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pequeajim
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 708
Location: New Holland, PA
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 Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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I was rummaging through an old email folder, cleaning out some dead email, and ran across one that I sent to my wife about a year and a half ago.
I has started taking pilot training and approached it with all of my normal go get em' confidence like everything else I had done in my life. When I took my FAA written, I got a 98 on it; I breezed through my verbal with flying colors, then took a 2 hour flight test. My examiner failed me on the No-flaps landing portion of the exam, even though I landed the aircraft safely. He said I was landing too fast, and would over run a shorter runway. This is something that my instructor had not covered with me, but still, I should have done it right. I went into the check ride with full confidence of passing, just like my written and verbal. To say that I was upset would be an understatement. I went home and sat on my porch and wanted to cry. This was a very new feeling for me. For once I understood what it was like to have some self doubts in my life. My wife can be insecure at times, and some times I had not understood those feelings like I should have. This day, I understood very clearly.
I sat down and wrote her a note, letting her know how I felt, how I could now relate, and how sorry I was for not understanding at times. Here's a excerpt form that email.
"This was a good learning milestone in my life. I'm not invincible. I can't do everything, and I'm not indestructible. That does not mean that I am not intelligent, talented, and versatile. Once in a while I WILL fail. I just need to understand my limitations, learn from my mistakes and work within the abilities God has given me.
So honey, here's a Jim quote for you. This will be my mission…
I shall not limit myself to "safe" tasks, but rather continue to explore what God and life has to offer me. Better to fall short in the attempt, learn from it, and try again than to sit in the corner and tremble in fear of failure."
Over the past year, you all on the list have been helpful and a great encouragement to me; thanks for your friendship. I thought you all would not mind me sharing this with you.
By the way, I went right back up the next day with an instructor and refined my no flaps landings. Then I practiced them for the next week or so and passed my next check ride. [quote][b]
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lbmathias(at)verizon.net
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Jim,
You certainly gained the right lesson from that failed checkride; people who fail checkrides on the first try are often good pilots whose instructor either omitted or underemphasized an important area of their training. It just means that you get another opportunity to correct that omission; in my case, it was crosswind landings on my private test because the instructor often rode the rudders and I didn't realize it. After the initial disappointment, most realize that it all happens for the best.
Wishing you a terrific first flight in the very near future, Linda
---
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pequeajim
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 708
Location: New Holland, PA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Thanks Linda...
On 6/28/08, JOSEPH MATHIAS LINDA MATHIAS <lbmathias(at)verizon.net> wrote:
[quote]
Jim,
You certainly gained the right lesson from that failed checkride;
people who fail checkrides on the first try are often good pilots whose
instructor either omitted or underemphasized an important area of their
training. It just means that you get another opportunity to correct that
omission; in my case, it was crosswind landings on my private test because
the instructor often rode the rudders and I didn't realize it. After the
initial disappointment, most realize that it all happens for the best.
Wishing you a terrific first flight in the very near future, Linda
---
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N1BZRich(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Jim,
Great words and a great way to support your bride and show your love. I see too many couples that really don't support each other in their work or "play" activities. A big loss for them. I lost my bride to breast cancer when she was 42 and she was the kind that was always lending a hand, not only in my flying career, but also by helping with my airplane building activities - even though that Pitts was single seat, she was in the garage helping to get it completed.
Also appreciated your "first check ride" story and of course Linda's thoughts on it. She would know - she is one of the best designated FAA check pilots in Virginia.
Lastly, the entire Lightning community is anxiously awaiting the first flight of you airplane. Be sure to give us all the details and a future full write up about your phase one experiences for the newsletter. One of the most enjoyable things is to open my email list and read that another Lightning has taken to the air. Two this past week - fantastic - congratulations to Bill Brown and Wayne Lenox. And lets not forget the first flight on Clive's Esqual in the UK. The tie in between the Esqual and Lightning airplanes goes through SYI.
Blue Skies,
Buz
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.
| | - The Matronics Lightning-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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pequeajim
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 708
Location: New Holland, PA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Thanks Buz, I always appreciate the encouragement from everyone on the list which is why I wanted to share that thought with the group.
Jim!
From: owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of N1BZRich(at)aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 9:13 PM
To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: When in doubt, don't give up!
Jim,
Great words and a great way to support your bride and show your love. I see too many couples that really don't support each other in their work or "play" activities. A big loss for them. I lost my bride to breast cancer when she was 42 and she was the kind that was always lending a hand, not only in my flying career, but also by helping with my airplane building activities - even though that Pitts was single seat, she was in the garage helping to get it completed.
Also appreciated your "first check ride" story and of course Linda's thoughts on it. She would know - she is one of the best designated FAA check pilots in Virginia.
Lastly, the entire Lightning community is anxiously awaiting the first flight of you airplane. Be sure to give us all the details and a future full write up about your phase one experiences for the newsletter. One of the most enjoyable things is to open my email list and read that another Lightning has taken to the air. Two this past week - fantastic - congratulations to Bill Brown and Wayne Lenox. And lets not forget the first flight on Clive's Esqual in the UK. The tie in between the Esqual and Lightning airplanes goes through SYI.
Blue Skies,
Buz
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.
| Quote: | | http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Lightning-List |
0123456789
[quote][b]
| | - The Matronics Lightning-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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dashvii(at)hotmail.com
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Jim,
Great story! I never failed a checkride, but in my part 141 training I did fail a stage check for my multi-commercial instrument ride. I could fly a localizer backcourse out over the ocean down to minimums flawlessly, but failed the Vmc demo. We always practiced with one engine idle and slowed the plane until full rudder was deflected and the nose started to go to one side. He wanted me to not get to that point on the checkride which I understand that you want to avoid that if it was a real situation. Unfortunately he didn't voice that until after. Oh, and I was on what they called a fixed price program so that if I ever failed two consecutive stage checks or a single checkride I would have to pay the actual cost instead of the base price that I payed for. That was a lot of pressure! We're talking about a difference of probably $15k! The multi-engine was rented at around $430/hour when I was going through but my locked in rate had it more like $180 if you divided it out. Anyhow, when the checkride came around I had the option to request not to have a particular instructor. This guy had passed me on a couple of stage checks previously but we just didn't mesh and he was very difficult. I chose not to say that I didn't want him, knowing that the luck of the draw would probably be somebody else that I got. Well, I was wrong, I got him. I saw that on the schedule and my heart sank. Then I told myself that I had gotten a lot of experience and training since then and could fly that as good as anything I ever had and that I needed to have this guy for my checkride to prove to myself that I could handle emergencies in a more complex aircraft. I passed, said my little prayer of thanks, and got out of there with a few tips from him.
I also had an instructor for my instrument course that I was convinced was a sadist or just completely hated me. I would be nailing everything on a flight and he would be scooting the seat back and forth to change my CG and the feel of the plane or would be quizing me on ground class questions while flying an approach. He just rode me until I would just be exhausted every flight. We flew until midnight or one in the morning many nights and had college classes at 7am the next morning. I learned to sleep with my eyes open that semester! At the same time we had a chief IP come in and told us that we were lower than dirt and too many people were failing and that we couldn't make it and looked like a sorry bunch of pilots and we'd never have a future. So I was about ready to give all of that up, which is unfortunate. I tried to be a good Christian boy though and said to myself that it'll always be ok if you treat somebody else with kindness and respect, even if they aren't doing that to you. My instructor still rode me, but my mind was clearer and I could concentrate. I had a million plans of action running through my head at one time and by the time that he thought he'd gotten me by asking me some difficult question I was like, oh, I got that one right here for ya. During that checkride I did a runup and found the battery was discharging. We had a failed alternator. The check pilot said that it was up to me, but being night and having some actual out I of course said, nope, so we got plane number 2 checked out and ready to go. My checkride lasted until 2:30 that morning and it was about 32 degrees in Florida with quiet a wind chill! Anyhow I called my instructor the next day after I passed and he was so friendly and said he never had any doubts. I realized then that even though I would've approached it different I had felt the most confident of any checkride to date and that things really did work out for the best and I learned to be a little more humble in the process. Never quit learning in!
flying
and you'll one day make a great pilot!
I also love seeing people like Linda who are passing along to a new generation of pilots the importance of stick and rudder skills and safety, but also sharing a love and passion of flying with them! Brian W.
________________________________
From: pequeajim(at)gmail.com
To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: RE: When in doubt, don't give up!
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:57:12 -0400
Thanks Buz, I always appreciate the encouragement from everyone on the list which is why I wanted to share that thought with the group.
Jim!
From: owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of N1BZRich(at)aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 9:13 PM
To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: When in doubt, don't give up!
Jim,
Great words and a great way to support your bride and show your love. I see too many couples that really don't support each other in their work or "play" activities. A big loss for them. I lost my bride to breast cancer when she was 42 and she was the kind that was always lending a hand, not only in my flying career, but also by helping with my airplane building activities - even though that Pitts was single seat, she was in the garage helping to get it completed.
Also appreciated your "first check ride" story and of course Linda's thoughts on it. She would know - she is one of the best designated FAA check pilots in Virginia.
Lastly, the entire Lightning community is anxiously awaiting the first flight of you airplane. Be sure to give us all the details and a future full write up about your phase one experiences for the newsletter. One of the most enjoyable things is to open my email list and read that another Lightning has taken to the air. Two this past week - fantastic - congratulations to Bill Brown and Wayne Lenox. And lets not forget the first flight on Clive's Esqual in the UK. The tie in between the Esqual and Lightning airplanes goes through SYI.
Blue Skies,
Buz
________________________________
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Lightning-List
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Scotty
Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 44
Location: Peachtree City, GA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:24 am Post subject: Re: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Jim,
That says more to me about your character and personality than anything. I would fly with you any day of the week and twice on Saturday, and probably go to sleep in the cockpit (except I love to look outside). Having been an APD (designated examiner) in the air line industry and instructor in the Navy I can say that is exactly the attitude that is needed for fun and safe flight. You and your wife are fortunate.
Scotty
(Lurker Extrodinaire)
| | - The Matronics Lightning-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Lightning-List |
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pequeajim
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 708
Location: New Holland, PA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:43 am Post subject: When in doubt, don't give up! |
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Thanks Scotty, those words mean a lot.
Jim!
On 6/30/08, Scotty <mr.scotty(at)comcast.net (mr.scotty(at)comcast.net)> wrote: [quote]--> Lightning-List message posted by: "Scotty" <mr.scotty(at)comcast.net (mr.scotty(at)comcast.net)>
Jim,
That says more to me about your character and personality than anything. I would fly with you any day of the week and twice on Saturday, and probably go to sleep in the cockpit (except I love to look outside). Having been an APD (designated examiner) in the air line industry and instructor in the Navy I can say that is exactly the attitude that is needed for fun and safe flight. You and your wife are fortunate.
Scotty
(Lurker Extrodinaire)
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=190524#190524
[quote][b]
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