I will be using this thread as an introduction and will also use as a journal of my adventure in learning and training for PPL. I have read and gained great insight from others doing so..... why not do the same for me.
So to begin I must first rewind..... about 1 year to early summer last year. Girlfriend got tired of me staring at local airport every time we drove past and bought a discovery flight for my birthday. I always wanted to go, but always put off for one reason or another. This was truly the "kick in the pants" I needed.
One hour in C152 on beautiful summer afternoon and I was hooked. How and why did I wait 40 years for this?!?!? "No log book to purchase but should be getting in soon" he said. No problem and first lesson immediately scheduled for following weekend. Up in a Warrior being introduced to basic maneuvers and such. Still no log book. Next lesson scheduled but weather cancelled. Scheduled again and weather again
. And then life gets in the way..... we all know this story.
Fast forward to this year... ready to start again. Instructor no longer there so look around where to start over. At least I only lost 2 hours.... first lesson learned in always having log book and to be diligent on logging correctly.
June 8: First lesson at EYQ in C172 --Why did I wait so long again??? Basically a repeat of first lesson last year since starting over and seeing if I retained anything from a year ago. Explained to Chief Instructor but situation of needing lessons in evening and weekends for which he assured me I was in the right place.
June 17: EYQ in PA-28-161 -- Give the low wing a try
I like it better so will be the type I proceed in for majority of training. Instructor thinks introduction to importance of instruments is appropriate so this lesson includes .5 hours behind the visor for just very basic requests to fly certain headings or change in altitudes and me following based on instruments alone.
I sit down to schedule lessons for remainder of June and into July....
. No combination of plane and instructor available during evening or weekend until middle of July. Not me looking for a specific plane or specific instructor (ideal for both of course) but at all. WTH?!? "It is what it is". I was told it might be better to look elsewhere if serious and don't want to wait. Not sure how that works as a business model 
I'm not going to let this get me down and delay me again. I know there is better school and something out there for me. The search is on.
After talking to a few schools (better prepared what to ask now) I found one that "the gut" said was right. Many hours of reading had led me across quite a few articles about Cirrus. As debated as this topic can be, I figured it was worth checking into.
June 25: discovery flight and lesson at TME in SR 22 -- Holy crap!!!
Now this is what I'm talking about. Chief instructor not available but owner of company took me up. Most importantly, everything just "clicked". They followed a syllabus (never mentioned at other school) with dedicated ground lessons. He listed exactly how the training would go and when certain milestones would achieved. Just overall a very professional and detail oriented operation. Decision made to continue my training here.
July 12: TME-11R-TME in SR20 -- Gettin' down to business
Introduction to chief instructor and one that will be assigned to me. Just further comfirmation I have made the right choice. Flight includes fundamentals with touch and go landing at 11R. Introduction to basic radio communication... just listening and start to understand. Gotta love AC in Texas in the summer.
July 16: TME-60R-TME in SR20 -- Basics
Learn basics of turns while maintaining altitude, climbs, descents and a basic pattern work. Full stop and taxi at 60R. Introduction to auto pilot and some other cool capabilites of SR but not really what I am here for..... pretty cool nonetheless.
July 20: TME-ELA-TME in SR20 -- Radio and maneuvers
Some radio duties passed to me with intent of others in next lesson to quickly be entirely my responsibility. Two touch and go's at ELA. A lot of work on ground reference maneuvers (turns around a point, S turns and rectangle) -- got some work to do with these. One full stop back at TME and then back up for several times around for pattern work. Four landings total today. Getting the feeling and more comfortable with landings. Oh, instructor also "threw me a curve ball" on one take off as we cleared 500 ft AGL (important reference in Cirrus training as CAPS available) and he waited for 700 ft and reached over pulling power back to idle as "just lost engine, now what". Reflex to keep pressure on yoke for glide, look around quickly with no hope of anything as no way to turn around and still reach runway.... reach up for CAPS handle as best alternative. Whewwww, passed that first test.
This is important part of Cirrus training evidently. Had no idea this scenario would be thrown at me this early so I peeled the leather following major pucker factor and continued flight as he eased power back in.
Well, this gets me up to today. Some ground lessons and flight simulator hours in there too, but no need to make this first one any longer than it already is. Kudos to you if still reading by this point
So to begin I must first rewind..... about 1 year to early summer last year. Girlfriend got tired of me staring at local airport every time we drove past and bought a discovery flight for my birthday. I always wanted to go, but always put off for one reason or another. This was truly the "kick in the pants" I needed.
One hour in C152 on beautiful summer afternoon and I was hooked. How and why did I wait 40 years for this?!?!? "No log book to purchase but should be getting in soon" he said. No problem and first lesson immediately scheduled for following weekend. Up in a Warrior being introduced to basic maneuvers and such. Still no log book. Next lesson scheduled but weather cancelled. Scheduled again and weather again
. And then life gets in the way..... we all know this story.Fast forward to this year... ready to start again. Instructor no longer there so look around where to start over. At least I only lost 2 hours.... first lesson learned in always having log book and to be diligent on logging correctly.
June 8: First lesson at EYQ in C172 --Why did I wait so long again??? Basically a repeat of first lesson last year since starting over and seeing if I retained anything from a year ago. Explained to Chief Instructor but situation of needing lessons in evening and weekends for which he assured me I was in the right place.
June 17: EYQ in PA-28-161 -- Give the low wing a try
I like it better so will be the type I proceed in for majority of training. Instructor thinks introduction to importance of instruments is appropriate so this lesson includes .5 hours behind the visor for just very basic requests to fly certain headings or change in altitudes and me following based on instruments alone.
I sit down to schedule lessons for remainder of June and into July....
. No combination of plane and instructor available during evening or weekend until middle of July. Not me looking for a specific plane or specific instructor (ideal for both of course) but at all. WTH?!? "It is what it is". I was told it might be better to look elsewhere if serious and don't want to wait. Not sure how that works as a business model I'm not going to let this get me down and delay me again. I know there is better school and something out there for me. The search is on.
After talking to a few schools (better prepared what to ask now) I found one that "the gut" said was right. Many hours of reading had led me across quite a few articles about Cirrus. As debated as this topic can be, I figured it was worth checking into.
June 25: discovery flight and lesson at TME in SR 22 -- Holy crap!!!
Now this is what I'm talking about. Chief instructor not available but owner of company took me up. Most importantly, everything just "clicked". They followed a syllabus (never mentioned at other school) with dedicated ground lessons. He listed exactly how the training would go and when certain milestones would achieved. Just overall a very professional and detail oriented operation. Decision made to continue my training here.
July 12: TME-11R-TME in SR20 -- Gettin' down to business
Introduction to chief instructor and one that will be assigned to me. Just further comfirmation I have made the right choice. Flight includes fundamentals with touch and go landing at 11R. Introduction to basic radio communication... just listening and start to understand. Gotta love AC in Texas in the summer.
July 16: TME-60R-TME in SR20 -- Basics
Learn basics of turns while maintaining altitude, climbs, descents and a basic pattern work. Full stop and taxi at 60R. Introduction to auto pilot and some other cool capabilites of SR but not really what I am here for..... pretty cool nonetheless.
July 20: TME-ELA-TME in SR20 -- Radio and maneuvers
Some radio duties passed to me with intent of others in next lesson to quickly be entirely my responsibility. Two touch and go's at ELA. A lot of work on ground reference maneuvers (turns around a point, S turns and rectangle) -- got some work to do with these. One full stop back at TME and then back up for several times around for pattern work. Four landings total today. Getting the feeling and more comfortable with landings. Oh, instructor also "threw me a curve ball" on one take off as we cleared 500 ft AGL (important reference in Cirrus training as CAPS available) and he waited for 700 ft and reached over pulling power back to idle as "just lost engine, now what". Reflex to keep pressure on yoke for glide, look around quickly with no hope of anything as no way to turn around and still reach runway.... reach up for CAPS handle as best alternative. Whewwww, passed that first test.
This is important part of Cirrus training evidently. Had no idea this scenario would be thrown at me this early so I peeled the leather following major pucker factor and continued flight as he eased power back in.Well, this gets me up to today. Some ground lessons and flight simulator hours in there too, but no need to make this first one any longer than it already is. Kudos to you if still reading by this point
