We did 8 landings on Sunday in wind conditions that were less than ideal. In fact we only went because we had scrubbed so many flights due to wind that it had been close to a month since I had flown last. I never got a decent landing, faced shear once, and learned a great deal about keeping it lined up and close to center. That all made today much easier since winds were 5 knots and pretty steady. I did 6 with the instructor. We took a break to take the solo test and make sure the FBO had copies of everything they needed. Did three more with the instructor, and then 2 all by myself.
Maybe one of these days I'll be able to handle these longer xc's on my own. Kind of a scary thought for me right now, though.
I've been working on xc training. We did one down to Martha's Vineyard a few weeks back and just did one up to Maine on Tuesday. It was exhausting... take off from Hanscom, request early frequency change, call FSS and open flight plan, call Boston for flight following, maintain altitude and heading in turbulent conditions, write down time as we pass each checkpoint, look for other traffic, unexpected clouds at 3,500 ft and decision on whether to go over or under (I made the right choice and went under), being passed off to different ff frequencies, closing flight following, closing flight plan, entering untowered traffic pattern with two other planes at the same time - each initially going for a different runway (wtf!), making one of my crappiest landings to date... ugh. By the time we got on the ground, I felt like I just ran a marathon. Then I barely have a foot out the door when my instructor pelts me with a snowball!!!
At no point did I just get to kick back and look around at the ocean or other supposedly pretty scenery! At one point I became so overwhelmed with tasks (he was having me work on VOR as well), that I asked him to take the flight controls for a minute so I could better organize the stuff on my kneeboard (and in my head). For the first time ever, he refused. He simply said, "Nope," crossed his arms and looked out the window. Annoyingly, it was good he did that, as it forced me to depend on myself to get my act together.
After landing, we had lunch at a really cool little WWII design airport cafe and headed home. The flight back was much better. I was better organized and juggling the tasks much more gracefully. I even got to look around outside (for something other than other planes) for a bit. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to handle these longer xc's on my own. Kind of a scary thought for me right now, though.
ps your CFI folding his arms means he's evaluating you and your decisions.
It also means that I'm going to make him sorry he pelted me with that snowball and even sorrier that we have a flight booked together on April Fools day
It also means that I'm going to make him sorry he pelted me with that snowball and even sorrier that we have a flight booked together on April Fools day
Oh I could supply you with some pranks that we did in the 121 world to each other! Put some lotion on his ear pads is one.
Best prank was done by my dad. I had my regular instructor but my dad decided to teach me one that day. We were doing compass turns, BAI, VOR tracking, and unusual attitudes. We got to the north shore of LI and did some unusual attitudes. While my head was down, he twisted the DG 180 degrees. N became S and S became N. Keep in mind we were in the middle of the sound with CT to our north and LI to our south. Now everything was "backwards." After we finished the maneuvers he said, let's go back home. I made my turn to what I thought was south which according to my DG was CT. I got so confused and after about 5 minutes of trying to get my bearings, he finally told me what he did and to keep the compass and DG in my scan. I will never forget that lesson.PM me all the best pranks you can think of please! I already have a few really good ideas up my sleeve
Did an hour solo in the pattern today, gusty conditions kept it interesting. I got to see 3 Harriers take off when I was on downwind, so that was cool.
I'm not a student any more. Yahoo.
Wait, I take that back, rolling into IFR so I'm a student again. Yahoo!!!
Awesome!!! Congratulations on passing your check ride.
Did you have any challenges, or was it pretty smooth?
Sounds like you're doing fine and on track. Soon it will come from together for you Cajun!
ps your CFI folding his arms means he's evaluating you and your decisions. Meaning you're close to doing that solo XC.
Got some excellent news today. I started my medical a couple months ago because I knew I would potentially have issues with my Tinnitus. I get a 10% disability from the Military due to it, so I knew I'd have to include it on my medical.
It of course got differed to the FAA and I had to produce all my medical records and study results... uggh
Anyways, I called the FAA and they have everything approved and will be putting it in the mail on Monday. woot Hello Solo, here I come!!!
Is tinnitus an issue that could ground you? I am 59, and have constant tinnitus but it's just something I live with, and my hearing is fine except for extremely high frequencies (I'd hear the stall horn no problem, also engine noises and changes, wind on the fuselage, etc). I'm in Norway and trying to set up my first medical check now. But I beleive like most other countries the FAA is th standard and they follow pretty closely to US rules. My tinnitus isn't documented (have not had treatment, when I told my doctor he just shrugged and said no cure for it). I will of course tell them, but what issues can it bring up?
Today we did 2.4 hours with the first hour mostly simulated instrument conditions (foggles). The drills were fairly straight forward fly this heading, climb and maintain this altitude with some attitude recovery exercises thrown in. Then the remaining time was doing touch and goes. We had a bit of wind, but it was only about 10° off the runway so the crosswind component wasn't horrible. My takeaway from today is that I definitely need to work on keeping my aileron into the wind more. We were also asked to do a short approach on one of the touch and goes so we practiced a simulated engine out landing from the downwind.
I had one fairly major oops when I was cleared for a straight in approach on runway 35 I lined up on runway 36. My CFI was graceful in the way he asked me which runway I was cleared for and after I answered 35, he asked me which runway I was lined up on. long pause... Fortunately we were out a ways and things were very quiet. I managed to get back over to 35 before ATC noticed.
Here's the flight track from today and of course a picture of my Cirrus grin after we were done. Next lesson this Friday.
https://www.cloudahoy.com/debrief/?key=xYEMmUGJsiNNn8ns
View attachment 44560
Just booked my discovery flight for 09APR16, picking up two sets of aviation headsets on Wednesday. Been working through FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook...but there is a point in the book there early on where it's in one ear and other the other until you're up in the air.
Did I emphasize that weather is important? Download the app "aeroweather" and enter all the local airports and check them periodically. Study how the weather can be different at airports that are close. Just some ideas. Good luck.
lol, that's for sure. I tried doing the exact same thing. However, now that I've been flying a little (just shy of 17 hours) I find myself re-reading all the stuff I read before and it makes a LOT more sense now.
God, I love flying.
It will probably be another couple weeks before I'm able to get up again, but at least I got my fix.