Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM My Kind of Student I want a student who responds, enjoys, and pays attention. I enjoy sharing my love of flying with someone. I often share too much, try too hard, and overwhelm the student. I don't want the student to be just a well for me to fill. I try to augment every mistake or success, to an event-mistake or event-success in my career, with a brief story. Stories, while time consuming, are the cement of memory. The story is a sharing of the joy-spirit of flying. I want a student who is enthusiastic, who laughs at my old jokes, and who challenges what I say until I can back it up by an experience or text. I want a left-handed student. Flying is the only area other than being a first baseman, batter, or pitcher where lefties start with an advantage. About 15% of the population are so blessed. A higher proportion of pilots seems to be left-handed. Flying does not require the specialization of fine motor skills. That field is left to right-handers. Side note: By the second year, hand dominance appears. Aircraft are equipped to do things equally well both left and right but American aircraft do things easier to the left. The rest of the world is right handed from scissors, tools, guns, phones, serrated knives, power mowers, binders, desks, keyboards, screws, and knobs. On average, right-handers do live eight months longer than left-handers. Average age difference 66 years to 75 years. Life is not fair. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM