First time in the right seat

Dazzler

Dazzler

Well-Known Member
Some people I've spoken to have said not to fly in the right seat for the first time without an instructor in the left seat. Others say that it isn't necessary.

The first time you flew from the right seat, did you go up with an instructor, another pilot who wasn't an instructor, a non-pilot passenger, or solo?
 
I was with an instructor. I wouldn't say it is necessary, but a good idea. My first time landing I was way off center. It's better to be safe. Once you have a couple landing under your belt it's pretty natural.
 
The sight picture is different enough to make a CFI in the other seat a good idea, although my biggest problem with the reversal was pulling the mixture rather than the throttle to idle.
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In fact, my CFI's favorite line during the early stages of my right seat training? "No. The =other= throttle."
 
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. . .my biggest problem with the reversal was pulling the mixture rather than the throttle to idle.

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Thought I was the only one that did that....
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Landings were my biggest issue....I'd balloon for about 1000 feet down the runway for the first 6 or 7 of them...
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The right seat is the normal place to fly, with the correct throttle and stick hands that is.
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The first time you flew from the right seat, did you go up with an instructor, another pilot who wasn't an instructor,

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Richard, I am shocked .
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I can safety pilot for you, but not ride in the left seat. I don't know what to say.
I kid, I kid, I Kid Just kidding.

The funny thing is I was wondering the exact same question as to whether or not you would take a CFI with you the first time. Anyhow, check your pm's and let me know about the schedule for next weekend.

- Jim
 
Well call it daring or call it foolish but I went flying today in the right seat for the first time, and did NOT take an instructor along. And it went OK.

The first couple of landings weren't great - I tended to flare a little high and dropped them in. The next one was OK and my last one was pretty good, if I do so say myself. The view-picture from the right seat is different but I quickly got used to it.

I also did some rectangular courses and turns about a point, describing them out loud as if I was teaching a student the maneuvers.

Overall I think it went pretty well. I think it made some difference having driven right-hand drive cars in England for 10 years (and drive them whenever I go back there to visit my folks) so I didn't find it too disconcerting to be flying with my right hand while using the throttle with my left (similar to driving a car with the right hand and shifting gears with the left).

So I now have 1.9 hours of right-seat flying under my belt.

Next up is the CFI written test which I take on Monday so I'll be cramming tomorrow !!
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Not daring or foolish...it's called flying airplanes!!

You have to hang the whole thing out there sometimes!!!
 
Curious, why is it a big deal about flying from one seat or another?

The picture is the same, the seat height is the same, you're only using your hands differently. And in contact flying, you're not looking at the instruments, so parallax is no problem.

So what the heck, people?

I took a Mooney up tonight flying it from the right seat. No problems (besides the damn small cockpit). Throttle and stick in the correct positons.
 
It's all about 'the lean' Mikey!

I've had about seven straight years of leaning to the left and proping my right elbow against the rail to keep my head from bobbing. It'd just be weird on the other side.
 
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Curious, why is it a big deal about flying from one seat or another?

The picture is the same, the seat height is the same, you're only using your hands differently. And in contact flying, you're not looking at the instruments, so parallax is no problem.

So what the heck, people?

I took a Mooney up tonight flying it from the right seat. No problems (besides the damn small cockpit). Throttle and stick in the correct positons.

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I had no problem with it. I just wish the seminole had electric trim on the right side too! It feels different at first and after a few hours it is just like the other side.
 
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Curious, why is it a big deal about flying from one seat or another?

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No disrespect MikeD but it's probably been a while since you first made the transition between seats so maybe you forget what it was like. But it is natural to be a little wary the first time you try something because you are dealing with the unknown. Now that I've done it - yes, you are correct it wasn't a big deal. But before actually doing it, it was a big deal!

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Not daring or foolish...it's called flying airplanes!!

You have to hang the whole thing out there sometimes!!!

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Glad you feel the same way as I do! Sometimes you've just got to get on with stuff otherwise you'll just sit around procrastinating and making up excuses not to do it.

i.e. Resignation - ok everyone repeat the antidote after me: "I am not useless. I can make a difference!"


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It's all about 'the lean' Mikey!

I've had about seven straight years of leaning to the left and proping my right elbow against the rail to keep my head from bobbing. It'd just be weird on the other side.

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LOL !
 
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Curious, why is it a big deal about flying from one seat or another?

The picture is the same,

[/ QUOTE ]That's part of the problem. Many pilots learn to try to center the aircraft using the nose rather than simple centering it out ourselves (center line between the feet)., trying to overcome parallax rather than take advantage of perspective. So the picture ends of being very different for them when moving to the other seat.

Me, my landings sucked from either seat so I had no problem.
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Me, my landings sucked from either seat so I had no problem.
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You're still here posting, so they must've been good enough!
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I think it was a good idea to do the flight by yourself. You obviously know how to fly the airplane, no one is going to be a better teacher than yourself. I did my first right seat flight solo, and I learned a lot from it. Throw your shoes over the fence, metaphorically speaking, and go get them.

Really, there are all kind of firsts that you have to do as a pilot. First solo, first XC, first IMC, first solo IMC, might as well add first solo flight from the right seat.
 
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I think it was a good idea to do the flight by yourself. You obviously know how to fly the airplane, no one is going to be a better teacher than yourself. I did my first right seat flight solo, and I learned a lot from it. Throw your shoes over the fence, metaphorically speaking, and go get them.

Really, there are all kind of firsts that you have to do as a pilot. First solo, first XC, first IMC, first solo IMC, might as well add first solo flight from the right seat.

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Thanks for your comments. Actually I wasn't solo - a friend of mine was in the left seat, but he isn't a pilot so it was as good as being solo.
 
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