It was a hazy day and I expected to be doing more pattern work to get a better handle on landings but my instructor actually wanted to go up and do a stall series. No problem, I thought, but I wasn't expecting this. I was nervous. In my FS2002 simulator it is so easy to get uncoordinated and put yourself in a spin. Slow rudder pressure is required to prevent overcorrection.

We climbed out and up to 3750 and did clearing turns. He demonstrated a power off stall by cutting the power then trying to keep altitude. I did the same thing while being very careful to keep the ball in the center of the slip indicator to prevent a spin. The C172SP that I fly requires a lot of left aileron to keep the wings level. It takes a lot of back pressure to get the plane to stall. Recover lowering the nose below the horizon and putting in 2300RPM of power, then climbing back to altitude. Another clearing turn and it was a power off stall with full flaps, which required less pitch.

After another clearing turn, we went into power on stalls. These seem harder to do since the SP has 180HP and a lot of thrust. We did one at 1800RPM then cleared the area and couldn't get it to stall with full elevator back at 2000RPM.

I wasn't so nervous after doing these. I didn't know what to expect but now I feel as though I have no reason to be nervous doing these anymore.

Back on the ground, my instructor is telling me that I am close to solo. Reality has finally set in...

I'm scheduled for: