Many people would have had me stop after that first lesson. But I wasn t listening to Grandma. I was listening to Judy, my wife and my dreammaker. She believed I could do it. From the right-hand seat I was reading instruments from across the cockpit making mental adjustments for the angle in reading the airspeed, altitude and climb rate.
Most pilots keep one hand on the throttle at all times while taking off and landing.
Several throttle adjustments are needed as varying wind conditions cause the plane to balloon or sink. This is especially critical during approach before landing. Adjusting the throttle helps maintain the desired altitude. I had to learn to adjust the throttle to the exact setting I wanted, and get my left hand back quickly to the yoke for control of pitch and roll. During the landing sequence, while busily trying to keep the plane level, slowing it down, putting down flaps, reducing throttle, and adjusting trim several times, I was asked to pick up the microphone and announce my position and intentions to other aircraft in the area.