What exactly are these frustrating “perfect landings” we’re shooting for, anyway? Must every touchdown be glassy smooth?
Keep in mind that even the most experienced pilots show a good deal of variability in their landings based on conditions, fatigue, distractions, etc. (Just ask my wife how often I bounce the Flying Carpet. Then again, please don’t!)
What you’re actually striving for to get soloed is not so much consistently “perfect” landings, but rather, consistently “controlled and safe” landings. So if you balloon on a given landing and correct, or drift to one side and correct, or choose to go around from a bad approach and then make a good one, and each results in a safe and controlled landing, that is actually a worthy performance.
Sure, all pilots must shoot for “Attaboy!” perfection on landing, but we cannot plan on achieving “greasers” every time. What we must accomplish, however, is a safe and controlled landing every time. Sounds much more achievable, doesn’t it? That is what we are striving for, and you can do it!
For specific landing tips, see my posts, make better landings and master crosswind landings. ©2010 Gregory N. Brown