First Solo and Total Hours Flown

Part of the problem with the car analogy is that in a plane we are flying
through an unseen medium. Some people, I think can have a hard time
viscerally comprehending that. You cna see a road and any bumps in it. Some
can "see" the air pretty well and know what to expect, but some never really
develope that sense.

I learned in a hang glider, and I think that helped me a lot with my PPL
since I was much more intimately aware of what the wind does. It really
needs to become instinctive. If you could teach some of these "unteachables"
in perfectly calm winds all the time, anybody who can handle a car should be
able to handle a plane. Just teach to the numbers. Throw in some wind, which
is almost always (if not always) present, and their reactions aren't there.

Most should get it at some point, but there may be a few who never will.

mike

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...

As far as what it says about motor skills goes, I agree that just because
she didn't "get it" in 30 hours doesn't necessarily mean she won't after
more training. Assuming she can drive a car, it's likely that with the
right instructor and situation, she can learn to land in far less time
than 30 hours.

And just because this is Usenet, I should amend my previous post to
clarify: yes, there are some people who are physically incapable of the
motor skills to land an airplane (due to a physical handicap, for
example). But the average human being, especially one that has already
successfully been taught to drive a car, should have no trouble handling
an airplane given proper and sufficient training. Motor skills just
shouldn't normally be an impediment to being a pilot.

Pete