Soloed. . . Again! A Pilot's Journey
The weather was clearing, but not quickly enough. Ceilings of 1200ft weren't going to cut it for today's planned flight.
So what does a student pilot do when his flight gets scrubbed, and he has the day off from work?
That's right, he takes practice exams.
I took an exam(scored mid 80s) then went to lunch. After lunch I came back and took another practice exam ( high 80s). As I keep taking these practice tests, I notice that the E6B isn't so foreign anymore. It's actually a pretty neat tool. Things are clicking.
Once I was done with the practice tests I set about my Stage II and Stage III student pilot exams. I got high marks on both. I'm glad to have these out of the way. One less thing to worry about. I have some gripes about some of the questions, but all you can do is accept it and move on.
My instructor suggested that it was time to schedule a time for my written. If all goes well I should be taking it on Thursday at some point in the day.
It's all coming together. One more dual X-country, 5 hrs of solo x-country, 3 hrs night, some hood time, and I think that's about it.
I've rescheduled the x-country to orange for tomorrow. The weather looks promising this time.
So what does a student pilot do when his flight gets scrubbed, and he has the day off from work?
That's right, he takes practice exams.
I took an exam(scored mid 80s) then went to lunch. After lunch I came back and took another practice exam ( high 80s). As I keep taking these practice tests, I notice that the E6B isn't so foreign anymore. It's actually a pretty neat tool. Things are clicking.
Once I was done with the practice tests I set about my Stage II and Stage III student pilot exams. I got high marks on both. I'm glad to have these out of the way. One less thing to worry about. I have some gripes about some of the questions, but all you can do is accept it and move on.
My instructor suggested that it was time to schedule a time for my written. If all goes well I should be taking it on Thursday at some point in the day.
It's all coming together. One more dual X-country, 5 hrs of solo x-country, 3 hrs night, some hood time, and I think that's about it.
I've rescheduled the x-country to orange for tomorrow. The weather looks promising this time.
I got my flight in today. SFZ>ORE>ORH and home again. The weather was a bit hazy, but not too bad. We made the decision to go and off we went.
From the start, I noticed that yet again things had slowed down in the cabin. I was able to handle all the tasks at hand without feeling rushed or behind.
I also had my first interaction with a tower controller. In the end it was no big deal and I did just fine with my communications. I did some touch n goes while there, two right and one left traffic.
In all it was a great day for flying. As an added bonus, I've been signed off for solo x-country flights! Tomorrow I fly out to EEN>0B5, and back to SFZ.
Onward!
From the start, I noticed that yet again things had slowed down in the cabin. I was able to handle all the tasks at hand without feeling rushed or behind.
I also had my first interaction with a tower controller. In the end it was no big deal and I did just fine with my communications. I did some touch n goes while there, two right and one left traffic.
In all it was a great day for flying. As an added bonus, I've been signed off for solo x-country flights! Tomorrow I fly out to EEN>0B5, and back to SFZ.
Onward!
- Wicked Stick
- Class B
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:00 pm
- Location: KEWB
solo x-country today!!!
I'm so damned pleased with myself can ya tell?
And to think I almost didn't go. I left sfz this afternoon and it was hazy. Not at all what I wanted for my first solo xc. But as I circled to altitude I found that although it looked bad, visibility wasn't really all that horrible. So, off I went.
It was so cool to have the plane to myself and actually be going somewhere. the checkpoints kept clicking by, and I found myself with some spare time. So, I started dialing up some VORs to cross check my progress. Whaddya know? right on my mark. Before I knew it I was there, Keene NH.
From there I went to 0B5. Just a quick jaunt of 20nm. I took a 15 minute break once I landed there. Had I known, I could have stepped across the street for some ice cream; next time:).
Airborne again I headed home. It had cleared enough to get to 3500. I was doing fine, until I started doubting myself. I was maybe 20miles from home, and I started thinking I was too far right. I wasn't. I had to fight myself pretty hard to hold my course. Just about the time I was loosing the battle, I spotted providence off in the distance and knew I was doing ok.
All in all a great day of flying. One giant step closer to my goal.
Orange and fitchburg are next on my hitlist. Followed up by nashua NH
I'm so damned pleased with myself can ya tell?
And to think I almost didn't go. I left sfz this afternoon and it was hazy. Not at all what I wanted for my first solo xc. But as I circled to altitude I found that although it looked bad, visibility wasn't really all that horrible. So, off I went.
It was so cool to have the plane to myself and actually be going somewhere. the checkpoints kept clicking by, and I found myself with some spare time. So, I started dialing up some VORs to cross check my progress. Whaddya know? right on my mark. Before I knew it I was there, Keene NH.
From there I went to 0B5. Just a quick jaunt of 20nm. I took a 15 minute break once I landed there. Had I known, I could have stepped across the street for some ice cream; next time:).
Airborne again I headed home. It had cleared enough to get to 3500. I was doing fine, until I started doubting myself. I was maybe 20miles from home, and I started thinking I was too far right. I wasn't. I had to fight myself pretty hard to hold my course. Just about the time I was loosing the battle, I spotted providence off in the distance and knew I was doing ok.
All in all a great day of flying. One giant step closer to my goal.
Orange and fitchburg are next on my hitlist. Followed up by nashua NH
- Wicked Stick
- Class B
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:00 pm
- Location: KEWB
- captain_john
- Sparky
- Posts: 5880
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
- Location: KPYM
Keith, you are at the exciting part of your training!!!
You are gonna love it!
I plan on spending much time at the hangar this week, so if you are planning a cross country... come to PYM! I will fire up the grill and make some dinner!
Keep us posted.
CJ
You are gonna love it!
I plan on spending much time at the hangar this week, so if you are planning a cross country... come to PYM! I will fire up the grill and make some dinner!
Keep us posted.
CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!
- captain_john
- Sparky
- Posts: 5880
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
- Location: KPYM
INDEED!
KPYM is a nice little port to visit as a student. It is very typical with intersecting runways, so wind is not an issue.
Lemme know when you will be coming by!
Glad to have you! I have burgers in the fridge! I will burn the fur off one for ya!
CJ
KPYM is a nice little port to visit as a student. It is very typical with intersecting runways, so wind is not an issue.
Lemme know when you will be coming by!
Glad to have you! I have burgers in the fridge! I will burn the fur off one for ya!
CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!
- captain_john
- Sparky
- Posts: 5880
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
- Location: KPYM
-
- Class C
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 8:37 pm
- Location: Sartell MN
Keep at it Kieth. You will never regret it. You may someday wish you had not delayed this loong. I was 56 when I started flying and now I am having troubles with my medical. However fortnately I was not on the I-35W Bridge last night in Minneapolis. I get down there regularly but have never taken that bridge. Keep working on that license.
- Wicked Stick
- Class B
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:00 pm
- Location: KEWB
Another XC is in the books. This time I had to fly into Nashua and Westover, two class D airports. Anyone who has been near me in the past two weeks knows how much I've agonized over the communication portion of my flying. It turns out, it's not as bad as I had made it out to be. Both controllers were very accommodating, and I had no troubles.
All in all a great flight.
Just some night flights, and some hood time and it's on to checkride prep!
All in all a great flight.
Just some night flights, and some hood time and it's on to checkride prep!