I had my fourth lesson today at Dockweiler. The wind was pretty decent and I continued on the Falcon 225. It seems that I have developed a slight bad habbit. When you controll a hang glider you’re supposed to the weight of your body. Shift it left and the glider banks left, shift it right and the glider banks right and of course corrections apply to come out of those banks. My problem stemmed from not having the glider go fast enough. So when the glider didn’t respond, I responded with the physical equivalent of yaking the chains of a horse. We all when we do that the horse gets annoyed and does, nothing or responds slowly. I was leaning to turn the glider and the legs were staying center. The equivalent of cross controlling which results in, (right, you got it) nothing or a very slow response. Paul thinks that this could turn in to a serious thing if we don’t correct it. So I’m using another lesson to take care of it. Mind you he thinks I’m ready for tandems, he would like to see me more consistent in controll before he sends me to Kagel for my first tandem. I’m ok with that. I would be concerned if he just kicks me over to tandem. Honestly, it’s a pleasure to have Paul as an instructor.

Paul also graded my beginner rating test. I missed only one question and that was missed with good reason. The question stated that an individual has consistently good landings that he knows airspeed well. True or false? I answered false. Why? I read in the hang gliding hand book that a pilot who has consistent landings knows his glider very well. So it threw me off. Well, I should ahve paid attention more and got all questions right.

I’ll be cleared for tandems next Sunday and have my beginner rating as well. Even if I don’t nip this problem in the bud. Still, I’m doing well.