Flugmaschine
New Member
I soloed my first student today. Alchemy is right about the nervousness!
I almost didn't do it. We started off on a good note...a couple of notes here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then a couple of more unstable landings (rudder!) with me that had me wondering to myself if today was really going to be the day. I deliberately got myself into the mind set before the flight (and got him into it, too) that today didn't have to be the day. Truth be told, his landings never were really unsafe, even in the beginning...just rough around the edges. For a first time instructor, though, I didn't want to screw it up. So, after a few more landings and a demonstration of his good judgement by going around due to a botched approach, I told him to pull off the taxiway and lemme out. I signed all the pretty endorsements and told him to give me 3 trips around the patch. He caught a bit of a gust on the last one, but still got it down just fine. I didn't realize how tight my fists were until I was walking back to the FBO.
Anyway, there were about 5 or 6 of us out at the ramp when he pulled in. I think everyone had brought a pair of scissors except me, but they graciously let me cut the shirt. Despite the loss of the shirt, he was fairly pleased with himself. I know this is gonna sound all "Lane Wallace", but I was driving home from "work" thinking about how I felt driving home from all the other jobs I've had. None of them made me smile on the way home.
Anyway, there were about 5 or 6 of us out at the ramp when he pulled in. I think everyone had brought a pair of scissors except me, but they graciously let me cut the shirt. Despite the loss of the shirt, he was fairly pleased with himself. I know this is gonna sound all "Lane Wallace", but I was driving home from "work" thinking about how I felt driving home from all the other jobs I've had. None of them made me smile on the way home.
