Almost got My Ticket Yesterday

On Apr 2, 11:22 pm, "CareBear" wrote:
First of all I have not posted/asked any questions of RAP and RAS since last
November. With all of the bickering, baiting, and other issues, I decided
not to participate. Please don't misinterpret what I am saying. I am not
pointing fingers or complaining about anyone in particular since several
members of this group have been involved in degrading the groups. These are
just my opinions. So much for that.....

I had my checkride yesterday and it went rather well. I was not successful
in getting my ticket since I busted the forward slip to a landing and soft
field landing. Everything else was ok. I plan to practice and complete the
requirements for the slip and soft field landing this week, thereby
acquiring my ticket. My main problem with the slip was not maintaining the
centerline during the actual slip. I will not make any excuses (the wind,
nervousness, etc.). When it's all said and done, it was on me to be
successful.

Although I did not get the ticket, I still feel good about the overall
outcome. It's interesting in that I felt my weakest area would be the oral
but this went well. I did have a couple of slips (no pun intended) during
the oral but quickly regrouped and gave the correct response. The oral
lasted about 2.5 hours. After reviewing my flight plan, weight and balance,
etc. we (the DPE and myself) took to the air. I had to do quite a number of
things such as slow flight, steep turns, power on and power off stalls.
Finally it was time for the dreaded diversion! I was actually pleased with
myself with the outcome. The diversion was somewhat better than I had
anticipated, especially since I did not land but did a go around. Once we
returned to airport, we discussed the overall checkride. Of course, this
also included the "well you didn't do too good on the slip and the soft
field landing" conversation. But still, I was pleased with what I had
accomplished. Now I am really looking forward to finishing this week,
weather and DPE availability permitting.!!!!

BTW, the xc flight plan was from 3A1 (Cullman AL) to 7A0 (Greensboro AL) and
finally KMGM (Montgomery Dannelly Field).

Now, I will resume lurking.

--
CareBear

You've got the right attitude about the your checkride!! Alot of
people (including me!) come away from a failed checkride depressed and
dejected. After all those hours, I felt like %#$@ that I couldn't
make it thru. But after I picked myself up by my belt loops and got
back in the plane, it was a piece of cake the next time. And it will
be for you also.

As others have noted, slips are one of the toughest manuevers to
master. You're on final and your eyes are moving up and down at warp
speed between the gauges to make sure you've got the right airspeed,
and the outside to watch the centerline. Putting the plane in that
"unnatural" configuration and keeping it there only makes it worse.
And if the wind is shifting or gusting, you then have to adjust the
amount of slip to compensate. All together, its a pretty tough flying
environment.

A few more landings with your instructor, and you'll have that little
piece of paper in your hand! And then it will get to the point that
you actually WISH for a windy/gusty day to get out there and practice
those crosswind landings in challenging conditions! Good luck!

--Jeff

"JB" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 2, 11:22 pm, "CareBear" wrote:
First of all I have not posted/asked any questions of RAP and RAS since
last
November. With all of the bickering, baiting, and other issues, I
decided
not to participate. Please don't misinterpret what I am saying. I am
not
pointing fingers or complaining about anyone in particular since several
members of this group have been involved in degrading the groups. These
are
just my opinions. So much for that.....

I had my checkride yesterday and it went rather well. I was not
successful
in getting my ticket since I busted the forward slip to a landing and
soft
field landing. Everything else was ok. I plan to practice and complete
the
requirements for the slip and soft field landing this week, thereby
acquiring my ticket. My main problem with the slip was not maintaining
the
centerline during the actual slip. I will not make any excuses (the
wind,
nervousness, etc.). When it's all said and done, it was on me to be
successful.

Although I did not get the ticket, I still feel good about the overall
outcome. It's interesting in that I felt my weakest area would be the
oral
but this went well. I did have a couple of slips (no pun intended)
during
the oral but quickly regrouped and gave the correct response. The oral
lasted about 2.5 hours. After reviewing my flight plan, weight and
balance,
etc. we (the DPE and myself) took to the air. I had to do quite a number
of
things such as slow flight, steep turns, power on and power off stalls.
Finally it was time for the dreaded diversion! I was actually pleased
with
myself with the outcome. The diversion was somewhat better than I had
anticipated, especially since I did not land but did a go around. Once
we
returned to airport, we discussed the overall checkride. Of course, this
also included the "well you didn't do too good on the slip and the soft
field landing" conversation. But still, I was pleased with what I had
accomplished. Now I am really looking forward to finishing this week,
weather and DPE availability permitting.!!!!

BTW, the xc flight plan was from 3A1 (Cullman AL) to 7A0 (Greensboro AL)
and
finally KMGM (Montgomery Dannelly Field).

Now, I will resume lurking.

--
CareBear

You've got the right attitude about the your checkride!! Alot of
people (including me!) come away from a failed checkride depressed and
dejected. After all those hours, I felt like %#$@ that I couldn't
make it thru. But after I picked myself up by my belt loops and got
back in the plane, it was a piece of cake the next time. And it will
be for you also.

As others have noted, slips are one of the toughest manuevers to
master. You're on final and your eyes are moving up and down at warp
speed between the gauges to make sure you've got the right airspeed,
and the outside to watch the centerline. Putting the plane in that
"unnatural" configuration and keeping it there only makes it worse.
And if the wind is shifting or gusting, you then have to adjust the
amount of slip to compensate. All together, its a pretty tough flying
environment.

A few more landings with your instructor, and you'll have that little
piece of paper in your hand! And then it will get to the point that
you actually WISH for a windy/gusty day to get out there and practice
those crosswind landings in challenging conditions! Good luck!

--Jeff


Jeff, I admit slips are rather hard. But I will be working to overcome them
(and soon).

--
CareBear

On Apr 2, 8:22 pm, "CareBear" wrote:

I had my checkride yesterday and it went rather well. I was not successful
in getting my ticket since I busted the forward slip to a landing and soft
field landing.

Ah. A little more instruction and you'll have those down pat. Anyone
can screw up an item or two on a check ride. More than that, though,
and you begin to wonder about the instructor.

Congratulations on the rest. You'll have your ticket soon and a well
deserved sense of accomplishment.

--
CareBear
"cjcampbell" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 2, 8:22 pm, "CareBear" wrote:

I had my checkride yesterday and it went rather well. I was not
successful
in getting my ticket since I busted the forward slip to a landing and
soft
field landing.

Ah. A little more instruction and you'll have those down pat. Anyone
can screw up an item or two on a check ride. More than that, though,
and you begin to wonder about the instructor.

Congratulations on the rest. You'll have your ticket soon and a well
deserved sense of accomplishment.


Thanks cjc.

--
CareBear

On Apr 2, 10:22 pm, "CareBear" wrote:
...snip
I had my checkride yesterday and it went rather well. I was not successful
in getting my ticket since I busted the forward slip to a landing and soft
field landing. Everything else was ok. I plan to practice and complete the
requirements for the slip and soft field landing this week, thereby
acquiring my ticket. My main problem with the slip was not maintaining the
centerline during the actual slip. I will not make any excuses (the wind,
nervousness, etc.). When it's all said and done, it was on me to be
successful.

snip...

Now, I will resume lurking.

--
CareBear

You have my sympathy. I know how it feels to bust a check ride, as I
had to take my multi add-on a second time (busted the off field NDB
approach). No matter how good you feel about the rest of the check
ride, I suspect that deep down it still hurts somewhat to have
"busted." However, as others have said, you are in good company
because many outstanding pilots have busted at one time or another.
Also, as others have stated, the leniency of the DPE's are variable. I
remember on my private exam I bounced the soft-field landing and the
DPE asked me which bounce I wanted to use for the landing. She didn't
bust me on that, although she easily could have done so.

Doing the forward slip is very much like a x-wind landing. You may
want to go to an airport that is not too busy and practice the slip
procedure as you approach a runway with a moderate x-wind. You don't
have to land if the x-wind is too great, but just try to keep the
plane going down the centerline using the aileron to correct for the
wind and the opposite rudder to keep the nose straight down the
runway.

Good luck on your re-take.

Cary

--
CareBear
"Cary" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 2, 10:22 pm, "CareBear" wrote:
...snip
I had my checkride yesterday and it went rather well. I was not
successful
in getting my ticket since I busted the forward slip to a landing and
soft
field landing. Everything else was ok. I plan to practice and complete
the
requirements for the slip and soft field landing this week, thereby
acquiring my ticket. My main problem with the slip was not maintaining
the
centerline during the actual slip. I will not make any excuses (the
wind,
nervousness, etc.). When it's all said and done, it was on me to be
successful.

snip...

Now, I will resume lurking.

--
CareBear

You have my sympathy. I know how it feels to bust a check ride, as I
had to take my multi add-on a second time (busted the off field NDB
approach). No matter how good you feel about the rest of the check
ride, I suspect that deep down it still hurts somewhat to have
"busted." However, as others have said, you are in good company
because many outstanding pilots have busted at one time or another.
Also, as others have stated, the leniency of the DPE's are variable. I
remember on my private exam I bounced the soft-field landing and the
DPE asked me which bounce I wanted to use for the landing. She didn't
bust me on that, although she easily could have done so.

Doing the forward slip is very much like a x-wind landing. You may
want to go to an airport that is not too busy and practice the slip
procedure as you approach a runway with a moderate x-wind. You don't
have to land if the x-wind is too great, but just try to keep the
plane going down the centerline using the aileron to correct for the
wind and the opposite rudder to keep the nose straight down the
runway.

Good luck on your re-take.

Cary


Cary, I would be lying if I say it didn't hurt to not get my ticket. But
the hurt lasted only a few minutes. I realized that I had accomplished a
lot in less than a year. I've accomplished what "some" on this newsgroup
will never accomplish. So I don't feel too bad

CareBear

With a positive attitude like yours, you'll be PP-ASEL before you know
it Carebear!

May I ask what plane you sat your checkride in?

"Euan Kilgour" wrote in message
oups.com...
With a positive attitude like yours, you'll be PP-ASEL before you know
it Carebear!

May I ask what plane you sat your checkride in?


Cessna C-152.

CareBear

Your post on busting the PP check ride got me to wondering -- I wonder
how many long time pilots would pass a good DPE's PP checkout?

When one flies the same airplane for years, weight and balance
calculations have a way of not getting done. I haven't slipped an
airplane, except during the flare in landing in a crosswind of course,
in a decade or more, since needing to slip (IMHO) means poor planning
earlier in the approach.

A two and a half hour oral? I don't remember anything that long! What
did you talk about for two and a half hours? Real life flight planning
goes something like this. check a chart. Looks to be a two hour
flight, five hours of fuel on board. Weather -- soft IFR, that's OK,
clear weather an hour west of my destination, so there are solid gold
alternates, choose one. Check the winds -- flying west, stay lower. No
ice, no thunderstorms.

Hmm. That airway looks good. Call in the flight plan.

DPE -- "Busted!"

wrote:

I haven't slipped an
airplane, except during the flare in landing in a crosswind of course,
in a decade or more, since needing to slip (IMHO) means poor planning
earlier in the approach.

Many people prefer to use a forward slip in a crosswind situation
instead of a crab since it is easier to land in that configuration (i.e.
you don't have to switch from a crab to a forward slip at the last
minute). I don't do it that way, but know plenty who do.


-m
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