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From: falk@uiucuxc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: CFIs -- SOB's vs. Mellow - (nf)
Message-ID: <10800004@uiucuxc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Jul-84 14:57:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucuxc.10800004
Posted: Thu Jul 26 14:57:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jul-84 08:58:03 EDT
References: <9400004@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Lines: 26
Nf-ID: #R:hp-pcd:-940000400:uiucuxc:10800004:000:1393
Nf-From: uiucuxc!falk    Jul 26 13:57:00 1984

#R:hp-pcd:-940000400:uiucuxc:10800004:000:1393
uiucuxc!falk    Jul 26 13:57:00 1984

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My CFI was of the SOB school, but he never mellowed out at the end. He
continually told me how bad I was doing and never gave any praise (the
closest he came was no outright criticism, but never praise). He also
gave me no encouragement, leading me to believe that I would never
get my private pilot ticket. He seemed to think that it was a fluke
that I not only passed my written the first time, but that I did so
with flying colors (mid-90s was the score, as I recall).
   
When I finally asked about taking the checkflight, he kept telling me
how none of his students had ever flunked the check flight and how
embarrassed he would be if I were the first. In short, he not only
deflated my ego (which is OK) but totally destroyed my confidence.
The day of my checkride, I was an emotional mess. Of course I was sure
that I was going to be the first student of his to flunk the test. The
examiner, on the other hand, was so mellow that I became suspicious of
him. The whole checkride was the easiest thing I ever did, and I passed
the first time. Now I can see how you want to encourage caution by
not telling any student pilot how good they are (because they can't be
until they get some hours under their belt), but I think my instructor
overdid it, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would
have gone somewhere else.                  -Connie
{ihnp4!uiucdcs!uiucuxc!falk}