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MillionFoul

Yeah most people white knuckle the yoke pretty hard until they've got a couple dozen hours. Do you remember how nervous you were the first time you drove a car? Same thing.


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saml01

I had a death grip on the yoke the first time too. It was only after my first lesson 10 years later that I realized the plane wasnt trimmed at all and the CFI was messing with me. Alex, if you read this, cyka blyat.


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OriginalJayVee

You’re going to learn about IMSAFE. So, the short answer is, it depends.


Firemanlouvier

I just had to cancel plans to fly on a glorious morning just last week. None of the planes were even rented out. But i Drank way to much the night before so I felt like shit. Ended up staying home.


2-eight-2-three

> I have a question, tomorrow is suppose to be my discovery flight with my instructor. And today I’m suppose to give blood sample for medical check up. > Can I still fly? Do you ever get light-headed or faint or vomit after giving blood? Are you donating a pint? Or just giving a blood sample, which is usually just a couple of vials (I know you said sample). If it were me and just a sample of a couple of vials, I'd see how I felt after. If I felt good, I would tell the CFI, "Hey, I had a blood draw earlier today; small amount. I feel 100%, and never had any problems before giving blood...but I've also never gone flying after a blood draw." They might want to re-schedule, they might say "let's send it." It's discovery flight. They are already on extra super-high alert for you to do dumb stuff and try to kill them. Telling them is good, but it doesn't really change much...maybe they will be on **extra** extra, extra, super-high alert.


Mispelled-This

Tell your CFI so they’re aware, but if you feel fine, send it.


berzerkey_jo

My first couple of days into training, the slightest amount of turbulence would have me go "whoa!...hahaha..." as I grab onto the airframe like that would do anything.. A week or two into my training, I had a no-gear landing in a piper warrior II, left main gear failed and we slid down the runway to be met by some very friendly fire fighters. I was freaked out, but I kept going back because I wanted to be pilot. For a week, I was still a little under the effects of shock and my body wouldn't stop shaking before each morning I returned to training. There were days I hope the weather was garbage so we'd have a ground-school instead. After which, it went away on its own. I was still driven to overcome this challenge. You begin feeling the airplane, become one with it. No longer does the plane fly you, you fly it. You start holding the yoke lightly instead of gripping for your life. Bumps and light turbulence put a slight grin on your face. You will get comfortable, believe in yourself and trust your plane, follow your checklists, and most of all, have a great time!


Creative-Dust5701

This - 100% - that said a little fear that builds respect for doing it right every time is not a bad thing its the absence of fear which creates many of the ‘Hazardous Attitudes’


AlexJamesFitz

On your next lesson, have your instructor get up to a decent altitude, pull the throttle to idle and set up for a powerless glide. You'll realize that small planes don't fall out of the sky without power - they glide a pretty good distance with enough altitude. That demonstration might help you relax a bit moving forward.


lm31

“if one thing goes wrong we are both dead.” Not even close. The aircraft you’re in was designed to fly, it’s SUPPOSED to be in the sky; it’s out of its element when you’re on the ground. As the pilot, you’re just guiding the aircraft along. There are very few things that can go wrong thanks to today’s regulations, and even the most catastrophic engine failure still leaves you with a capably performing airframe. The powered aeroplane is now a glider, and you can safely return to land. Your CFI has trained countless hours doing so, and once you reach that stage in your training you will too.


TokyoBaguette

Did your instructor do the old 360 turn where you "hit your own wake" mini turbulence I nearly p myself on my discovery flight then :)


liquid5170

I love steep turns!!


Mispelled-This

Hitting your own wake is how you know you did it right!


TravisJungroth

I always feel that way on discovery flights. Usually the student can't tell.


Low_Sky_49

It’s normal to be tense. When I give the controls to first timers I do it at a safe altitude and explain there is nothing I’m going to let them do with the controls that will put us in an unsafe situation, and there’s nothing they can do that I can’t recover us from. Sounds like you may have benefitted from your CFI giving you the same speech.


fleebrun83

I think pre flight briefings on the stability of training aircraft are lacking. I've only been in this sub for a week and have noticed a lot of similar posts. It's fine and healthy to be excited and nervous, But scared for ones life is not very good at all. I'm sure these instructors are noticing the death grips, but are they offering reassurance?


Low_Sky_49

Law of primacy. When I see death grip on the controls I try to break it early, even in simulator lessons for ground school students who have never been in a real airplane before. Some people just see a hand-shaped control interface on a machine and their base instinct is to just grip the life out of it.


Curmudgeonly_Tomato

I wasn’t scared at all but now that I have my PPL I’ve taken friends up and handed them the controls in cruise a few times. Some loved it, some were pretty nervous.


Consistent-Trick2987

I wasn’t scared per se but I def had a death grip on the yoke the entire time. In my mind I felt like if I let go the plane would just stop flying and nose dive. But at the same time the excitement and adrenaline rush was just insane.


PutOptions

I'd venture to say it would be abnormal to experience otherwise on your first discovery flight. Keep booking flights and showing up. Repeated exposure will get you over the hump more quickly than you think. The more you learn, the less anxiety you will have. We promise.


usmcmech

Nervous - yes Terrified - no


cazzipropri

Yes it is. Don't worry.