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12/07 - First lesson logged; what’s next?

By Steve Krog
Steve Krog is a flight instructor, EAA member and president of the Cub Association.

In our last two issues, we gave a detailed description of the sights and sounds a first-time flight student would likely experience during a typical first flight. At the conclusion of the flight and post-flight review, you left the airport grinning, with a strong desire to share the experience with everyone you know. After several days, the level of excitement is still there, but now you’re probably asking yourself, “What can I expect during the next lesson?”

It’s now been several days since your first flight and today you’re scheduled for the second flight. Heading for the airport, excitement and anticipation build. Your thoughts first focus on the take-off and the exhilaration you felt seeing the earth’s surface drop away as you and your instructor climbed out of the airport traffic pattern. You may also recall the feeling of apprehension when your instructor asked you to take the controls. And when you did, you soon realized that not only were you flying the airplane but also it wasn’t nearly as difficult as you had anticipated. The airplane “wanted” to fly - with you at the controls!

Arriving at the airport and walking into the flight office, your mind is racing, trying to recall all of the things your instructor taught you. Take preflighting the airplane. You don’t want to forget anything but at this instant it seems that it is all running together and you can’t seem to recall anything. This feeling is only natural. You were exposed to so many new terms and had so many things explained and demonstrated that you’re finding it difficult to recall it all.

When your flight instructor greets you, he or she will first sit down with you and in a friendly, informal manner discuss some of the things you experienced during your first flight. After a few minutes of verbal review, he or she will then explain what you’ll be doing on this, the second, flight. Now you’re finally beginning to relax.

Today, we’re going to learn “attitude flying.” Your mind is once again racing as you try to recall some of the things your instructor mentioned about “attitude” during your first flight. No, it doesn’t have anything to do with having a positive open mind. Rather, it has to do with the airplane. Next page: Attitude flying