Trial flying lesson

Hi

Due to a freak chance meeting with a pilot in training and an aircraft
engineer, I have managed to talk myself into taking a trial flying
lesson.

Can you help with a few questions I have, having never been up in a
small aircraft and being scared of heights (well on tall buildings
anyway) But I do WANT to do this, don't get me wrong.

Can you experience pressure problems in your ears similar to on a
commercial jet?

Is it best to go alone with just the instructor, or take a willing
victim to witness your trial?

Do they have sick bags?

Do you get a parachute in case anything goes wrong?

And how addictive is flying really, I mean if I open my eyes and like
it?

All other helpful information appreciated, this is not a troll, I'm
serious.

Many thanks

"Ice blonde" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi

Due to a freak chance meeting with a pilot in training and an aircraft
engineer, I have managed to talk myself into taking a trial flying
lesson.

Can you help with a few questions I have, having never been up in a
small aircraft and being scared of heights (well on tall buildings
anyway) But I do WANT to do this, don't get me wrong.

There are many pilots, myself included, that are afraid of heights.
Standing on a ladder or roof scares the s* out of me, but flying in small
planes doesn't have the same effect.

Can you experience pressure problems in your ears similar to on a
commercial jet?

Yes, at times, clear your ears during accents and decents by yawning or
chewing gum. It's usually not as bad as you get on an airline though...

Is it best to go alone with just the instructor, or take a willing
victim to witness your trial?

It doesn't matter too much. It's probably up to the instructor if she/he
allows a passenger during the intro flight.

Do they have sick bags?

Yes. I haven't needed to use it, yet...

Do you get a parachute in case anything goes wrong?

No. Unless you're doing aerobatics, a chute isn't required. If something
goes wrong like the engine quitting and not restarting, the plane will still
land fine,, maybe off airport though...

And how addictive is flying really, I mean if I open my eyes and like
it?

Very! Once you try it, you'll wonder why you waited so long...

All other helpful information appreciated, this is not a troll, I'm
serious.

Many thanks

Try it, you'll (probably) like it!

"Ice blonde" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi

Due to a freak chance meeting with a pilot in training and an aircraft
engineer, I have managed to talk myself into taking a trial flying
lesson.

Can you help with a few questions I have, having never been up in a
small aircraft and being scared of heights (well on tall buildings
anyway) But I do WANT to do this, don't get me wrong.

Can you experience pressure problems in your ears similar to on a
commercial jet?

You will not experience the eustachian tube issues in a light airplane at
low altitude that make some people uncomfortable on airliners.

Is it best to go alone with just the instructor, or take a willing
victim to witness your trial?

Up to you, but if a trial flight is your goal, you might want to consider
going with just the instructor. Distractions having a pax along on that
first flight can get in the way and the flight become more of a simple ride
than the instructional value you might be seeking. It's up to you to make
that decision.
Personally, as a CFI, I prefer first flights done with only myself and the
potential student. If carrying a passenger is desired, I would suggest a
pleasure flight and do the introductory flight another time.

Do they have sick bags?
Smart FBO's usually carry them, but take my word on it; if you know they are
there and you're thinking about them being there, I'll give you odds on
before the flight is over, you'll be grabbing for one :-)
Just pick a nice day....evening is a great time to schedule an introductory
flight. The air is smooth and you can relax and enjoy things more. Also, if
relaxed, and with any CFI worth the title, you will learn more, retain more,
and come away from the flight enjoying the experience.

Do you get a parachute in case anything goes wrong

Don't worry. On a first flight, (based only on the type of questions you
have asked here ) if anything THAT bad went wrong, you probably would be too
panicked to use the chute anyway. :-))))
Don't worry. You won't need a chute. What you'll be doing isn't anywhere
NEAR that dangerous. Just relax and have fun.


And how addictive is flying really, I mean if I open my eyes and like
it?

If you can manage to handle the "fears" you have posted here BEFORE taking
an intro flight, and if the CFI you fly with is any good at all, you will
come out of that airplane with a smile so big on your puss that it will
probably take six strong men to hold you back from grabbing the first phone
you see in the flight office to clean out your checking account to buy block
time :-)


All other helpful information appreciated, this is not a troll, I'm
serious.

Glad to know you Serious, and best of luck with that intro flight.
Let me know how it went?
Dudley Henriques
CFI Retired

Can you help with a few questions I have, having never been up in a
small aircraft and being scared of heights (well on tall buildings
anyway) But I do WANT to do this, don't get me wrong.

I'm scared shiftless of standing on my roof, the top of the Empire State
building freaked me to no end, and elevators are NOT my friend. Having said
all this, I'm a flight instructor with several thousand hours and several
hundred students over the last 45 years. The phobias are NOT the same.




Can you experience pressure problems in your ears similar to on a
commercial jet?

Yes, but since the descent and climb rates differ by a factor of ten or so,
the time for your ears to acclimatize is greatly increased. THe short
answer is yes, but not so much.




Is it best to go alone with just the instructor, or take a willing
victim to witness your trial?

Your call, but most "first flight" lessons are in a two-place aircraft.



Do they have sick bags?

Sick sacks are a standard feature in all training aircraft.



Do you get a parachute in case anything goes wrong?

Your odds of hurting yourself in a parachute are a hundred times more than
simply letting the aircraft return to earth of its own free will. The glide
ratio of a single engine trainer is about 8 to 1, so for every foot you are
up in the air you can glide 8 feet forward. Most initial training flights
are at about 3000 feet, so you have your choice of any landing spot within
about 5 miles of your present location.



And how addictive is flying really, I mean if I open my eyes and like
it?

No more addictive than cocaine, meth, or sex {;-) I'd suggest a trip to
the library to check out a book by Richard Bach called "A Gift Of Wings";
the chapter "Letter From A God-Fearing Man" pretty well sums up the way most
of us in this newsgroup feel.




All other helpful information appreciated, this is not a troll, I'm
serious.

No problem. Nobody in here was born with wings.

Jim

I'll just reinforce a few points ...

Is it best to go alone with just the instructor, or take a willing
victim to witness your trial?

Whichever you're most comfortable with is best.

Do they have sick bags?

ASK FOR ONE BEFORE YOU GO. Don't be shy about it. Any instructor or
FBO will be very happy to accomodate that request. It's a whole lot
better to have one and not need one than to need one and not have one.

Do you get a parachute in case anything goes wrong?

Just like the airlines.

And how addictive is flying really, I mean if I open my eyes and like
it?

If you open your eyes and like sex, you'll probably like flying that
much too.

Can you help with a few questions I have, having never been up in a
small aircraft and being scared of heights (well on tall buildings
anyway) But I do WANT to do this, don't get me wrong.

Don't worry -- fear of heights is completely different from fear of
flying.

Example: Last Monday, our CAP squadron received a tour of our
hospital's "Flight for Life" helipad, which is on top of a 9-story
building.

I was fine for a few minutes, as we checked out the cool helicopter,
and were given a great tour of the facility. As time passed, however,
I started to realize that there were no sides or fences on the building
(naturally -- it's a helipad!), and I started to feel that weird sorta
dizzy feeling you get when you're afraid of heights.

By the end of the tour, I was fighting an almost overwhelming need to
get off that roof. It was a beautiful evening, the moon was rising, and
the buildings of downtown and the University of Iowa looked beautiful
as the lights twinkled on -- but none of that mattered. I *had* to get
off that roof.

It was stupid, I knew it was stupid, but that's the way it works. Yet
I've flown over that helipad hundreds of times while landing at our
airport, and did so again the very next day. My wife and I have flown
over 1500 hours in the last 10 years, all over the country.

In fact, I have read that MOST pilots are afraid of heights -- so don't
worry about that aspect of learning to fly.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Dear all,

Thank you so much for your replies :-)

I am glad I'm not the only one scared of looking down from high
buildings, ladders etc....

I'm sorry if my questions seem a bit wimpish, but being only just over
5'1" and having a total flying experience of a few commercial jet
flights, several unscheduled arial dismounts from speeding horses, and
most recently the flight of stairs at home, top to bottom, (that one
hurt!) I thought I could do with some advice.

Now am planning to have a flight in the South East of not so sunny
England, so the weather is bound to be unpredictable, do you think I
should be ok for an Autumn flight?

I am planning to open my eyes at some point, so I expect I will have a
great time.

Many thanks

See below

Ice blonde wrote:

Can you experience pressure problems in your ears similar to on a
commercial jet?


Yes but only in a high performance airplane, not likely for a
introductory flight.

Is it best to go alone with just the instructor, or take a willing
victim to witness your trial?


Ask the instructor if it is ok with them. If you feel more comfortable
with an experienced observer then do it.

Do they have sick bags?


bring your own. Do not use a clear ziplock bag.

Do you get a parachute in case anything goes wrong?


Only if you are doing aerobatics.

And how addictive is flying really, I mean if I open my eyes and like
it?


It is the most expensive and enjoyable habit I have. I finally am
getting paid to fly.

Michelle

I'm sorry if my questions seem a bit wimpish, but being only just over
5'1" and having a total flying experience of a few commercial jet
flights, several unscheduled arial dismounts from speeding horses, and
most recently the flight of stairs at home, top to bottom, (that one
hurt!) I thought I could do with some advice.

Hey, you're a full inch taller than my wife, Mary, who now has over 500
hours as pilot in command of a single engine aircraft!

You'll do fine. Just be careful -- flying is as addictive as heroin,
and just as spendy!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Did you ever walk out on that glass floor at the CN tower in Toronto?
Over a thousand feet straight down to the ground!
On the way up there I read a sign telling me the 2.5 inch glass floor was
strong enough to hold 12 hippos.
Well let me tell you.....as I walked out on that floor and looked down, the
first thought that came to my head was,
"Oh Jesus...PLEASE tell me some damn idiot didn't sneak 13 Hippos up
here!!!"
:-))))
Dudley
"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
Can you help with a few questions I have, having never been up in a
small aircraft and being scared of heights (well on tall buildings
anyway) But I do WANT to do this, don't get me wrong.

Don't worry -- fear of heights is completely different from fear of
flying.

Example: Last Monday, our CAP squadron received a tour of our
hospital's "Flight for Life" helipad, which is on top of a 9-story
building.

I was fine for a few minutes, as we checked out the cool helicopter,
and were given a great tour of the facility. As time passed, however,
I started to realize that there were no sides or fences on the building
(naturally -- it's a helipad!), and I started to feel that weird sorta
dizzy feeling you get when you're afraid of heights.

By the end of the tour, I was fighting an almost overwhelming need to
get off that roof. It was a beautiful evening, the moon was rising, and
the buildings of downtown and the University of Iowa looked beautiful
as the lights twinkled on -- but none of that mattered. I *had* to get
off that roof.

It was stupid, I knew it was stupid, but that's the way it works. Yet
I've flown over that helipad hundreds of times while landing at our
airport, and did so again the very next day. My wife and I have flown
over 1500 hours in the last 10 years, all over the country.

In fact, I have read that MOST pilots are afraid of heights -- so don't
worry about that aspect of learning to fly.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"