"Steve,
it was a great experience. I took the Pitts out today and spun
it, looped it, Cuban eights and reverse, and hammerhead. Absolutely
no anxiety at all. You taught me well and gave me that experience
to experience the unknowns.
At today's poker run, I took a friend
who started flying last year, took 10 hours and then suddenly quit.
He said he just didn't have time and would take it up again someday.
I sat right seat in 140, with him in the left. I let him fly it
the whole time with exception of some foot work on takeoffs and
landings. We flew most of the legs at 1500 to 2000 feet. The
last leg I told him to take it to 3,000 feet. I then had him do
slow flight which he did wonderful. I then asked him to demonstrate
a power off stall. His voice changed as he pleaded - Can we please
not do that on this flight. He then explained he was terrified
of stalls. That was his last lesson. His instructor took him
out, had him pitch the nose way up, it broke, and he was to push
it way down. I could tell there was no chance he would do a power
off stall without a fight. After he got it back to cruise flight,
I confided my terror of stalls when I was a student and many of
the first years of being a private pilot and about my anxiety three
days ago about doing inverted spins. I promised him I could demonstrate
a stall that wouldn't leave his stomach in his throat. After he
felt reassured, I did a power off stall slowing the plane gently
so the noise was not above the horizon. At the stall, I showed
him how just a slight pressure forward would fly the airplane again.
Then a full stall keeping the noise straight with the rudder- the
nose on the 140 hardly goes down at all and it just buffets along.
He couldn't believe how simple stalls could be. I'm not sure
why instructors seem to start with the abrupt pitches but it terrifies
many students for years. I just wanted to relay the story
because I am certain I started the same confidence in stalls
with him that you gave me in recovering from unusual attitude.
I also tried my best to emulate the same calmness and explanations
you gave me. He told my wife after the flight when I wasn't
around about his positive experience with me and that the stall
was the reason he quit flying. Thanks so much Steve!"
"When I needed to get some advanced training to prepare for
the first test flight of my Christen Eagle, several people pointed
me at Steve Wolf and Wing Over Aerobatics.
Steve first spent a good deal
of time with me on the phone and on the ground working out what
I needed in terms of training. Flying with Steve was outstanding
- not only did he significantly sharpen up my air work, but being
able to pick up just a fraction of his overwhelming experience
with aircraft structures, flight testing and high performance
biplanes was a tremendous bonus. In addition, Wing Over Aerobatics'
Pitts S2B is also the best rigged aircraft I think I've ever
flown, which made the flying even more enjoyable and, coupled
with Steve's relaxed instruction style, the learning environment
first class. Finally, Wing Over Aerobatics' location is also
a bonus: Creswell Airport not only has a reasonably light traffic
load but it is right next to a large tract of airspace that can
be easily used for aerobatic instruction - no long flights to
a practice area!" Robert
"My 96 year old mother loved the ride!"
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