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Muscle Memory

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An experienced flight instructor, accustomed to flying from both left and right seats, made a critical error during a right-seat landing due to deeply ingrained left-seat muscle memory.
  • Instinctively applying controls as if in the left seat, the instructor inadvertently retarded power and pushed the nose down, rather than increasing pitch and power, leading to a hard landing.
  • The incident served as a potent lesson that muscle memories developed over years are persistent and can override conscious knowledge, even for experienced individuals, particularly in unexpected or high-pressure situations.
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Years ago, when I was working on my flight instructor certificate, I was doing a lot of flying. Necessarily, much of it was from the right seat, but I also flew a lot on the left side, for personal and business travel. I had become comfortable in either seat of the airplanes I was flying. After all, I was making the same motions in the right seat as I was accustomed to in the left one, just with opposite hands.

Meanwhile, a flying club I had been active in a few years earlier was trying to revive itself and hosted an afternoon for giving free introductory rides to various interested parties. I volunteered to provide a Skyhawk and give some rides out of a nearby commercial airport.

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