“I am on launch. The wind is cross. Nothing unmanageable, but I feel my tension rising. I close my eyes. I imagine the wing above my head. The tempo, the control, the exact moment I make my decision. I visualise the run, the take-off. Everything is clear, fluid. When I open my eyes, I’m ready”.
This pilot isn’t daydreaming. He’s engaging in invisible training: visualisation. Or how to “train without flying” by tapping into one of our most effective cognitive capacities. Whether to reinforce technique, manage emotion, or anticipate a situation, visualisation has become a cornerstone of mental preparation. And it all starts… with closed eyes.
Not (just) daydreaming
Visualisation involves (re)creating, in the mind,...
