Question
: I love flying but I have a weak stomach. Do you have any advice? Thanks, Greg
Answer : Greg, I can understand your problem as I had it myself. That "weak stomach" thing will pass if you give it time. I am not a doctor, so will not go into the medical side of it. But I did have a student who would get sick just coming to the airport. She had no problem coming to pick up her dad, who was a pilot, but every time she got close to or in the airplane she got very sick to her stomach. She wanted to fly and I worked with her an entire summer. She slowly got to where we could sit in the plane and she would be OK, did that several times, door open and then shut. Then she would get ill after engine start and taxiing, so we just made short taxi trips in the tie down area. Did the same thing when we started to take off, rotate, and she would get sick. Finally got to where we could go around the patch before she got sick. This kept on and each time she could go a little further, she finally got over it. She got her private certificate and wanted to get her instrument rating, too. She move and we lost touch so I don’t know if she got her rating, but I’ll bet she did! Read the book about Bob Hoover, "FOREVER FLYING". He says in his book that he and his partner got sick in the J3 that they owned. But each time they could take a little more than before. Bob went on to fly combat missions in World War II and was a famous aerobatic pilot. Even Chuck Yeager admits to being sick his first flight. If it is really something you want to do you will be fine. Its most likely just nerves and the more you learn about the airplane and your ability to handle it in the air, the better you will be able to handle it. One tip I learned is when you get that queasy feeling, get FRESH AIR to breath, direct the outside air duct directly into your face, then tighten up your tummy muscles, keep your eyes moving, don t fix your eyes on anything. Not to worry, just keep going till you get used to it and you will be fine. Don't put a time limit on it; just do what it takes to get the job done. Good luck, and hope to hear from you again after the successful completion of the PRIVATE CHECK RIDE! GOD BLESS Jim Dukeman Flight Instructor
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