N6334M 1.2 Bob

N6344M is another C152 at Sundance Flying Club.

New instructor "Bob" -- more experienced than "Alice", but generally just trying out a different teaching style. Bob does not spend as much time on exact numbers and numerical details of procedures, and is more of a stick-and-rudder teacher. We had extensive discussions over email about landing speeds; how to control glideslope and why; the different recommended techniques (e.g. Stick and Rudder recommends power-off landings; Bob noted we land with power mainly to flatten the approach).

Took off from KPAO, left Dumbarton departure, air work over the coast, did two touch and goes at KHAF, returned by flying to the Crystal Springs reservoir then staying West of Hwy 280 until SLAC, then flying into KPAO, making the usual left pattern with a very extended downwind due to traffic, and landed.

At some point, during stall recovery, I was pulling a couple of g's (probably) and I remember I sort of looked at the instruments and was not able to tell what was going on; I just felt the g's in my stomach. This situation -- having a kinesthetic feeling but not being able to link it to any cues or deliberate action -- is probably what gets people disoriented.

Things I need to work on --

1. Stop being "power-shy": Use FULL power when appropriate. Especially important for stall recovery, takeoffs, go-arounds.
2. Develop the habit of controlling slightly then WAITING for the effect. E.g. when adjusting attitude on climbout -- no need to push super hard if slightly below speed.
3. When no need for power adjustment, LEAVE IT ALONE. I have a tendency to keep my hand on the throttle and creep it back slowly (part of my "power shyness").
4. Always remember carb heat on/off as appropriate with power changes.
5. Taxi accuracy needs work. Work to maintain centerline. Turn at low speeds.
6. Always look straight ahead if possible. Find a point to turn towards off your wing, then look ahead and turn towards it. Always think in terms of, "What do I want to see directly in front of me?"
7. Do not over-control in stall recoveries. (And again, use FULL power!)
8. Need to start doing my own radio work.
9. At some point, I stopped paying attention to attitude and got in a bank near the ground. Partly due to trying to look over my shoulder for the airport. Not good. (See above re looking ahead.)
10. Checklist use still needs work. Bob emphasizes "flow" over lists, which is cool, but also for some reason my checklist (which I got from Sporty's here) did not make sense in some places -- I should have gone over it before the flight.
11. Learn to judge bank angles. Once I'm banked, I get a windowful of ground and am like, dude, I'm very banked! But I get the same windowful of ground, more or less, at a whole range of bank angles. Need to either look at the angle of the deck or compare the two wingtips.

Things I did right --

1. Bob said I did more or less okay in level flight, climbs and descents (and leveling off from those), and level turns.
2. He said I am more or less okay to work on takeoffs and landings then solo.