Thanks for this. I recently had a shocking landing in 12kts cross wind. Too timid on the ailerons ending way off the center line having to correct once on the ground causing a bit of a wheel skid. I beat myself up about this for a few days, then got in touch with my instructor and went back to fly some circuits. After a couple of awesome touch-downs the world is good again. Getting back on the horse and learning from your mistakes is what being a good pilot is all about!
Thanks for sharing that story Anton, I'm in complete agreement with you about contacting and flying with an Instructor if you're ever doubting yourself with any part of flying. A quick hour session can often iron out any major issues. Thanks again, Stef 👍
I completely agree and still find myself doing this . I believe doubting yourself as we’re putting it is a form of healthy fear and respect for what we do. In a way It’s recognizing our own imperfection and the risk involved.
I have the same concerns when haven't flown for a few weeks. So I created checklists for pre-flight including 24 and 48 hours prior to flight. Simple things like checking batteries, updating EFB, personal maximums, etc. Gives me a lot of confidence if feeling a bit rusty.
Yes indeed, even when we do have great instructors as I do, we can be our own worst enemy in doubting ourselves over various issues. Those brick walls we face can come all too often and we wonder if we are the only one's who cant get this, however through our passion and need to fly we overcome and continue. These videos help us new flyers that our experiences have all been done and felt before by others and we are not alone on this journey, thanks for sharing.
Great advice. Last week I drove an hour to the airport only to decide not to go up because I just didn’t feel right. I had a bit of a headache but after a month of not flying I did have those “what if I forget” feels, not helped by listening to an aviation podcast talking about loss of control accidents (why are Americans so obsessed about stalling.) Then yesterday in perfect weather I took my sister in law up for a fly and everything came back to me. I reckon it’s a good idea to have someone with you when you haven’t flown for a while and not necessarily an instructor. You feel more professional and you’re less likely to dwell on what ifs like when you’re alone.
I’d like to echo other commenters thanks for the video. I am a student pilot training in the cirrus SR20 and locking in the final approach speed and right about back pressure on the control stick for the transition has been a pain the ass. Which I am doubting my abilities to continue flying the cirrus. You videos are very inspirational and look at them for pilot insight and possibly inner validation of my thought process. Keep on pushing. Thank you
Another great video Stefan. I can relate to this as when I was learning to fly I SERIOUSLY doubted myself. Example: Avalon entry, I demonstrated correct entry procedure , but every flight from there on I would try to convince myself "Is this right?". In reflection should have changed instructor promptly but was under the illusion that was the 'best' instructor for me.
Great videos Stefan. Really enjoying the information and the honesty. You are so right about having the right instructor as a student. It makes all the difference to your progression. Keep up the great videos. Being local myself, I enjoy seeing the places you fly around and hoping to do the same myself when I get to PPL. Great Work!!!
Hey Matthew, thanks for that. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and hopefully finding them useful. Best of luck with getting your PPL, then I look forward to seeing YOUR flying adventures on TH-cam as well. Cheers Cap'n, Stef 👍
Two weeks ago I did some pattern work in some nasty crosswinds, and started doubting myself. I beat myself up for a week, then yesterday flew in calm winds, and nailed almost every landing. I felt a boost in confidence, it's good to get right back in the saddle again, I was questioning my choices for a little while.
Thanks Nikolas_ James, glad you enjoyed that video and thanks for the congratulations on the channel growth. I really appreciate that, and am grateful for your support. Thanks mate, Stef 👍
I get doubts too, probably for good reason seeing as I’m only at around 80 hours. I think it’s a good think because it means I check things more carefully. You looked like you were all over it on that trip so nothing to worry about. Very nice flying and another great video. 👍
Stumbled across your channel today Stefan and I’m really impressed. I was converted to Cirrus about 5 years ago (VH-SVS). It represented a step change in my aviation journey. Your video reminded me of my instructor when I first started my PPL training. She was in her 20s and while she knew how to fly a plane, she wasn’t such a great teacher. I remember her yelling at me on about my 3rd or 4th lesson “what the f*ck are you doing that for” in response to some inappropriate action on my part. Hardly a confidence building experience for such a rookie. Keep up the good work.
Hey David, welcome to the channel. Thanks for the comment. I’ve flown SVS once before, here’s the flight vlog: th-cam.com/video/r9ziy8reUgo/w-d-xo.html Thanks for sharing the story about your Instructor, sorry to hear that, sounds like they possibly weren’t the right kind of person for such an important job like that. And sounds like your Cirrus experience was the same as mine. As soon as I started flying Cirrus my attitude and enjoyment as a pilot changed hugely. It made flying not only more enjoyable, but less stressful and allows me to focus on “going places” rather than purely flying if that makes sense. Thanks again for checking out the channel, cheers, Stef 👍
Thanks for sharing. My biggest enemy is myself - too much self-doubt and too demanding of myself. I wish I could be as patient and good with myself as I am with everyone else.
Hey Matt, I think there's a few of us getting back into flying after a little break. Glad the timing of this vide worked for you too. Hope your flight went well mate, cheers, Stef 👍
For me I'm doubting if I could ever become a pilot. I mean financially it's just not viable but the passion has always been there. Great vids you got here, so I just subbed. Happy and safe flying! :)
Thanks Paul, it certainly feels like a huge mountain to climb when you're just starting out, but even if you do it over a longer period of time and try and spread out the time and cost requirements you can still achieve the same end goal. From the financial side, it could be worth talking to your local flying club/school and asking them what they can do in that area. Are there jobs you can do at the club to help offset your costs, or do they have access to any educational grants or loan options perhaps? Always worth asking the question. I wish you all the very best of luck in achieving your goals though, Stef 👍
Doubting your current abilities as a pilot isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's shows you're considering risks vs personal proficiency. A competent safe pilot is always in self-evaluation mode, looking for deficiencies with a solution for improvement.
I can totally relate to this. It’s six weeks since I’ve flown due to the weather so went up today with an instructor to do ILS into farnborough. Feel much better for now!
Sounds like we're in very similar positions, thanks David. Hope you had a good flight to Farnborough, looking forward to all the airshow videos that will hopefully come out from there this year too.
@Stefan Drury Gotta say whilst I agree with your comment about "If an instructor makes you feel bad for making a mistake you need a new instructor" it can be taken too far. Long story short, a failure to prepare is not a mistake, and failure to learn is not a mistake either. Some people simply don't have the retention required to be safe pilots, and if an instructor makes them aware of the gravity of the consequences of their shortcomings, and that makes them "feel bad", so be it. It may serve as a wake up call that whilst unpleasant in the moment, couid prevent lost time and money and unsafe events, to that person in the %10 that simply don't have the aptitude to be a pilot.
I haven't done flying for months but eager to get back into it later when I'm more financed. I think once you get away from it for awhile you can gain more confidence when you resume. I've done 4 hours up and I was doing quite well maintaining all the level attitudes of the aircraft.
Hey Trevor, I totally agree. The gaps take a dent in your confidence but it does come back quickly when you get back up there. Hope you get to fly again soon.
It's interesting isn't it; when I fly for more than 3 times a week, my confidence goes through the roof and I think I'm this pro who does this all day... But then when I dont fly for more than 6-7 days I get this feeling of complacency and I kinda stress myself out a bit lol.
I fear my landings most when I fly after long break. Great British weather wiped out my flight bookings over last 2 weekends. Hopefully I will conquer my fear on coming Saturday. Well done with your flight on return
I'm lucky the Cirrus is such a nice plane to land! Otherwise yeah I agree landings can be a little stressful after a break, just remember to nail those speeds on base and final, that's a big help. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, cheers, Stef 👍
Stefan Drury I'm currently going through rpl licence wanting to all the way to flight instructor and airline pilot I'm pretty close to starting my ppl Have you got any tips on going through the private pilots licence?😃😃
I had no work on through January so had to eke out my account with the flight school, and chose to do my maximum allowed solo hours fortnightly throughout the lean period for exactly this reason! I knew if I went over a month without flying then my first flight back with an instructor would be more or less a write-off. As you said it's not so much actually forgetting how to fly as it is convincing yourself that you must have done!
Great point PulbiusNaso, that's very true. So much of it is a psychological thing hey? Once we remind ourselves that we CAN actually fly still, even after a break, it's usually fine after that. But I like to take an Instructor up with me just in case.
Thanks Edwin, yes the weather will become a big part of your flying life. A healthy respect for the weather is part of being a good pilot. Even with an Instrument Rating, you’re still considering the weather for every flight you do. So you may have to get used to crazy weather days! Thanks for leaving a comment, Stef 👍
I guess we all worry in certain situations at times, but i suppose that is human nature. Once you get in that plane though and concentrating on the job at hand you might find that you surprise yourself at just how well you did and from what i saw you did a brilliant job and i'm sure Mike would have been very happy with your performance. TDS might get used by other pilots but she will always come back home to you.
Haha, thanks Spiro. I don't mind that she flies with other pilots, and anyway someone has to break the news to her soon that I'm going to start flying another airplane soon.... but shhh, don't tell her that yet... 👍
You really hit on something that's unfortunately very prevalent in today's society. When an instructor makes you feel bad when you make a mistake. This is a very cruel thing indeed and it happens when your're taking lessons for just about anything, not just flying. What's particularly hurtful is tone of voice, the instructor doesn't have to say "that was stupid" you can hear it in their tone. One time, I messed up my call signs when talking to control and I said to my instructor..."I don't know why I said that" My instructor replied..."I don't either". A couple of lessons later (and more hurtful remarks). I dropped her and got another instructor. She was surprised and evidently not aware of her short comings as an instructor.
Hey Steve, thanks so much for sharing that. It's hearing other stories like this from fellow pilots that help us all realise we're not alone when we doubt ourselves, especially if that doubt has been reinforced by the very person who's supposed to be helping us! Sorry you had a bad experience, but it sounds like you did exactly the right thing by moving on, nice one mate. Thanks again for posting that, Stef 👍
A few years ago I'm a private pilot that was out of the cockpit for 13 years and I jumped back into flying. I went down to my local airport and hooked up with a 10,000+ hour instructor in his late 50's gentleman (I use the term gentleman loosely). So we jumped into the Cessna 150 as I never flew in a Cessna 150 before so that was a first time for me as I learned to fly in the Piper Tomahawk. Right away on the very first lesson after only being in the air for a few minutes he would start to berate my flying abilities, one would expect not to be an airplane ace with miles of rust on me after not flying for many years, and never flying a Cessna of any kind. That first lesson was nothing but cut downs and tension in the cockpit. Then he asked me who was the examiner that signed off on my private certificate and I told him and he knew of him and made some kind of snide comment to the effect of I can't believe he signed you off (remember I haven't been in the cockpit for 13 years). Then the next day on the second lesson we had just taken off and he made a comment of if you don't stop white knuckling that control yoke I'm going to refuse to fly with you. I took the Cessna around the pattern and was on final approach as this would have been my first landing attempt. Then the instructor grabbed the control yoke out of my hand on short final and started yanking and banking the airplane at low level just missing a person standing at the runway threshold (I could see the whites of the person's eyes) then started flying at tree top level for miles past the airport yanking and banking and yelling at me. I yelled back get this airplane on the ground. I got out said no words to the instructor and never went back there again. By the next week I was at another airport another instructor and after five hours in their Cessna 150 had my flight review signed off. I found out from my new instructor they were closing down that other flight school and small airport I was at in the next couple of months, which that information was not given to me while I was flying there as it has been in the works for the last couple of years. So I don't know if the impending closure had something to do with the attitude of that really cranky instructor, but either way I had no future there as they knew that, but I didn't at that time. It's an experience I will never forget.
I’m a private pilot and when I was training,I was very doubtful because of my surroundings. I flew yesterday after not flying for a while. I became air sick and vomited immediately. I had a bad landing and I feel really bad. I’m starting to even feel like I didn’t know what I was doing. None of that that(weather and airsickness) would have been prevented but happened.
I've had flights where i doubt myself. just one of those days where everything you do isnt coming together, your head is all over the place. then you doubt yourself.
Hey Stefan , you are spot on about what you said about instructors making you feel hopeless . I wish someone told me that 30 years ago , as I had some Brilliant instructors who were clam and gave you confidence , and others that made you stressed and were circuit jockeys . “ if they make you feel hopeless ask for another instructor “. They may be good pilots but they may not be able to teach . Great advice
Thanks for sharing that David, a great instructor really makes a huge difference. I’m amazed by the number of stories I hear about negative experiences though. It’s a real shame when it happens and is a real threat to General Aviation.
Thanks cjsims3000, yes these videos are edited a lot. The fight itself would have been around 1h 20mins in total. We did some holding patterns as well as what you saw. But I don't want this channel to be instructional with flying, even with a qualified instructor on board, so I do edit a lot of that content out. Hopefully I can find that balance of informative, entertaining, and having a bit of fun with these videos too. Really glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks Stef 👍
Self doubt critisism is not a bad thing as a pilot. Better to be doubtful then a cocky know it all pilot. Those guys won't last long. Relax and enjoy the flight. My mantra is "Be the best pilot you can be, not the best pilot in the world"
6 weeks! i'm in the process of getting back into the air after 3 years! BFR didnt go so well. but yes, Some instructors can have you in tears. though i was striving for perfection at that point.
Hey, sorry to hear the BFR didn't go well. I'm sure that's just rust you can shake off after a bit of a break. Just sub'd to your channel as well (sorry I didn't do that sooner), looking forward to more of your flying adventures on there this year too.
I think just keeping up the that barrage of radio instructions and read-back was a huge test of currency. Very difference to my VFR non-controlled world.
There's certainly a lot to consider when in controlled airspace and flying IFR, but like with anything I get better at it the more I do it. So practise is the key. Thanks for watching Andrew, Stef 👍
Hey James, yes I agree. Practise is the key with flying. I always found that with golf as well, that's probably why I was always pretty lousy at golf...
Flying gets into your blood hey David? I can imagine with a long break you would miss it a lot. Hope you can get up in the air again soon, hopefully Cirrus are working on a time machine... At least it would look awesome if they were.
Agree with Windtee's comments. BTW - just posted a new video of yesterday's Glasair flight to Orange, and mentioned your channel to my THOUSANDS of subscribers (well - a couple dozen anyway). Hope you don't mind.
I just watched your video Jim, thanks for the shout out. And your comments on my travel videos made me smile :) Loved the video, keep posting them, with flights like that I'm sure your channel will continue to grow as well. Awesome stuff, thanks again, Stef 👍
Great stuff, Stefan! Thanks for being so honest - your down-to-earth tips really do help us rookies. I've lost several opportunities to get out there due to weather or runway closures (I still can't believe they allowed a construction crane to close RWY17 on a day of forecast southerlies!).. anyway It's good to know I'm not the only one. PS: Just curious, how long does it usually take you to get to Moorabbin? I live outer suburbs and tend to forget how slow the trams are in this town.
Thanks Cameron, glad the videos are helping. So from my place (near Toorak way) it takes around 40 minutes to drive to Moorabbin on a good day. Can take up to an hour with traffic though. I did try the train once but with the Uber at the other end from Cheltenham station it worked out just as quick to drive.
That's about how long it would take me to drive to Lilydale (or Tyabb)! Hmm... have you ever considered flying from Essendon instead? That'd be like 25-30 minutes from your place. There are tolls, true, and you'd miss dear Tango Delta Sierra.. but might be worth it if you love Melbourne traffic as much as I do. ;-)
why do they have talk so much over radio? why not use some kind of texting app optimized for tower comm? What happen if you cannot understand the guy in the tower?
Hello Yacahuma, once you get used to the radio calls they're actually fairly straightforward. They sound complex when you first hear them but like anything the more you practise them the more familiar they become. Some information in larger aircraft is passed between the aircraft and ground via text type systems. But for navigation and clearance commands it's faster to communicate with ATC using voice at this stage. Perhaps when we have thought control (like in Firefox, did you ever see that movie, awesome film) we'll move to that, but for now voice is the most efficient solution.
Hey Jason, finding the right school and instructor is really important. Better to spend a bit of time on it early in your flying career, it’ll make your learning a lot faster and your flying more fun if you find the right person. Good luck with your training, and thanks for leaving that comment. Stef 👍
My CFI gets me so rattled with his caustic comments and lack common civility that I actually start making mistakes ..some i have never made previously. Can't change now..check flight in a few weeks and I feel unsettled already :(
Sorry to hear that johnpro2, but thank you for being open and sharing that here. I hope you can push through and fly your best in your checkride. Once you’ve passed that I hope you get a chance to maybe find a new instructor to fly with who you’re more comfortable with. It’s so very important to fly with people you respect and trust. If someone’s making you feel uncomfortable you won’t get the best out of yourself. Best of luck mate, let us know how you go. Stef 👍
Thanks for this. I recently had a shocking landing in 12kts cross wind. Too timid on the ailerons ending way off the center line having to correct once on the ground causing a bit of a wheel skid. I beat myself up about this for a few days, then got in touch with my instructor and went back to fly some circuits. After a couple of awesome touch-downs the world is good again. Getting back on the horse and learning from your mistakes is what being a good pilot is all about!
Thanks for sharing that story Anton, I'm in complete agreement with you about contacting and flying with an Instructor if you're ever doubting yourself with any part of flying. A quick hour session can often iron out any major issues. Thanks again, Stef 👍
I completely agree and still find myself doing this . I believe doubting yourself as we’re putting it is a form of healthy fear and respect for what we do. In a way It’s recognizing our own imperfection and the risk involved.
I have the same concerns when haven't flown for a few weeks. So I created checklists for pre-flight including 24 and 48 hours prior to flight. Simple things like checking batteries, updating EFB, personal maximums, etc. Gives me a lot of confidence if feeling a bit rusty.
Yes indeed, even when we do have great instructors as I do, we can be our own worst enemy in doubting ourselves over various issues. Those brick walls we face can come all too often and we wonder if we are the only one's who cant get this, however through our passion and need to fly we overcome and continue. These videos help us new flyers that our experiences have all been done and felt before by others and we are not alone on this journey, thanks for sharing.
Great advice. Last week I drove an hour to the airport only to decide not to go up because I just didn’t feel right. I had a bit of a headache but after a month of not flying I did have those “what if I forget” feels, not helped by listening to an aviation podcast talking about loss of control accidents (why are Americans so obsessed about stalling.) Then yesterday in perfect weather I took my sister in law up for a fly and everything came back to me. I reckon it’s a good idea to have someone with you when you haven’t flown for a while and not necessarily an instructor. You feel more professional and you’re less likely to dwell on what ifs like when you’re alone.
I’d like to echo other commenters thanks for the video. I am a student pilot training in the cirrus SR20 and locking in the final approach speed and right about back pressure on the control stick for the transition has been a pain the ass. Which I am doubting my abilities to continue flying the cirrus. You videos are very inspirational and look at them for pilot insight and possibly inner validation of my thought process. Keep on pushing. Thank you
Another great video Stefan. I can relate to this as when I was learning to fly I SERIOUSLY doubted myself. Example: Avalon entry, I demonstrated correct entry procedure , but every flight from there on I would try to convince myself "Is this right?". In reflection should have changed instructor promptly but was under the illusion that was the 'best' instructor for me.
Totally understand, I feel that way all the time... -- but I just keep relaxed, and at the end of the day, keep flying the plane...
Great videos Stefan. Really enjoying the information and the honesty. You are so right about having the right instructor as a student. It makes all the difference to your progression. Keep up the great videos. Being local myself, I enjoy seeing the places you fly around and hoping to do the same myself when I get to PPL. Great Work!!!
Hey Matthew, thanks for that. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and hopefully finding them useful. Best of luck with getting your PPL, then I look forward to seeing YOUR flying adventures on TH-cam as well. Cheers Cap'n, Stef 👍
Two weeks ago I did some pattern work in some nasty crosswinds, and started doubting myself. I beat myself up for a week, then yesterday flew in calm winds, and nailed almost every landing. I felt a boost in confidence, it's good to get right back in the saddle again, I was questioning my choices for a little while.
I’ve been beating myself up 😩
Great video Stef great to see Tango Delta Sierra in the air with you again congratulations on the 4K subscribers!!! can’t wait for the next video
Thanks Nikolas_ James, glad you enjoyed that video and thanks for the congratulations on the channel growth. I really appreciate that, and am grateful for your support. Thanks mate, Stef 👍
I get doubts too, probably for good reason seeing as I’m only at around 80 hours. I think it’s a good think because it means I check things more carefully. You looked like you were all over it on that trip so nothing to worry about. Very nice flying and another great video. 👍
Great video! That self awareness to know when a bit of revision is needed is so crucial, I’m doing the same thing myself in a couple of weeks!
Thanks Liam, good luck for your flight in a few weeks time. Cheers, Stef 👍
Stumbled across your channel today Stefan and I’m really impressed. I was converted to Cirrus about 5 years ago (VH-SVS). It represented a step change in my aviation journey. Your video reminded me of my instructor when I first started my PPL training. She was in her 20s and while she knew how to fly a plane, she wasn’t such a great teacher. I remember her yelling at me on about my 3rd or 4th lesson “what the f*ck are you doing that for” in response to some inappropriate action on my part. Hardly a confidence building experience for such a rookie. Keep up the good work.
Hey David, welcome to the channel. Thanks for the comment. I’ve flown SVS once before, here’s the flight vlog: th-cam.com/video/r9ziy8reUgo/w-d-xo.html Thanks for sharing the story about your Instructor, sorry to hear that, sounds like they possibly weren’t the right kind of person for such an important job like that. And sounds like your Cirrus experience was the same as mine. As soon as I started flying Cirrus my attitude and enjoyment as a pilot changed hugely. It made flying not only more enjoyable, but less stressful and allows me to focus on “going places” rather than purely flying if that makes sense. Thanks again for checking out the channel, cheers, Stef 👍
Great advice to student pilots particularly about the quality of instructors. Congrats Stefan👍
Thanks Simon, I appreciate that, Stef 👍
Thanks for sharing. My biggest enemy is myself - too much self-doubt and too demanding of myself. I wish I could be as patient and good with myself as I am with everyone else.
Very accurate with the topic today. I've got a booking next weekend after about 3 years off so this felt quite relevant for me!
Hey Matt, I think there's a few of us getting back into flying after a little break. Glad the timing of this vide worked for you too. Hope your flight went well mate, cheers, Stef 👍
For me I'm doubting if I could ever become a pilot. I mean financially it's just not viable but the passion has always been there. Great vids you got here, so I just subbed. Happy and safe flying! :)
Thanks Paul, it certainly feels like a huge mountain to climb when you're just starting out, but even if you do it over a longer period of time and try and spread out the time and cost requirements you can still achieve the same end goal. From the financial side, it could be worth talking to your local flying club/school and asking them what they can do in that area. Are there jobs you can do at the club to help offset your costs, or do they have access to any educational grants or loan options perhaps? Always worth asking the question. I wish you all the very best of luck in achieving your goals though, Stef 👍
Doubting your current abilities as a pilot isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's shows you're considering risks vs personal proficiency. A competent safe pilot is always in self-evaluation mode, looking for deficiencies with a solution for improvement.
Doubt and confidence are our minds putting bets on our threat and error management strategies.
Great on going up with an instructor for a quick dust shake off. Its like doing a go-around - no reason to be too proud!
Thanks Aero360, you're absolutely right.
I can totally relate to this. It’s six weeks since I’ve flown due to the weather so went up today with an instructor to do ILS into farnborough. Feel much better for now!
Sounds like we're in very similar positions, thanks David. Hope you had a good flight to Farnborough, looking forward to all the airshow videos that will hopefully come out from there this year too.
@Stefan Drury Gotta say whilst I agree with your comment about "If an instructor makes you feel bad for making a mistake you need a new instructor" it can be taken too far. Long story short, a failure to prepare is not a mistake, and failure to learn is not a mistake either. Some people simply don't have the retention required to be safe pilots, and if an instructor makes them aware of the gravity of the consequences of their shortcomings, and that makes them "feel bad", so be it. It may serve as a wake up call that whilst unpleasant in the moment, couid prevent lost time and money and unsafe events, to that person in the %10 that simply don't have the aptitude to be a pilot.
I haven't done flying for months but eager to get back into it later when I'm more financed. I think once you get away from it for awhile you can gain more confidence when you resume. I've done 4 hours up and I was doing quite well maintaining all the level attitudes of the aircraft.
Hey Trevor, I totally agree. The gaps take a dent in your confidence but it does come back quickly when you get back up there. Hope you get to fly again soon.
Thanks Stefan!
Loved the pep talk ! I needed to hear someone say all that. Thanks ! :)
Thanks Barrie, glad you found that useful.
Another great video Stef, congrats on the subscriptions. It's getting up there 😀👌 Cheers.
Thanks hugelaho, yes the channel seems to be growing nicely now. I appreciate that, cheers.
It's interesting isn't it; when I fly for more than 3 times a week, my confidence goes through the roof and I think I'm this pro who does this all day... But then when I dont fly for more than 6-7 days I get this feeling of complacency and I kinda stress myself out a bit lol.
Ha, I think a lot of us pilots can relate to that feeling. Thanks, Stef 👍
I fear my landings most when I fly after long break. Great British weather wiped out my flight bookings over last 2 weekends. Hopefully I will conquer my fear on coming Saturday. Well done with your flight on return
I'm lucky the Cirrus is such a nice plane to land! Otherwise yeah I agree landings can be a little stressful after a break, just remember to nail those speeds on base and final, that's a big help. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, cheers, Stef 👍
Great videos amazing teacher amazing pilot
Thanks! And this is an amazing comment 👍
Stefan Drury I'm currently going through rpl licence wanting to all the way to flight instructor and airline pilot I'm pretty close to starting my ppl
Have you got any tips on going through the private pilots licence?😃😃
Nice! Congrats on 4K subscribers! Well done!
Thanks Yoshi, I appreciate that. And you've been there since the early days, cheers, Stef 👍
It's it weird for you to drive your car from the right side and fly your plate from the left side, or is that easy to get used to?
I had no work on through January so had to eke out my account with the flight school, and chose to do my maximum allowed solo hours fortnightly throughout the lean period for exactly this reason! I knew if I went over a month without flying then my first flight back with an instructor would be more or less a write-off. As you said it's not so much actually forgetting how to fly as it is convincing yourself that you must have done!
Great point PulbiusNaso, that's very true. So much of it is a psychological thing hey? Once we remind ourselves that we CAN actually fly still, even after a break, it's usually fine after that. But I like to take an Instructor up with me just in case.
You are a very good pilot, I am sub solo (12hrs) and have some crazy days flying especially now that it is winter.
Thanks Edwin, yes the weather will become a big part of your flying life. A healthy respect for the weather is part of being a good pilot. Even with an Instrument Rating, you’re still considering the weather for every flight you do. So you may have to get used to crazy weather days! Thanks for leaving a comment, Stef 👍
Feel the same way! Sometimes if I haven’t flown for sometime I still wonder if I remember how to land!
Thanks for sharing Rex. I definitely feel like that sometimes. Cheers, Stef 👍
I guess we all worry in certain situations at times, but i suppose that is human nature. Once you get in that plane though and concentrating on the job at hand you might find that you surprise yourself at just how well you did and from what i saw you did a brilliant job and i'm sure Mike would have been very happy with your performance. TDS might get used by other pilots but she will always come back home to you.
Haha, thanks Spiro. I don't mind that she flies with other pilots, and anyway someone has to break the news to her soon that I'm going to start flying another airplane soon.... but shhh, don't tell her that yet... 👍
You really hit on something that's unfortunately very prevalent in today's society. When an instructor makes you feel bad when you make a mistake. This is a very cruel thing indeed and it happens when your're taking lessons for just about anything, not just flying. What's particularly hurtful is tone of voice, the instructor doesn't have to say "that was stupid" you can hear it in their tone. One time, I messed up my call signs when talking to control and I said to my instructor..."I don't know why I said that" My instructor replied..."I don't either". A couple of lessons later (and more hurtful remarks). I dropped her and got another instructor. She was surprised and evidently not aware of her short comings as an instructor.
Hey Steve, thanks so much for sharing that. It's hearing other stories like this from fellow pilots that help us all realise we're not alone when we doubt ourselves, especially if that doubt has been reinforced by the very person who's supposed to be helping us! Sorry you had a bad experience, but it sounds like you did exactly the right thing by moving on, nice one mate. Thanks again for posting that, Stef 👍
A few years ago I'm a private pilot that was out of the cockpit for 13 years and I jumped back into flying. I went down to my local airport and hooked up with a 10,000+ hour instructor in his late 50's gentleman (I use the term gentleman loosely). So we jumped into the Cessna 150 as I never flew in a Cessna 150 before so that was a first time for me as I learned to fly in the Piper Tomahawk. Right away on the very first lesson after only being in the air for a few minutes he would start to berate my flying abilities, one would expect not to be an airplane ace with miles of rust on me after not flying for many years, and never flying a Cessna of any kind. That first lesson was nothing but cut downs and tension in the cockpit. Then he asked me who was the examiner that signed off on my private certificate and I told him and he knew of him and made some kind of snide comment to the effect of I can't believe he signed you off (remember I haven't been in the cockpit for 13 years). Then the next day on the second lesson we had just taken off and he made a comment of if you don't stop white knuckling that control yoke I'm going to refuse to fly with you. I took the Cessna around the pattern and was on final approach as this would have been my first landing attempt. Then the instructor grabbed the control yoke out of my hand on short final and started yanking and banking the airplane at low level just missing a person standing at the runway threshold (I could see the whites of the person's eyes) then started flying at tree top level for miles past the airport yanking and banking and yelling at me. I yelled back get this airplane on the ground. I got out said no words to the instructor and never went back there again. By the next week I was at another airport another instructor and after five hours in their Cessna 150 had my flight review signed off. I found out from my new instructor they were closing down that other flight school and small airport I was at in the next couple of months, which that information was not given to me while I was flying there as it has been in the works for the last couple of years. So I don't know if the impending closure had something to do with the attitude of that really cranky instructor, but either way I had no future there as they knew that, but I didn't at that time. It's an experience I will never forget.
I’m a private pilot and when I was training,I was very doubtful because of my surroundings. I flew yesterday after not flying for a while. I became air sick and vomited immediately. I had a bad landing and I feel really bad. I’m starting to even feel like I didn’t know what I was doing. None of that that(weather and airsickness) would have been prevented but happened.
I've had flights where i doubt myself. just one of those days where everything you do isnt coming together, your head is all over the place. then you doubt yourself.
Hey Stefan , you are spot on about what you said about instructors making you feel hopeless . I wish someone told me that 30 years ago , as
I had some Brilliant instructors who were clam and gave you confidence , and others that made you stressed and were circuit jockeys .
“ if they make you feel hopeless ask for another instructor “. They may be good pilots but they may not be able to teach .
Great advice
Thanks for sharing that David, a great instructor really makes a huge difference. I’m amazed by the number of stories I hear about negative experiences though. It’s a real shame when it happens and is a real threat to General Aviation.
Hi Stefan. Lovely seeing another video of you flying. Based on what I heard, you weren't rusty at all. Did you edit out anything that Mike said?
Thanks cjsims3000, yes these videos are edited a lot. The fight itself would have been around 1h 20mins in total. We did some holding patterns as well as what you saw. But I don't want this channel to be instructional with flying, even with a qualified instructor on board, so I do edit a lot of that content out. Hopefully I can find that balance of informative, entertaining, and having a bit of fun with these videos too. Really glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks Stef 👍
great video. Would love if you could edit in some charts!
Great video Stef! Was the intro track taken from a Casey Neistat video?
Self doubt critisism is not a bad thing as a pilot. Better to be doubtful then a cocky know it all pilot. Those guys won't last long. Relax and enjoy the flight. My mantra is "Be the best pilot you can be, not the best pilot in the world"
6 weeks! i'm in the process of getting back into the air after 3 years! BFR didnt go so well. but yes, Some instructors can have you in tears. though i was striving for perfection at that point.
Hey, sorry to hear the BFR didn't go well. I'm sure that's just rust you can shake off after a bit of a break. Just sub'd to your channel as well (sorry I didn't do that sooner), looking forward to more of your flying adventures on there this year too.
Insta subbed!! Great vid!
Welcome to the channel, thanks for subscribing 👍
I think just keeping up the that barrage of radio instructions and read-back was a huge test of currency. Very difference to my VFR non-controlled world.
There's certainly a lot to consider when in controlled airspace and flying IFR, but like with anything I get better at it the more I do it. So practise is the key. Thanks for watching Andrew, Stef 👍
If I go more than 7 or 8 days I always have doubts about my ability to land. When the time comes it always ends up being automatic.
Hey James, yes I agree. Practise is the key with flying. I always found that with golf as well, that's probably why I was always pretty lousy at golf...
Why was Mike praying at 6:30? I thought you were doing very well.
Haha, I just noticed that! Well he's flown with me enough times... That made me chuckle, thanks Richard. Stef 👍
Saw Tango Delta Sierra on FR24 the other day. Is it always you flying it or do other pilots use it too?
Hey Kai, yes other pilots fly TDS. It can be hired through Blue Demon Aviation at Moorabbin.
Doubt! I know this very well, if I had a time machine I would go back and do things completely different.
I miss flying very much
Flying gets into your blood hey David? I can imagine with a long break you would miss it a lot. Hope you can get up in the air again soon, hopefully Cirrus are working on a time machine... At least it would look awesome if they were.
Agree with Windtee's comments. BTW - just posted a new video of yesterday's Glasair flight to Orange, and mentioned your channel to my THOUSANDS of subscribers (well - a couple dozen anyway). Hope you don't mind.
I just watched your video Jim, thanks for the shout out. And your comments on my travel videos made me smile :) Loved the video, keep posting them, with flights like that I'm sure your channel will continue to grow as well. Awesome stuff, thanks again, Stef 👍
haha I get that feeling of doubt when it's been about a week or two.
Smooches from YBAF.
Smooches back from YMMB!
Great stuff, Stefan! Thanks for being so honest - your down-to-earth tips really do help us rookies. I've lost several opportunities to get out there due to weather or runway closures (I still can't believe they allowed a construction crane to close RWY17 on a day of forecast southerlies!).. anyway It's good to know I'm not the only one.
PS: Just curious, how long does it usually take you to get to Moorabbin? I live outer suburbs and tend to forget how slow the trams are in this town.
Thanks Cameron, glad the videos are helping. So from my place (near Toorak way) it takes around 40 minutes to drive to Moorabbin on a good day. Can take up to an hour with traffic though. I did try the train once but with the Uber at the other end from Cheltenham station it worked out just as quick to drive.
That's about how long it would take me to drive to Lilydale (or Tyabb)! Hmm... have you ever considered flying from Essendon instead? That'd be like 25-30 minutes from your place. There are tolls, true, and you'd miss dear Tango Delta Sierra.. but might be worth it if you love Melbourne traffic as much as I do. ;-)
why do they have talk so much over radio? why not use some kind of texting app optimized for tower comm? What happen if you cannot understand the guy in the tower?
Hello Yacahuma, once you get used to the radio calls they're actually fairly straightforward. They sound complex when you first hear them but like anything the more you practise them the more familiar they become. Some information in larger aircraft is passed between the aircraft and ground via text type systems. But for navigation and clearance commands it's faster to communicate with ATC using voice at this stage. Perhaps when we have thought control (like in Firefox, did you ever see that movie, awesome film) we'll move to that, but for now voice is the most efficient solution.
Training flight this friday wish me luck
Good luck!
I always worry about losing my abilities 😂
4 Hours in as a student and just switched flight schools..so much is new.
Hey Jason, finding the right school and instructor is really important. Better to spend a bit of time on it early in your flying career, it’ll make your learning a lot faster and your flying more fun if you find the right person. Good luck with your training, and thanks for leaving that comment. Stef 👍
LIKED
Comment Liked! Thanks GJ767.
They certainly do.
My CFI gets me so rattled with his caustic comments and lack common civility that I actually start making mistakes ..some i have never made previously.
Can't change now..check flight in a few weeks and I feel unsettled already :(
Sorry to hear that johnpro2, but thank you for being open and sharing that here. I hope you can push through and fly your best in your checkride. Once you’ve passed that I hope you get a chance to maybe find a new instructor to fly with who you’re more comfortable with. It’s so very important to fly with people you respect and trust. If someone’s making you feel uncomfortable you won’t get the best out of yourself. Best of luck mate, let us know how you go. Stef 👍
Thanx Stefan ..if possible plz reply to my question on your other vid about the new graphical forecasts. th-cam.com/video/CmfeNvRDpF8/w-d-xo.html
You are on the wrong side of the road!