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I HAD MY FIRST FLIGHT TODAY!  IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!

Went to Kstate Salina and flew a C172 today.  Piloted from the left seat from takeoff to landing.  It was windy and bumpy until about 2500 feet, but above that it was smooth (but windy, 60-70knot winds).

Saw 4 stalls...one was just a quick stall, then one was a stall and the instructor held it in flutter to show aileron control, then there were 2 power on stalls, one quick one and then one with wrong rudder input that resulted in aileron roll pointed towards the ground.

Did steep turns and a strong crosswind landing.

I felt high the whole approach, and the runway was short and narrow.  I didn't think I would make it but the instructor told me to just lower the power and pull back on the nose a bit.  Felt like a fairly hard landing (no bounce, but firm and not smooth) but the instructor said it was great for a first time.

With the high winds, got to see both tailwind and headwind.  And one way he showed it was by maneuvering the plane, told me to look at the ground.  We were going sideways.  He moved it some more, we were going backwards.  One last time we were hovering, and on the GPS it said our GS was 3KTs!!!!

It was the best 30 minutes of my life when I had the controls, even the high winds and moderate turbulance didn't sway me, I want my PPL!!!



PS: Oh, I forgot to mention, throttle and rudder control were both a lot more stubborn than the sim makes them feel i.e. more difficult to move the pedals and throttle than I had expected.

One more thing:

After the second power on stall (I was in the back seat) I leaned my leg up against the door, and it popped open!  Apparently my friend flying didn't close it right.  I quickly got on my intercom and said 'doors open!' and the instructor reached over and pushed it out and used it as a control surface before properly closing it.

One more thing:

After the second power on stall (I was in the back seat) I leaned my leg up against the door, and it popped open!  Apparently my friend flying didn't close it right.  I quickly got on my intercom and said 'doors open!' and the instructor reached over and pushed it out and used it as a control surface before properly closing it.

LOL!

Sounds like you had a blast Jake

A GS of 3 in a Cessna 172! That must have been interesting ... You could have VTOL'd!

One more thing:

After the second power on stall (I was in the back seat) I leaned my leg up against the door, and it popped open!  Apparently my friend flying didn't close it right.  I quickly got on my intercom and said 'doors open!' and the instructor reached over and pushed it out and used it as a control surface before properly closing it.

LOL!

Sounds like you had a blast Jake

A GS of 3 in a Cessna 172! That must have been interesting ... You could have VTOL'd!

Some of the pilots on the ground were saying they could have VTOL'd with the weather...

http://www.salina.k-state.edu/clubs/ahp/our_fleet/1801.jpg  <--that would be the plane I flew.  

Congratulations Jake.  Kind of makes an impression the first time you go doesn't it? 8-)

Excellent. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Congratulations Jake, it (flying) grows on you. Soon you will be throwing tantrums when the weather gets dangerous, and you can't fly. When all planes have gone into the hangars for maintenance. Etc.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Nice one!

PS: Oh, I forgot to mention, throttle and rudder control were both a lot more stubborn than the sim makes them feel i.e. more difficult to move the pedals and throttle than I had expected.

I suppose that depends one what joystick/yoke you are using. I noticed a difference when I bought a new joystick, but soon got used to it. I'm sure you'd get used to the stubbornness of the real aircraft, too.

No turning back now... Once you've got it in you, that you want to be pilot, it's just a matter of when, how, and how you go about becoming a better pilot..  for the rest of your life.

As your training progresses, keep us posted ... and when applicable; we'll try to help you along..

PS: Oh, I forgot to mention, throttle and rudder control were both a lot more stubborn than the sim makes them feel i.e. more difficult to move the pedals and throttle than I had expected.

I suppose that depends one what joystick/yoke you are using. I noticed a difference when I bought a new joystick, but soon got used to it. I'm sure you'd get used to the stubbornness of the real aircraft, too.

Well I've had the CH Yoke and now I have the Saitek X52.  The yoke was pretty comparable when it was new, but the last time I flew it before replacing it it would be a little too loose for the control in the real one.  Of course I can tell that I was being gingerly with the controls, just a little nervous

I have the CH pedals, they move really really easily and I don't remember them ever having much resistance.

Throttle wise, I can't really compare because it's different (pushing in the cessna throttle is a lot different than sliding the saitek throttle)

And Brett, truer words have never been spoken.  I want to be a pilot, but I will probably have to wait until I get a job (career) and find a nice club.  Some companies I might work for have flying clubs with reduced rates on rental and fuel and lessons.

I started a reply earlier, but was interrupted...

Great news- another fledgling takes to the air!! Congrats!!

Congratulations Jake, it (flying) grows on you. Soon you will be throwing tantrums when the weather gets dangerous, and you can't fly. When all planes have gone into the hangars for maintenance. Etc.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Weather doesn't bother me...I had bad enough weather for my first!

PS: Oh, I forgot to mention, throttle and rudder control were both a lot more stubborn than the sim makes them feel i.e. more difficult to move the pedals and throttle than I had expected.

Imagine if the friction on the real throttle was the same as your FS throttle - the vibration would soon make it a bit quieter as it worked its way back to idle...