Almost There...

Lesson 44
5-21-13
1.0 hours logged
51.8 hours total recorded in logbook

I had a lesson scheduled the 17th which we ended up cancelling because of iffy weather. The day of my next lesson, today, turned out much nicer. It was still cloudy but the clouds were high enough for our purposes--predictably more patternwork. We were operating off Runway 18, a runway which I hadn't yet used. My first takeoff was rather unstable and my landings weren't much better than last time. Was this to be another discouraging plateau lesson?

About halfway through the lesson, I finally made a landing I was satisfied with. It felt just right. "Now if I could just make about ten more landings just like that, I'd feel ready [to solo]", I told Jim. "Yes! That's exactly what we want! Now we're on the same page!" Jim exclaimed. Now, was that good landing only a freak, an accident? I was afraid to hope for more, but on the next time around, I made another good one and followed that with another--and another. At last something had clicked and I had it!

Jim had talked about going down to Fond du Lac and possibly soloing me there, but since I was on a run with good landings, he didn't want to upset it so I continued to fly the pattern at OSH. Yes, for the first time, I began to feel settled in this plane--even comfortable--and with each good landing, my confidence grew. I knew I was ready at last. I knew that I would know it--you reach a point where you just know. I was there but I didn't expect it would come quite so quickly, especially after last week's discouragement. I knew then that I was ready to solo and could do it if he asked me to, but I was tiring out and much as I wanted to get it done, I almost hoped he'd wait. When a rather rough landing after about five good ones signaled that it was time to call it a day, I was ready for it.

As we taxied to the fuel pump, Jim debriefed me. He made note of my amazing improvement over the course of the lesson and said I should be proud of myself. I was just pleased and happy.