For a while I've been meaning to put together a little compilation of "stuff that helped" while I was learning to fly. I got around to it in the end (almost a year after getting the PPL...) and the result is now at http://www.leiafee.flyer.co.uk/Flying-HowTo.pdf (PDF)
It's less a guide to flying skills and more a guide to a few bits that have worked for me, and stuff I've gathered through the 'day job', to improve the process of actually *learning* a new skill (flying in this case, but there's a lot of general stuff in there too -- "learning" is a skill in itself!)
Feedback and/or brickbats welcomed.
Might be useful /interesting to current students. A certain amount of it will be stuff I've rabbited on about here, mind you!
I have always though that the other good learning aid would be a straightforward crib sheet of the main flying manouvers and I always meant to get around to doing it.
It could also cover the main mnemonics that people use - it wouldnt be perfect but it would be a good aid.
There's nothing wrong with orbiting a nice distinctive landmark while you figure out which nice distinctive landmark it is!
Yes, well that was from experience! I flew up the wrong valley on my one of my solo nav-exs and circled a little reservoir until I could figure out which one it was and work out where I was. (only a few miles off track as it ended up but the terrain meant the landmark I was actually looking for was hiding in a dip)
[quote="leiafee"]For a while I've been meaning to put together a little compilation of "stuff that helped" while I was learning to fly. I got around to it in the end (almost a year after getting the PPL...) and the result is now at http://www.leiafee.flyer.co.uk/Flying-HowTo.pdf (PDF)
Leia
I came across your blog while you were still training, and you both inspired me and helped me to get my PPL. I am now getting the payback from all those hours I spent training, in terms of beautiful flights and great "firsts" (last Saturday was my first more than 250 mile flight, my first view of the Exmoor coast and my first experience of the incredibly calm conditions at 7,000ft over water - oh, and the first time the fire engines have pursued me down the runway after the tower at Oxford over-reacted to a loose cowl fastener!)
This guide is an absolutely excellent survival guide for wannabe PPLs. It is spot on and I wouldn't change a thing. I have already sent it to 2 people I know who are thinking of learning to fly. You ever thought of instructing? You have well thought through ways of explaining things.
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