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MadMonkey wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:26 pm Since this thread started a friend of mine called me up, said let's go flying and I said sure. We got to Northwest Regional, he pulled out a 172, threw me into the left seat and made me do everything until we landed (and he asked if I wanted to land )

Talk about task saturation and getting thrown into the deep end I will say that simulator time helped immensely, only issue was that I didn't even own rudder pedals for my PC until a couple of years ago so that took some getting used to, especially the somewhat delayed response while taxiing. I was used to it by the time we were going back to park though.

Made me really want to get an ultralight or something to fly off of my own property, if I ever get any. I can't see myself ever flying manned aircraft commercially even though I know I'd be good at it, but I'd definitely enjoy flying for fun.

My first lesson, I had control pretty much from take off to landing. The instructor took over two or three times to show me some maneuvers, and a couple of miles out from landing. I was pretty shocked. But I had a blast.

I now have my Third Class Medical and my Student Pilot's Certificate.

I have a few hours in the air in both a 172 and an Archer II. The weather, some bouts of flu, Strep and family issues on both my side and the Instructor has kept me out of the air for the past two months. I've decided to focus on ground school now. Once I have passed my written, and I don't have to be so concerned about the low clouds this time of year I'll set aside more time to hit it hard and aggressive with the time in the air. Hopefully in June or July I can start soloing.

howdy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:40 pm What airplane did you like best. I learned in a Cherokee 140 back in 1967. I have always preferred a low wing over a high wing. Where are you taking lessons?

I was given the advise from a friend to learn on the low wing. He said that flying low wing would prepare me better for other aircraft I'd fly later on.
I'm a big guy. I'm 6'7" @320. The girth isn't much of an issue in either plane. I just have a bit of a beer gut (by description not by acquisition). But my height and length of my legs is more of an issue in the Archer. It's definitely doable. Just not as comfortable. I enjoy the second door on the 172, the additional room, and I really enjoyed the view. I first attributed it to thinking there was more window area. But after my third flight (again in the Archer) I think it was not having the wing disrupting the visibility to the ground. I'll continue to fly both, but will favor the Archer based on the recommendation from my friend and my instructor. Also the 172 had an issue with the left seat back. It didn't want to adjust forward. So it had a slight recline. That made it a little difficult to keep my hand on the throttle and have the seat belt on. I put a squawk in on it. Hopefully they'll get it fixed quickly. I did tell the instructor that having seen a flat tire on the first 172 that I had booked that had the squawk in for almost a week already, and then the seat issue... It made it more difficult for me to trust the maintenance the school does. The whole broken windows theory... If visible things are broken and not repaired what about the less visible issues. He assured me this school was very diligent at keeping the planes airworthy. He said he'd quit from a school he was teaching at in Austin because the owner would pistol whip paperwork to keep planes in the air. He told the owner he wasn't going to risk his or his student's lives over that.

I finished my second flight lesson today. First was in an Archer II, instructor did the take off and then handed me the controls until landing. Second was in a 172N, I did the take off, and hand controls until the landing. Instructor simulated an engine loss landing. We coasted from 10 miles out.

I'm going for my first lesson tomorrow.