RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

Honestly, I dont shake too much but I can remember when I did..

1st time. My 1st flight
2nd time. My 1st solo landing with my Kadet Senior.
3rd time. I crashed my U CAN DO torque rolling, but that was shaking after the fact.
4th time. My very 1st flight in a pattern competition, my hands felt like jelly, I remember it distinctly and always will.
5th time. I was practicing snap rolls with my pattern plane and 1/2 of the horizontal stab snapped off and came fluttering to the ground. I didnt crash but I was shaking terribly, fortunately I was able to make a routine landing with the right elevator half hanging behind the plane. That was very fortunate.
6th time. 2 weeks ago, I was practicing continuous rolls for pattern. I had worked up to 13:D rolls in an arrow straight line. I had made several passes and I went brain numb and stopped focusing. Next thing I knew my $2000 pride and joy darted at 100MPH at the ground and it was inverted. Thank God I have learned the meaning of "PUSH". (Push is what you do to the elevator stick when inverted to avoid the ground. Its a pattern word.) Anyways I Pushed and did a 1/2 outside loop and let me tell you I was shaking from head to toe. It was a MASSIVE adrenaline rush. So I thought NOPE, Im not landing. I went back and lined up for another pass and did 8 consecutive roll on 2 passes, dropped the landing gear and came on in. I felt more confident (and fortunate) than ever!

Mike

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

Here is my analogy...I ride motorcycles..I was always told "do not get to comfortable" that is when bad things are going to happen to you..you take risks that you would not have done in the beginning.
As for my flying.. I take LOTS of risks and maneuvers I would have not done in the beginning and yes it has come to bite me in the ***** but thats all the fun,it sure would be boring flying in the pattern all day at straight and level.:D
As for "shaking"...take a CAP 232 that has gone out a little to far and gets into an attitude thats nose down in a spin and just about 3 feet off the ground you pull it out...that'll get you shakin!:D
I have seen guys that have been in this hobby for 50 years and they crash..and still get nervous..probably not from the flying but from what their wives are going to say when they bring that broken up plane home and want to spend another 500.00 on another.:D:D

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

PHREAD...what does a "clam voice" sound like?:)
You said it in you're post...

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

Aint that the truth!:D

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

I ride too, and I am always comfortable. But that's most likely because I've been doing it for 20 years and I'm an MSF Rider Coach and teach others how to ride. The last flight I had I didn't shake at all and everything went fine, until I came in to land the last time and the big oak at the end of the runway reached out and ate my plane.

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

Well I had a big writeup but obviously I'm lying.

Sorry never got the shakes flying, never got sweaty palms, or an increased heartrate. The excitement for me comes from pulling off a good routine when I flew or something similar.

You say everyone should have a healthy, cautious and naturally defensive apprehension at a minimum. Apprehension about what? At most I destroy a plane due to dumb thumbs - assuming I don't have the one in a million catastrophe and get into another pilot box or the pit area. I'm only nervous with things in my life I can't control. Build your planes and have confidence/pre-flight and I'm not nervous.

Sorry I don't fit your profile. If I was getting nervous doing my hobby I'd probably quit.

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

im shaking during the building process...lol

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

I'd probably quit if I never got nervous. That adreneline rush is part of what makes it fun for me. Without that I'd probably get bored and loose interest. But that is just me.

RE: When does the shakes finally go away?
 

after looking at my Nextar plan for 7 months it finaly was gotten into the air with tie instructors control. After the second takeoff he let me have the controls and let me tell you I was very nervous because I had a couple of new fliers that had soloed plus several more advanced pilots there watching me. My body was shaking after about 10 laps in the air I asked my trainer to land it. That was me for the day hope to try again this weekend.