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From: nathanm@hp-pcd.UUCP (nathanm)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: CFIs -- SOB's vs. Mellow
Message-ID: <9400004@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Jul-84 13:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.9400004
Posted: Wed Jul 18 13:52:00 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Jul-84 06:15:33 EDT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Corvallis, OR
Lines: 30
Nf-ID: #N:hpcvre:9400004:000:1378
Nf-From: hpcvre!nathanm    Jul 18 09:52:00 1984

A new question to ponder: Do you prefer CFIs who are: a) tough
SOBs or b) laid back individuals?  I've had experience with both,
and each has advantages.

The CFI who saw me through to my private certificate was
temperamental, moody and always let me know in no uncertain
terms when I f*cked up.  I had to work hard for the positive
strokes and sometimes left the airport after a lesson feeling
dejected.  So what's the good part?  Dealing with the examiner
was a real piece of cake.  Besides making the pleasant discovery
that he was on my side, I found him so much easier to handle
than my instructor that all nervousness vanished and I aced the
check ride.

Like most CFIs, my first instructor moved on to bigger and
better-paying things.  My current instructor (who is also my
partner in ownership of a C-152) is very calm.  I haven't done
any sort of serious training since my private, but I do use
him for proficiency checks and the like.  I completed my BFR
with him last night -- first we flew, then we reviewed part 91
over a cold pitcher of Strohs at Murphys Tavern.  A much
less unnerving experience then flying with my first instructor.

I sometimes ponder how things might have turned out had I started
with the second instructor; would I have washed out for excessive
mellowness?  Probably not.  Any enlightening opinions?

----------
Nathan Meyers
hp-pcd!nathanm