Climbing the Lesson Ladder

[tomhall]

Tom Hall in MN here, After 2 + years of building my RAF, the lessons have begun. I spent 8 days with Duane Hunn last Oct. We didn't fly, due to his faulty engine, but I did learn a lot. I spent a week with Ron Menzie this April !! I got 10 hours of dual and would have flown my RAF on the final day, ......high winds. Let me comment here about Ron. He is an excellent " time manager ". Michael Guard and I were with Ron for the week. Both of us received 2 - 3 hours of dual each day along with ground school and some " wrenchin" on our machines. Ron has my highest recommendation........... Next, I will be spending 4 days, this month, with Gary Brewer in Canton, IL. I am concerned about a loss of continuity or momentum with the different instructors and the time lags. Of course, when I bought the kit " instructors will travel to you"..................Well, things change. Anyone know of new instructors in the Midwest ? In an ideal world, a guy would take a month off work and get it all done; my world is not ideal yet. Anyway, I'm " climbing the lesson ladder" and looking forward to solo and beyond.

[Bob Simmons]

Dolfin Fritz in Brewton Alabama. Check out the PRA magazine. He will train you in your gyro. I trained with him in a raf 2000 and he ground instructed me in my 582 air command.

[Vance]

Hello Tom, I hadn't flown for about 8 months and I went up with a different instructor. I found that I had losted very little and thinking about one paticular challeng over time helped me. I was trying to unlearn the helicopter flair habit of leveling the ship. I found that a fresh perspective was helpfull, although my best instructor for me so far has been Terry in Buckeye. We were flying over my wind limit and in crowded airspace and I feel this limited my learning more than the delay. It was still very productive. Thank you, Vance

[KenSandyEggo]

I'd stick with Gary Brewer. I took all my lessons with him and he is an excellent CFI and "good-guy." Do you have a stab on your ship, Tom? I'm assuming you do.

[tomhall]

Ken, Yes, I do have Don Parham's stab. ! Tom

[Gary_in_Orygun]

Bob said: "Dolfin Fritz in Brewton Alabama. Check out the PRA magazine. He will train you in your gyro."

Hopefully, people know that if the operating limitations Phase I flight hours are not flown off on a particular machine, you better read them-thar operating limitations (OL) carefully before putting two people on-board. Most machines OLs are written so that you cannot train (have two people aboard) in a gyro that has not had the 40 hours flown off.

Gee, now how do I know that?

[Harry_S.]

Gary is right...this is how they defrocked two excellent CFI's.

My opinion on instructors...don't use any instructor you dislike or can't get along with, personality clashes or whatever. You'll benefit from a homogeneous atmosphere.

Use one instructor thru solo. If you like him...continue on.

If there are 2-3 more *good* instructors available for you...schedule 1 or 2 hrs. with each. It's a given...you'll learn/pickup some good points from each. They shouldn't spend too much time on the basics that you have already learned; they should continue on with the advanced stuff. Again...don't put out your money for just practice, you can practice solo.

If I may...don't think your better or more experienced that what your logbook shows. Abide by the restrictions your instructor has noted...especially wind conditions.

Enjoy your training and have fun. :D


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[PW_Plack]

Be prepared for some "overlap," or repetition, any time you change instructors. If you've mastered a skill, the CFI who taught you knows it, but the next CFI will have to let you demonstrate it to his satisfaction before you move on.

You wouldn't want it any other way.