That awkward moment...

A150K

A150K

Well-Known Member
...when a student (an Instrument student btw) over flares a 172 so much (not to mention he was wayyy too high) that he strikes the tail hard enough to knock off the tail tie down ring :p. Obviously, in addition to replacing the ring, the mechanics are going to have to take a thorough look at things to make sure there isn't any structural damage. To any newer CFI's out there, use this as an example to not get complacent no matter what level the student is at. I've been doing this for a few years and may have become too laid back in some respects, which could have been a cause of me letting the bad landing progress as far as I let it.
 
Some of my worst landings in training were in instrument. Low time with not a lot of experience to build the muscle memory, plus you're focusing on flying the gauges, and the landings can often take a dump.
 
Roger Roger said:
Some of my worst landings in training were in instrument. Low time with not a lot of experience to build the muscle memory, plus you're focusing on flying the gauges, and the landings can often take a dump.
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Mine were pretty bad too now that I think about it.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
they really don't like landing on the tail either...
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Shhh....you'll mess up my pot-stirring....

I had a very near tailstrike trying to - I stress TRYING - to fly a DA 40 - the sight picture in that airplane is so very nose-low compared to what I was used to that between banging the stall horn and my CFI warning me about that, I decided it was only a matter of time before I would grind the thing off.

Not my finest aviating moment, for sure.
 
killbilly said:
I had a very near tailstrike trying to - I stress TRYING - to fly a DA 40 - the sight picture in that airplane is so very nose-low compared to what I was used to that between banging the stall horn and my CFI warning me about that, I decided it was only a matter of time before I would grind the thing off..
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Almost every landing with my students at the controls is a near tail strike in the DA40. Of my three current students, one seems to think the nose gear should be on the ground before he flares, one thinks he should be flaring at 50 ft AGL, and the third is afraid to put the plane on the ground and if the plane gets any kind of float he goes around. No matter when they flare though it's almost always with full aft stick.

Then again, they finally figured out that the center line is not something to be avoided so I'm grateful for the little things.
 
n156499000 said:
Then again, they finally figured out that the center line is not something to be avoided so I'm grateful for the little things.
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I have a technique for teaching centerline control. Please don't let this escape too far:

Starting at about 50', I say "Stay on centerline" repeatedly about every 2 seconds in a calm voice.

"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"


You'd be shocked at how well it works. Do it a couple times in a row, and it will get stuck in your students head like a Katy Perry song.
 
Sounds like most of our time spent taxiing. It's mostly a constantly looped tape of me repeating "stay on the centerline" the entire time. I took two of them to a nearby airport with taxiways barely wider than the wheel track and it was interesting at first but they finally realized I wasn't just talking because I like how dry mouth feels.

And now that they have figured out how to keep the airplane in the proper place on the taxiway I've added radio calls to their list of duties. Makes for some interesting transmissions.
 
hook_dupin said:
I have a technique for teaching centerline control. Please don't let this escape too far:

Starting at about 50', I say "Stay on centerline" repeatedly about every 2 seconds in a calm voice.

"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"
"Stay on centerline"


You'd be shocked at how well it works. Do it a couple times in a row, and it will get stuck in your students head like a Katy Perry song.
Click to expand...
I think of Katie Perry naked while landing. Of course my landings suck so don't try it.
 
jynxyjoe said:
I think of Katie Perry naked while landing. Of course my landings suck so don't try it.
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image.jpg
 
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