.

I ran through the pre-takeoff checklist and got clearance for takeoff. The rollout was lined up great, but speed didn’t seem to be picking up as quick. Heels on the floor, heels on the floor, another BIG mistake, but quickly indentified, corrected, and I’m in the air first time solo ever. Perfect flight out, end of runway start the crosswind leg, turn downwind, checking everything over and I’m 1200 AGL. Again, another mistake, but I get a handle on it quickly. Luckily I’ve gotten all the mistakes out of my system and haven’t died yet. He’s having me do right pattern to 16 L, which is a first for me, but is a privilege I’m happy with on this light traffic day for my first solo. Here on out I’m calm and focused, landing checklist, pull power at numbers, watch the speed, make the base, make the final, keep the sight picture, watch the speed, fly into ground effect, pick next target for sight picture, back, back, back, slow, nice and straight, rear wheels, hold nose off, nose down, breathe, power back in. Another one like before except for getting the pattern altitude right. Last time around called in for full stop. Another great landing, taxiing a ways up, park in front of tower, and shut her down. I did it, immediately told instructor about my early mistakes, I was very upset with myself, but he shrugged it off. A friend of my instructor in a Husky flew over with instructors son and they had all been up in the Alliance tower watching my solo. Alliance made up a really nice certificate for me attached here. They wanted to meet me and have me up in tower, but that will have to be another day as weather was moving in. We got back in and instructor demonstrated a short field take off. Back to Northwest and had a good landing on the sidewalk. Maybe about 5-10 kts fast, no stall, but it was smooth.

Wow, what a day. The flying was no big deal, I had been trained well and was confident, trust me I’m not overly confident being a new father and certainly enjoying being alive. Nothing to be nervous about, I knew I could get her up and bring her back safely. I’m still frustrated with making those mistakes, the instructor wasn’t there reminding me if I forgot something or at least double checking. As PIC I have to do it all myself, there will have to be no margin for error, I need to master all the details, not be rushed, handle situations like today where procedure was not ordinary and still get everything right. I have a ways to go, but I have made a big step.
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Lesson 12
Date: May 2nd, 2007
Hours: 1.2
Total Hours To Date: 17.8 (0.5 PIC)
Summary: Chief Instructor checkout for local solo

Previous Lessons Summary
4/30/07: Lesson 11 - First Solo!!! (1.7 hrs)
4/25/07: Lesson 10b - completed check review, 7 touch & go's in 60 degree 15 kts wind (1.2 hrs)
4/23/07: Lesson 10a - G1000, check review, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/21/07: Lesson 9 - emergency procedures, ATC pattern drills, 4 touch & go's (1.4 hrs)
4/18/07: Lesson 8 - foggles, 45 degree turns, forward slips, 3 touch & go's (1.2 hrs)
4/16/07: Lesson 7 - practice slow flight/stalls, 8 touch & go’s w/ATC (1.6 hrs)
4/14/07: Lesson 6 - instrument w/foggles, s-turns, slips, crosswind (1.6 hrs)
4/11/07: Lesson 5 - rectangle, circle, crosswind (1.3 hrs)
4/4/07: Lesson 4 - Radio, stalls, ATC taxiing/com (1.3 hrs)
4/2/07: Lesson 3 - Takeoffs, radio, ground effect control, pattern/approaches (1.3 hrs)
3/31/07: Lesson 2 - Flight maneuvers & go arounds (1.1 hrs)
3/28/07: Lesson 1 – taxiing & basic flight maneuvers (1.0 hrs)
2/27/07: Discovery Flight – fly around & touch-go (0.5 hrs)

Today was a check ride with our Chief Instructor Charlie. I've seen him around, he's a funny guy, I've never flown with him before. So I do everything, the preflight, ground, pre-takeoff, and make a nice straight out takeoff. We turn crosswind and Charlie goes "you made a mistake". This immediately concerns me, because I usually know I made a mistake and what it was before the instructor can talk about it. So seriously he goes "It is Runway 1 - 7, not Runway Seventeen on your calls". That's him being half funny, but still a mistake.

Leaving the pattern to the NW of NW he has me put the foggles on and I do instrument flying for about 10 minutes. That goes well. I forget what order, but then we go through everything (s-turn, turns around point, power off stall, power on stall, steep turns, climbing, descending..). That all goes really well and then he throws the expected engine out. Picked a field, but soon after spotted a private grass strip. Perfect approach, put power back in 250 AGL. Get altitude back and he asks where we are and how did I know that. I haven't become very familiar with the GPS system yet, but after visually telling him the landmarks and what I would do if lost, I then managed to get Northwest Regional into the GPS and it gave us miles out and course. He threw another engine out on way back, this time no obvious fields, but I had to pick something. Not a great choice, but we would have lived. Instructor afterwards mentioned another grass strip or the Bell helicopter pad by TMS that would have been good.

We fly midfield across Northwest and make a left turn onto downwind. A little rushed at this point, a little fast, still manage the checklist, cut power at numbers, still fast, but altitude where we want. Turn base and then to final, still a little fast, but now a little high, power is cut all the way, attitude to get more speed off is just keeping us higher, I put in a little forward slip, but we're 80 kts. and looking high, I call the go around.

I know everything that's wrong. There is no wind, this is a first time doing no wind landings. The ground below looks a lot different moving by than with a headwind. I had also been rushed on the pattern/approach entering midfield and turning left. I should have done a 270 around back to downwind, that would have given me more time to setup correctly. I could have also waited longer for base and also have been farther out for downwind, all things to give me more time. For speed I needed to do a more aggressive forward slip. I know flaps would have worked, but my last 20 landings have all been without flaps and I wanted to stick with what I knew.

We come around again, this time I have the entire pattern to setup the plane, I wait on the base longer, still my speed is a little high. This one was much better than before and I could have made it, but I think that ground speed has me spooked and I go around again. So two go arounds to start on my check ride has me frustrated after everything has gone well so far. I make adjustments and make the next landing, it is smooth, but nose came down a little fast and I can't say I heard the horn much. The instructor then does the pattern showing me some things and I do the final landing, we get it down for an OK landing and I think we're done for the day, but as I'm already on the brakes he asks if I want to go around and I have to say no because we were loosing runway. I wish I would have been ready for the go around as I think a couple more landings and I would have shown him I'm competent.

So I knew what was coming and I really knew it before the lesson even started, but didn't want to say anything. He was also thinking the same thing and had just talked about it with his instructors the week before as it has been a common student problem…

We're all getting our landing practice at Denton or Alliance. Nice big runways and control tower that you aren't flustered calling out every leg. Northwest is only 40 ft. wide and not sure how much of that is useable with it crumbling out. I've done 20+ landings at Alliance the past two weeks and only 2 at Northwest with complete control (returning from Alliance). Yes, those 2 landings were good, but I knew before the check ride today that if even passed I wanted to get an instructor up for nothing but touch & go's at Northwest. The Chief is going to get his instructors to do more landings at Northwest with students.

So the wind didn't help, but simply I need more landing practice at Northwest. My next lesson will be nothing but Northwest landings and since everything else checked out, I will then be able to local solo. I really think I'm close, I'm not completely messing up the approach and I'm lined up perfect, I was just a little fast and some of that may have just been perception with the no wind and ground speed. I also need to practice landings with flaps, although the owner doesn't like students using flaps (that's a big internal discussion right now between owner and instructors). Flaps would have been perfect for yesterday.