Andrea, congrats on the certificate.

Here's a thought for your training.

When your instructor is overloading you, shed some of the load. You do not HAVE to continue the landing. This may be the best takeaway of all.

If you find yourself saying, "What's going on here?", or "Why is it doing that?", it's time to bail out of whatever you are doing, sort it out with the benefit of time, and start over.

Specifically, if you are in the pattern, and something doesn't feel right, fly right out of the pattern. Climb, head somewhere else, settle down, and do it again.

A good instructor will break into a smile when you do this.

Exactly what she did.....she did well in this regard.. I talked to the instructor afterwards and he admits that his efforts to distract were significant. Every time she started gumps he implemented an urgent call to direct her attention to an "impending" and significant hazard. He got her, but her ability to recognize a problem on long final before prompting at this early stage in the airplane transition was excellent. The big lesson in my view is to notice a distracting situation developing and cut it off or reevaluate.

I'm still amazed that he pulled it off, she's pretty competent and tough to stump

You may already be past this point, but I'll mention it anyhoo.I did what you/re doing a year and a half ago.
I found that there is a rhythm and an order to landing the Bonanza. Developing muscle memory will help with the order. Until these develop, I found it helpful to broaden and lengthen my pattern. Early on, my biggest problem was getting the thing slowed down. My instructor was used to teaching in Cessna 172s and 152s. In neither of these are slowing and getting busy problems. Flying a tight pattern is much easier in a trainer-- not as much to do and more time to do it. Although your instructor is experienced in the Bonanza, he may not be aware of the challenges this plane presents to someone without used to the task loading. Don't be reluctant to extend your downwind.

Good luck-have fun

So 5th lesson yesterday. We stayed in the pattern again. I kept my hand on the gear until 3 green and did GUMPS at every turn and checked gear before entending flaps.
I agree with the rhythym to landing and muscle memory. I am going to make these my muscle memory.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and encouragement.


Next lesson is cross country! Then I get to practice more slowing down the beast!