tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18175798127836555202024-03-13T11:58:45.874-04:00chasing the dream of flightyomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-78000689919177264822009-08-31T13:57:00.007-04:002009-08-31T14:37:36.493-04:00Cleared for the approachInstrument rated!!!<br /><br />On Saturday I passed my instrument checkride and am now a instrument rated private pilot.<br />What a relief it is to have that done and over with. I am one more step closer to my goal and can now fly in the clouds!<br /><br />The checkride was both easy and hard. The DPE didnt take it easy on this professional pilot to be. And for whatever reason.... I had never seen a lead radial on an IPC before?!?!? I talked my way through it and eventually found it in the index of the NOS charts. But damn did I feel stupid.<br /><br />I also stumbled on the SDF (simplified directional facility) I forgot why it was different that an LDA and other non precision approaches. The added 6 degrees of horizontal guidance almost got me. This was something else I got to look up in the NOS chart index.<br /><br />After stumbling on two items during the oral exam, and chatting about playing music. (DPE and myself are both musicians) we hopped in the plane. This is where I shine and was happy to be airborne to show the examiner I do know a little bit about Instrument flying.<br /><br />We did a "0 visibility" take off under the hood to start off. No problem. We then followed the flight plan we talked about with no surprises. IT started out flying direct to the SOGCO intersection to shoot the RNAV14 into Quincy. On the missed we flew to the Seminole VORTAC and did two turns in holding. This also happens to be the IAF for VOR A approach into Quincy. On completion of the first turn in holding the examiner slapped some suction cups over my attitude indicator and my DG simulating a vacuum failure. Again, no problem. With turns to the east and west, which is what I was doing in the hold, there is limited error on the mag compass to worry about.<br /><br />After the two holding patterns I called procedure turn inbound and was cleared for the VOR A approach at Quincy. On the missed I was given instructions for fly 180 into controlled airspace and to climb to 2000ft. After leaving the pattern at Quinicy I was flying south climbing to 2000 and asked for radar vectors for the ILS 36 at Tallahassee. This was to be the last phase of the checkride. I advanced the throttle a bit and we cruised as fast as we could down to the FAF for the ILS 36. I was eventually given a 45 degree intercept for the ILS and turned in to join the localizer. I never got to use the intercept angle as the controller had brought me in too close. At this point the DPE moved his chair back up from its reclined position and removed the suction cups on my "failed gauges". I realigned the DG, ran through the decent checklist and waited for the glide slope to come in. At around 260 feet the DPE said, "visual on the runway. You can remove your foggles." I had the needles pegged and was right where I wanted to be. I chopped the power to idle, waited a second to drop below 85kts where I then dumped the flaps. 200 feet later, and 1000 feet down the runway the mains touched one at a time (perfect crosswind landing) followed by the nose wheel.<br /><br />I was now an instrument rated pilot. But after the ride was done, I didn't feel any different. It was nothing like how I felt after my private pilot checkride. Nothing will replace the feeling of earning my wings. Oh well.... it doesn't really matter. I am one more step closer to my goal of being a professional pilot.<br /><br />And hey, now I can fly with my head in the clouds!yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-57080765736367367362009-08-27T13:44:00.013-04:002009-08-27T14:19:53.485-04:00Island FlyingHere's a few shots from two trips taken with my buddy Matt. Jekyll Island and Hilton Head Island were the destinations. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUAtQkinVI0UxBIb9_uqI2iDAQAycvKmVWDSFC79jyhngNfx6AY_xPLjf5cY481FmI01Bp20Ci33dwi3e2-w8g_PZkKiLDl8tUyAgK2PuOcHCerxhkR91KboKmIA1u3KN7B1SbeKdz7k/s1600-h/153.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUAtQkinVI0UxBIb9_uqI2iDAQAycvKmVWDSFC79jyhngNfx6AY_xPLjf5cY481FmI01Bp20Ci33dwi3e2-w8g_PZkKiLDl8tUyAgK2PuOcHCerxhkR91KboKmIA1u3KN7B1SbeKdz7k/s400/153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374701575001878786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyCweyq43ij-UDHwxdJmSrBwWYwQPRZ4jnRW1xNb5plaGPtuGGbJXlxVUWzFKWq6Wlh9FvZJ3jFZrjUhYfUN2CEfHQLqit0EU-nSB6Cla81QZCi0ax0o5M4v1jSAgIWrIwuye44ohyphenhyphenII/s1600-h/156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyCweyq43ij-UDHwxdJmSrBwWYwQPRZ4jnRW1xNb5plaGPtuGGbJXlxVUWzFKWq6Wlh9FvZJ3jFZrjUhYfUN2CEfHQLqit0EU-nSB6Cla81QZCi0ax0o5M4v1jSAgIWrIwuye44ohyphenhyphenII/s400/156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374701710389565698" border="0" /></a>On the take off roll out of Jekyll<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAL6sklYx9E2jrvFxfnlb9nNxsW8pmodb8BjIrWjxmkSp6fo61dVcPQSAym4S6up7OqGT9qWJuZQ1ABc5xXYNrSC_4tidZXp6Uc4wyxskGAzRcY-qZUQelfm832_ovMP6oK-Ie6PKgS0/s1600-h/158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAL6sklYx9E2jrvFxfnlb9nNxsW8pmodb8BjIrWjxmkSp6fo61dVcPQSAym4S6up7OqGT9qWJuZQ1ABc5xXYNrSC_4tidZXp6Uc4wyxskGAzRcY-qZUQelfm832_ovMP6oK-Ie6PKgS0/s400/158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374701780607592914" border="0" /></a>Departing to the south east out of 09J<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20FdCR_q8ScbMHXZ4BE_PILWy8EaRbTDtnbGuDLWpRnenRodd0b1WKGGrh_u5PhIyXHTnGJqs-RPzYqYlpGSkWlYmtuAwWvJNUnS1V-IsScC72Zu9EH6P89FNNEKCrHLQgTIP-WKNtrA/s1600-h/160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20FdCR_q8ScbMHXZ4BE_PILWy8EaRbTDtnbGuDLWpRnenRodd0b1WKGGrh_u5PhIyXHTnGJqs-RPzYqYlpGSkWlYmtuAwWvJNUnS1V-IsScC72Zu9EH6P89FNNEKCrHLQgTIP-WKNtrA/s400/160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374704415284638738" border="0" /></a>Over 09J at 2000 ft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40YcRxzDkWePeIcyD36cGOl0nUysiMjhQuPJEFh3Nt6QE2UU59joquU-ZqdYRXLoTyXzgMOu5XOhPrRNglKbbDfyb2g-UuZ22Hz3RwKkIQy7qS8TLsHKPT_MBg5ai1H2qAiAbJfqJiXw/s1600-h/164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40YcRxzDkWePeIcyD36cGOl0nUysiMjhQuPJEFh3Nt6QE2UU59joquU-ZqdYRXLoTyXzgMOu5XOhPrRNglKbbDfyb2g-UuZ22Hz3RwKkIQy7qS8TLsHKPT_MBg5ai1H2qAiAbJfqJiXw/s400/164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374704798352547698" border="0" /></a>Playing with the clouds at 8500 ft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRm64AM0NGxfFxTrimn9r7uBYzA2wqmZ7icTM2cLPx0lZ5FulSZj7GrpdFTghjNvMlXQBnKS6pi_oeFPcVLR-Bkc5c2EgSBUMQo6XMF6Zp6hfmE5gQlrTQaJpDD6At5psi6_XOi71rb0/s1600-h/165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRm64AM0NGxfFxTrimn9r7uBYzA2wqmZ7icTM2cLPx0lZ5FulSZj7GrpdFTghjNvMlXQBnKS6pi_oeFPcVLR-Bkc5c2EgSBUMQo6XMF6Zp6hfmE5gQlrTQaJpDD6At5psi6_XOi71rb0/s400/165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374705142914167570" border="0" /></a>09J -Brunswick - Taylor - Greenville - KTLH<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now for some from the Hilton Head trip. Matt flew there and I took it on the way back. Great place to visit. Excellent service at the FBO and the hush puppies weren't too bad either! Can't wait to go back again.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XlH4EcsYHMWvxFjlVQfctjeC3IDToFO1f3xHUqLeh1U4_D-rLVxRUYf7hHX95z3grTMlq97tX38v6mSSToJJYk18hOWFReErHECUZa7x5RB2qF0NJe-R3aWJ8nuZaWWIVDIZ0zhft-A/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XlH4EcsYHMWvxFjlVQfctjeC3IDToFO1f3xHUqLeh1U4_D-rLVxRUYf7hHX95z3grTMlq97tX38v6mSSToJJYk18hOWFReErHECUZa7x5RB2qF0NJe-R3aWJ8nuZaWWIVDIZ0zhft-A/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374706693629249282" border="0" /></a><br />Endless sea of clouds all the way from Tallahassee to Jacksonville on an early morning departure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4VQUbXqdeNZn1xF_rQ5wL8TdFpRd0GdtuOblCDLInKpDod1AUR5Q9qmEVu-O1gqELbyk94zz_QzlGpRUWhpiDGFVd8tGauSmHhHGPqi0_B3Yf0Z-QDQksJ3LkQG_sz3svZocKW2v_g/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4VQUbXqdeNZn1xF_rQ5wL8TdFpRd0GdtuOblCDLInKpDod1AUR5Q9qmEVu-O1gqELbyk94zz_QzlGpRUWhpiDGFVd8tGauSmHhHGPqi0_B3Yf0Z-QDQksJ3LkQG_sz3svZocKW2v_g/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374707038778738642" border="0" /></a>I think I see the ground down there...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDbgHfxXhm1jtnI2VJRvo4pf0M_7eGi3TGcZnTQAC4aDG-XuF5j0d7q4Ri4RaiNLNDMY2qUsAPpnJDuX0q6BrDez7-belWtn3vQ0Z-voByiNnhtdS3VpFhxJe1Dk6uri7iE_fMsozXHo/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDbgHfxXhm1jtnI2VJRvo4pf0M_7eGi3TGcZnTQAC4aDG-XuF5j0d7q4Ri4RaiNLNDMY2qUsAPpnJDuX0q6BrDez7-belWtn3vQ0Z-voByiNnhtdS3VpFhxJe1Dk6uri7iE_fMsozXHo/s400/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374707386491546658" border="0" /></a>Signature Flight Support at KHXD. Excellent service and can't beat a putting green at the FBO. you can see it here right behind the flags!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o4bWQpNNkZcnlbnR0yjvUjpsJWkxOFp3kC6fI3XileSDO6TBgspdJLhW_ERKKr9YP5rQSwLw44wYtWQQvdRIG9kiHYSQO0iCLe3kko-2PSs8-KOPUK4LVWcqukYIg0Hn07kZ499l0q0/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o4bWQpNNkZcnlbnR0yjvUjpsJWkxOFp3kC6fI3XileSDO6TBgspdJLhW_ERKKr9YP5rQSwLw44wYtWQQvdRIG9kiHYSQO0iCLe3kko-2PSs8-KOPUK4LVWcqukYIg0Hn07kZ499l0q0/s400/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374707925241146930" border="0" /></a>Matt doing a quick preflight of our trusty steed. 94X<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwm8y_s-EWMlxG0GaY9S3531XLxvESTBAFRuEXc6SfF-BUMZq_dPOPjPtkLHRsZ4HRJza9CLRAwn1ArwJ7P8TwBH32JMjSi6aqqirpPFde84Qz2-GkPRxlkJm65xrfGtF0mz9R16LP5c/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwm8y_s-EWMlxG0GaY9S3531XLxvESTBAFRuEXc6SfF-BUMZq_dPOPjPtkLHRsZ4HRJza9CLRAwn1ArwJ7P8TwBH32JMjSi6aqqirpPFde84Qz2-GkPRxlkJm65xrfGtF0mz9R16LP5c/s400/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374708274994359314" border="0" /></a>Its Jekyll Island again. On the way home at 10,500 ft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrFl4scz1TrstTJBd8cItooGmMJaFbgHUhm860tJHWv-UnNHbptIfrl77YMrjZmehUyOFRiZ8wwyIHyPItOzNeRPEhmRkf1BKhEHR_poICCeICOcXWyI7VZbrCnjrq4vBnuVmjfJR6lU/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrFl4scz1TrstTJBd8cItooGmMJaFbgHUhm860tJHWv-UnNHbptIfrl77YMrjZmehUyOFRiZ8wwyIHyPItOzNeRPEhmRkf1BKhEHR_poICCeICOcXWyI7VZbrCnjrq4vBnuVmjfJR6lU/s400/018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374708721185470434" border="0" /></a>Dodging the build ups on the way home. These things grow fast in the summertime here in FL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk6PDTg0yT1I3n8YHzXB_Pc1pPLfYlrfnfwmKwaWRwp-mY8FJsiNL9bkdSkkeww-oAMljBQ6wG1xuxTwASLrD1RIxY-K-iRCCMmCqQ4-YTZEnIIGsAwjGs5xGiaJhr7gXBCS4cJaQ17w/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk6PDTg0yT1I3n8YHzXB_Pc1pPLfYlrfnfwmKwaWRwp-mY8FJsiNL9bkdSkkeww-oAMljBQ6wG1xuxTwASLrD1RIxY-K-iRCCMmCqQ4-YTZEnIIGsAwjGs5xGiaJhr7gXBCS4cJaQ17w/s400/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374709189083761346" border="0" /></a>Is that an Alligator out in the distance???<br /><br /></div>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-36299957266975576852009-08-27T13:28:00.002-04:002009-08-27T13:38:53.872-04:00checkride timeWell its checkride time again, and boy am I ready to get this over with! I have been flying and studying alot in preparation for the ride. I have been doing simulator flying, hood flying, finger flying... and even flying in my sleep. I know I have the flying portion of the checkride under control, its the oral exam that has me a little nervous. There is so much information to be asked about that studying the oral exam guide has my head spinning.<br /><br />My fate will determined on Saturday morning as I fly the second instrument checkride of the day for the DPE. My buddy Matt whom I fly with regularly is going first. Hopefully he doesn't set the bar too high!<br /><br />I've been flying a lot, and have some stories and pictures to share. I'll see if I can post a few shots from the past few weeks before I get back to the books.<br /><br />Wish me luckyomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-21752609451218220802009-08-08T02:18:00.002-04:002009-08-08T02:24:25.842-04:00almost timeMy checkride is scheduled for the friday after next. I know I have the flying portion of the checkride covered. I just need to master the oral exam guide! <br /><br />My time is sitting around 130 hours with all the mins met. I think I've even got everything in the PTS down. Now its time to study study study! The folks are coming into town next weekend so that will put a damper on things, but as long as I stay relatively busy with the studying I should be IFR rated soon!<br /><br />More to come... Heading to Cedar Key on Sunday and over to Destin again on Monday. <br /><br />Keep the blue side up.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-64425596272504934142009-08-02T16:42:00.005-04:002009-08-02T16:47:20.489-04:00TSRA<pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">0218/0222 VRB15G25KT 4SM </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >TSRA</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> BKN025CB = no flying today.<br />Grounded again due to weather. Oh well.<br /><br />Hey dad</span></pre>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-41370539402635762892009-07-22T13:30:00.006-04:002009-08-02T16:47:55.071-04:00gettin' there<span style="font-family: georgia;"></span>Flew for 2.1 today. 1 hour was with Chris doing some work in the holding pattern over the Seminole VOR followed by a ILS 36 at KLTH. It was so nice out that after we landed I called Corie up and had her come out to the airport so we could go on a nice VFR flight down the coast to St. George Island. At least that was what I intended....<br /><br />We got out over the coast, and I started messing around looking for a friend's boat who was out fishing. It seemed like every one had a green bimini top on their boat today and I could not get a positive ID on my buddy Jims' boat. We circled a few non-the-less. Hopefully I didn't scare too many boaters out there. After I got bored of that, we headed south east for St. George and decended through 1000 ft. But before I could level off at 500 feet over the beach Corie alerted me of her desire to relieve her bladder. Oh well.... full power, climbing right hand turn direct to Tallahassee. So much for that idea. It was still a nice flight just because it was so beautiful out. It did get a little hotter by the time we got back to base, but it still wasn't too bad. No clouds, calm wind, and 72 degrees at 2500 ft. Can't beat that with stick! Unfortunately the nice weather we've been having should end tonight as this cold front moves on past us.<br /><br /><em>Interesting tidbit:</em> ATC had traffic landing on 36 and 27 with the winds out of 180 around 7 kts. No big deal... sometimes ya have to land with a little tailwind. I made the mistake of calling up ATC and requesting 18 if it would not interupt they're flow. "Roger 172RK we have your request..." Then nothing. The controller kept on talking to other aircraft in the vicinity. Ok I thought, no problem. I've already been cleared to land on 36 and the traffic behind me has been cleared #2 for landing. At this point I'm at 100kts following the ILS down to the ground. At about 500 ft no more than a mile from the threshold I hear, "172RK enter right downwind for 18. I'll call your base". So once again I added full power and made a climbing left turn to enter the pattern. I could have declined the landing clearance and kept following the ILS down landing with a slight tailwind, but I chose to be safe and take the runway with the more favorable winds. It ultimately was a non-event and I made a nice landing.<br /><br />Thats all for today, off to study my oral exam guide some more before heading to work. Check ride is coming up soon!yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-10827081589178309722009-06-11T01:48:00.002-04:002009-06-11T02:00:14.999-04:00bouncingI "Flew" the sim today as well as my usual ride 94X. Today was the hottest day of the year so far in Tallahassee and I thought it would be a good idea to fly around at 3000ft shooting full procedure RNAV approaches. Boy was I wrong. I could have been flying around in a glider today the thermals were so strong over Tally. <br /><br />Besides the not so nice weather I did get in some good practice and got to share the airspace with a pair of F22's. Never thought the first time I saw one I would be up in the air less than a mile away. They flew directly overhead shooting the ILS 36 while I was slowly making my procedure turn inbound from the FESUX IAF a thousand feet below. <br /><br />Thats it for now, its late... Going up Friday evening with Hale. Gonna be droping him off in Destin and then head back for a nice night flight. Its been a while, so I'll be sure to do a few stop and go's to get legal again. <br /><br />Keep the blue side up.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-34954257320122945032009-06-03T17:11:00.007-04:002009-06-03T17:59:20.298-04:00The BeauThe weather across the south east has been less than <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">desirable</span> the past two weeks. It was only last weekend that the sky cleared up allowing for some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">VFR</span> time building to occur. Last Sunday my buddy Matt and I hopped in the redneck killer and blasted off to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gulfport</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Biloxi</span>) Mississippi. We are both in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">IFR</span> training and are trying to build up both our simulated instrument and x-country PIC time. The trip to Mississippi was a solid 5.8 hours. With that we both can log the whole flight as PIC x-country and half of it as simulated instrument time. (one of us has to be under the hood) It was a great day and a great flight. The weather was perfect... well, the 20 knot headwind on the way home kind of sucked but hey, we're building time right!<br /><br />So the trip west was great. I was flying the first leg down the coast. First we shot over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">KPFN</span>, then to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">KDTS</span> to stay in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">VFR</span> corridor near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Eglin</span> AFB. From <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Destin</span> we flew to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">KNPA</span> which is the Pensacola Naval Air Station, home of the Blue Angels. We stayed above their airspace at 7500 ft. and continued on to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">KGPT</span> our final destination.<br /><br /><div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343220439912711970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivITbzAxAFzPpGvQvoTYKRWgJSrO_m77o5S-dBrdbLOEUZJKXeQaP2h-FLGZpgzf5iaNSjYqrvVjI0hqlA_u5mdUJ79ZKLwM4YswY6ueUHJPOC3s1jJuit-i77yTlcczfvCb4Ks_dkmWQ/s400/latest+nonsense+015.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"><em>Shot of Pensalcola Naval Air Station from 8,500 ft.</em> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343220904130052210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4b_WuaviriwjD_XIrpvPHyGKt4B31j1HMqsyJ7MOY_eTcA-HRadO_Dac7bY96lwRSg3AXAIcz_fLrlpoXBRcjrshVkuBQZgaBVrhiPXnlxP9iVsUHJsOTupyudygrbIdUmqwCcdcTzrY/s400/latest+nonsense+016.JPG" border="0" /><em>Here's a zoomed in shot of the ramp. If you look closely you can see 3 of the Blue Angels A/C including the famous Fat Albert C-130.</em><br /><br /><div align="left">After shutting down we walked into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">FBO</span> and we're given the keys to the crew car. Sure beats paying for a cab! We drove down the coast to the Beau <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Rivage</span> Hotel & Casino to have lunch and maybe get lucky at the tables. I opted not to indulge (after all, I am already in dept thanks to this flight training stuff) but Matt threw $300 on black at the roulette tables and won! </div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343219455660396978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZglnP7FJo46dslgfNsD5O55V9gAp6IMzt3tTqdJfQJOOlfVFCmOUFkGHufX08RzEZ5Ub9RL7Kf8PfMzKME8uknMmuz6cyWFEEY0ERXGIiBEOLvFpaFtTHOELGyonFRWt3Sd7jiSqQe9I/s400/latest+nonsense+007.JPG" border="0" /> <em>Here's the big winner! Always bet on black!</em><br /><br /><p align="left">So after our little gambling excursion, Matt treated me to lunch at the Beau's rather lavish lunch Buffet with his winnings. It was excellent! Next time I'm gonna win big and lunch will be on me.<br /><br />All in all we spent about an hour and a half maybe two hours over in Mississippi before we got airborne again. The Flight home was Matt's and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">unfortunately</span> we were seeing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ground speeds</span> of around 88 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">kts</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Miserable</span>! But like I said before, we are both trying to build our time up so we shrugged it off and kept on trucking. </p><p align="left">The flying was pretty <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">uneventful</span> minus a oil pressure gauge that was malfunctioning. The oil pressure sat at the bottom of the green arc on the gauge the whole trip. Not too big a deal as long as its in the green, but it kept us on our toes. We touched back down in good ole' Tallahassee around 4:30pm EST and had been gone almost 8 hours. It was a great trip I will not soon forget.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343223599602571650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK3Sqp2gehfnHnPvHvj7oIr02RXmhDGlk5vNlLyV4_CTE6GScnWoAk9dQJ_zs8KVdYUfg-0n2naAwRa7EPfT8qYdyHF8rilqfsPJAl6ZDR2HftLXx_t7sVSpr0_uxHL7zOUUXgkBjSfg/s400/latest+nonsense+019.JPG" border="0" /> <em>The Matt's</em><br /><p align="left"></p></div></div>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-69501742807295811552009-06-01T17:59:00.000-04:002009-06-03T18:20:52.393-04:00Some photos<div align="left">Here are some pictures I have taken lately. They didn't quite fit into a specific post so I'll put them here.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Happy flying.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343226779185091650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuruG9omtAgmw5YXrFlJD4WnIMVa6mlFu5SppF7E8URUYBduOvj-1M9MpqRuGQrrK2ghKVBEXSHZW7alrC25ZlGm3YJJIgQi5Ht1wgqRa_hgZK439BY2t7q5IkOhkpOv55FpLbUTK624/s400/kyles+b-day+and+flying+038.JPG" border="0" /><em>Nice Tallahassee Sunset</em> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343225327140920274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4dXV8hy3yuUr8KlUUSjeR8bd7PV6ZhKJuO30b6MFDDT2hyphenhyphenOLo2mANU0MFLwp0AAxBAkhAjCifNPR2a67se3YDIyFtti4sOtaJJg_cvlN7JXGyz2fLm5QVF2lt-F5Ofc5HgvZu_RwrNw/s400/latest+nonsense+014.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Playing with the clouds over Panama City</em> </p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343224998446105954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6IETXZ7EkJXwTulgYyNwJK_12_GnEGEUXi82U7uXicEsIHc19NbkWfeyWwYzm96n11BPDi9Adn-KPA8i5Kp8qxgGiM_oB1RMf1-DYjdT8OQTv4KU2suneN91wHTKT38UbYgqV8CVW24/s400/latest+nonsense+017.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><em>The Apalachicola River</em></p><p align="center"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343226774078294914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Xa3kd2Scg3YjAZU9UTUNVS83GFMVtXWS2Hz4YqfYywq79kmBW5PPahTNEHlEawkc1LiaA9oDrJY-R6Gd2Y0k8abVgGtggVOw4HfkRKFdFzPxmG7NqGLRHInRnZ85GWEwBwwcChdChw0/s400/kyles+b-day+and+flying+062.JPG" border="0" /></em></p><p align="center"><em>A big cloud somewhere in the greater Orlando region</em></p><p align="center"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343226776478601042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06WYy1N3DxrBjqbsCaULS8wKymChDp9Fna84xE3npqDRYGJGlGo1wfxj8AnrJttrlSezmoaQoHKUVa-dStpvtQqTIudMwRdbb3ozl9c1lvdu98rG_8hyphenhyphen9Zyu7M7WbY2BVEVAMgrnCuBI/s400/kyles+b-day+and+flying+052.JPG" border="0" /></em></p><p align="center"><em>Miles and miles of little puffy fair weather cumulus clouds</em></p>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-76120841965990710482009-05-05T13:07:00.009-04:002009-05-06T18:29:51.961-04:00Beating the weather<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgN4QgFxeFThQ1xG6rc5eeOZGF-3vrDvD_YBjVP2eGB0EdxwQszcMtXBcj_V3WTr_SD-oKykNmGqqxaosJ35IkjjerTQfNswVLS1SfDk7uxpzSYzXzj0yGM1Crmp3OiNJHoZEdDF4IJo/s1600-h/kyles+b-day+and+flying+052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332839205516212322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgN4QgFxeFThQ1xG6rc5eeOZGF-3vrDvD_YBjVP2eGB0EdxwQszcMtXBcj_V3WTr_SD-oKykNmGqqxaosJ35IkjjerTQfNswVLS1SfDk7uxpzSYzXzj0yGM1Crmp3OiNJHoZEdDF4IJo/s400/kyles+b-day+and+flying+052.JPG" border="0" /></a>I flew home this weekend with a buddy of mine in one of my schools 172's. It was just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">supposed</span> to be a short stay as I wanted to spend some time with the folks and see the Steve Miller Band play down at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sunfest</span>. We left the ground about 9:15am local time and flew from Tallahassee to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lantana</span> via Cross City then victor 7 through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lakeland</span> and La Belle. From there we flew east to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Pahokee</span> and finally into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lantana</span>. It was a great flight! We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">cruised</span> at 9500 ft. the whole way. This kept us above the broken cloud layer and it was smooth as glass with only a slight headwind.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332838414817327090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfuSvttf-fp2z8ThR0R35SdrICx5Ws0PG0agAao0j_-50WOWCKFQGUDnYoXG-VSL7n8XWPyUp63U4mKj9qiqw-vhA-tu7PauZXcynL3adELHPoZ4iYvgPSbLbihfNrCLNnDkWQGDss-A/s400/kyles+b-day+and+flying+045.JPG" border="0" />Unfortunately we were only able to stay one night as there was a weather system that was moving east dumping rain and strong winds throughout the country. It was the same system that brought down the Dallas Cowboy's practice facility and I did not want to mess with that. So we left West Palm Beach (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">KLNA</span>) around noon on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Monday</span>. This was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">earlier</span> than I wanted to leave and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">didn't</span> even get to spend 24 hours at home. Oh well, I'll go back down next month and spend some more time with the rents.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332839419788092226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgBR703gVlg3oaHMhCQGvQACgzNL0mqxfqF2Z7xH5iXwt2eaCHyVtiBhd59jgOtS85AzpwnKchMV2hMI2PM1rd-tAbwIbTePspVHZQoqYQpsOKdimzgCaJhh4jJRsz80hlAzj7jqE390/s400/IMG_0618.jpg" border="0" />All the reports showed that we would beat the weather if we could get to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">TLH</span> by 4-4:30 so off we went. I had been watching the weather like a hawk for days up to the flight and kind of knew this might happen. First, we made a quick stop in KOBE (Okeechobee) for cheap fuel and after fighting the plane to start (172<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">RK</span> does not like the hot start) we were off direct to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">LAL</span> then up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">CTY</span> on V7 turning west abeam the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">navaid</span> to get us home to good ole' Tallahassee.<br /><br />This was the plan anyway...<br /><br />After climbing up to 10,500 departing KOBE the clouds started to grow. We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">cruised</span> around them for a little while but I knew that the weather conditions ahead would not permit us to get underneath. The major storm <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">that's</span> now pounding the east coast was having its way with us... and at this altitude our little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Cessna</span> doesn't like to climb much more, so down we went. I spotted a whole just past L<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">akeland</span> and I hit the deck. We got underneath while staying <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">VFR</span> eventually leveling out at 4500 ft. Here comes the fun stuff. We were getting bounced around so much that I tried a little lower at 3500 ft to no avail. With no working auto pilot, I was getting a work out keeping the plane on my desired orientation. The whole time in the back of my mind I was thinking about the weather back at base. Would I be able to make it in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">VFR</span>??? I wonder what the weather is doing up in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">panhandle</span>? Where could we land that has a few hotel options if we do get stuck? DIVERT!<br /><br />At this time we were about 65 miles directly south of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Gainsville heading to Cross City</span>. There is nothing in Cross City, and I had been to Gainsville's airport a few times before and knew they had <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">adequate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">resources</span> available to determine the weather situation along with many Hotel options. (not to mention the free cookies at the FBO) Now I am a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Seminole</span> and hate to say anything good about gator town, but their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">FBO</span> is nice and everyone is friendly. Even to those pilots who are sporting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Seminole</span> flight club t-shirts! So after checking the weather for 15 minutes I decided we could make it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">VFR</span> if we hurried. We jumped back in the plane (more hot start issues) and blasted out of G-ville as fast as our little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Cessna</span> would take us.<br /><br />The could deck was solid at 3000 in g-ville keeping us at 2000ft. It was much smoother for this last leg thank god, but the ceiling was dropping and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">visibility</span> was around 6 miles and dropping as well. This is no problem for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">IFR</span> student, but I was starting to worry about the legality of the flight continuing VFR. Luckily we got to stay at 1500 and I could see the field about 5 miles out. Approach got us in around other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">IFR</span> traffic and we made a butter smooth landing on runway 18 with rain hitting the windshield during the approach. We made it by about 15 minutes. I drove home in the rain.<br /><br />This was my longest trip by myself yet and I loved it. Even with the crappy weather on the way back. The legs were about 343 miles a piece and I logged 7.5 hours of x-country flight time. I can wait to do the trip again.<br /><br />For now though, I gotta get ready for work... Happy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Cinco</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">de</span> Mayo baby.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-9200330755210050772009-04-20T14:52:00.003-04:002009-04-20T15:19:30.572-04:00building timeSo as of now I am about a quarter of the way done with the flying portion of the instrument rating. My instructor and I have been doing nothing but x-country flights (50<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nm</span> straight line distance) under the hood. The simulated instrument time is building and I am slowly getting to where I need to be. The ground portion however is going even faster. For school I must finish by next week. I am doing this all on my own this time around and it has turned out to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">OK</span>, but I am still a little nervous about what I am going to get on the written.<br /><br />The flying has been great! Well that is minus being under the hood all the time. I have been getting lots of practice with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">VOR</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DME</span> approaches, intercepting and tracking airways, navigating via the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ADF</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">VOR</span>, and GPS, getting all the new radio lingo down, flying in different types of weather, and well... flying only by reference to instruments. It has been pretty fun over all. I am flying a ton! Ultimately building time towards the magical 250 hours. I have been flying with much stronger winds than I did with my private. My confidence is growing and routinely seem to be flying in winds upwards of 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">kts</span>. Crosswind landings seem to be a regular <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">occurrence</span>, and I actually logged a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">minuscule</span> amount of actual <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">IMC</span> yesterday flying around in the clouds and rain. It was a good day as the wind was right down the runway at 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">kts</span> gusting to 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">kts</span>. It was my first really nice landing in a week or two. Kissed the numbers with the stall horn itching to blow, and off the runway onto taxiway bravo which is around 1500 ft from the threshold. I thought it was nice anyway. Certainly better than <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Florida</span> senator Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Steinberg's</span> landing which I watched from the hold short line. We counted 7 bounces (a few pretty hard) as he tried to land our schools glass cockpit 182. I felt bad for the plane.... it wasn't pretty.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">That's</span> it for now. I have tons of work to do for the written and I got to get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">crackin'</span> on that asap. Keep the blue side up.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-79990967729336165902009-04-07T11:55:00.004-04:002009-04-07T12:20:52.559-04:00finallyWell, its happened. I have finally secured some financing to continue my training. I have started on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">IFR</span> ticket and am building time and blowing through money again! Poor nasty mike is not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">IFR</span> approved since it only has one set of working comm and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nav</span> radios. So I am tackling this next rating in our 172S and a 172SP. They are much nicer but also <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">carry</span> a $20 per/hour extra charge. Not much I can do I suppose... I do not fit into our 152 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">that's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">IFR</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">equipped</span> (too tall) and my instructor and I with full fuel are over weight anyhow. (The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">FAA</span> needs to realize that not too many people weigh the standard 170lbs anymore. Especially when they are 6'3''.)<br /><br />Anyway, my new instructor and I have been pushing through the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">beginning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">fazes</span> of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">IFR</span> rating. Practicing holds and basic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">vor</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">vor</span> navigation. the simulator comes in handy here. I can log up to 10 hours of "simulated" instrument time in my flight schools FAA approved simulator. I will take full advantage of this since it is only a $40p/h charge.<br /><br />The real challenge will be completing the ground portion of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">IFR</span> rating before <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">April</span> 23'rd. I must submit my 3 stage exams and a copy of my completed FAA written on this date in order to pass my class. The only way I could get a loan at an acceptable interest rate was to actually go back to school. Therefor, I am attending Utah Valley University <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">attempting</span> a BS degree in Aviation Science. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">I'm</span> taking 6 credits a semester and those are all "pilot based" classes. Meaning, they coincide with whatever rating or license I am pursuing at my flight school here in good 'ole Tallahassee. Right now I am taking an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">IFR</span> ground and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">IFR</span> flight class for a total of 6 credit hours. All I have to do in order to pass the class is take the 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Jeppesen</span> stage tests found in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">IFR</span>/Commercial kit and fax over a copy of both my FAA written exam score and a copy of my temporary airman certificate when I take my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">checkride</span>. Not too bad eh? Seemed worth it to me. I get a decent interest rate, (saving money) I can train at my local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">fbo</span>, (saving money) and never have to leave town.<br /><br />So for now I am back in the saddle working towards that elusive 250 hour mark, hopefully picking up my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">IFR</span>, Commercial and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">CFI</span> ratings/licenses along the way.<br /><br />For now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">I'm</span> off to the flight school to hang out with John and Martha King. Lots more to come if I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">don't</span> kill myself listening to all of Martha's one liners.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-44421034848112128172009-03-02T19:57:00.004-05:002009-03-06T15:39:32.007-05:00good things are coming...I only hope it will be sooner rather than later.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-66319779859946208772009-01-13T16:27:00.008-05:002009-03-07T00:46:06.033-05:00Still aroundWell, by the look of my last post its been over two months since i've written anything new. I had been busy graduating from college and doing the family thing around the holidays but now im back and ready to go. Got to do a little aerostar flying while i was home for the hollidays. Did a nice SUA-FXE-TPA-SUA trip and actually got a little left seat time. It was the first time i flew the her as an actual pilot. Damn she's fast...<br /><br />Back to reality.<br />I went up in Nasty Mike today for the first time in a while. The airport was slow, and the weather was great untill i started doing the preflight..... Information Yankee says winds are 340 @ 8, altimeter 30.07. Sounds good to me, but i'm feeling something a little stronger now that i'm taxing to the run-up area. After i finish playing with my check list and doing the run-up i call the tower and get clearance to take off on 36. We have lift off.<br /><br />After my first quick trip around the pattern (closed traffic today.... short on cash, and i wanted to practice a few landings) the tower controller says, "734NM cleared touch and go runway 36. Winds 340 @ 11kts gusting to 17kts, altimeter 30.05" Wow! that was a big difference than what the ATIS said while i was on the ground no more than 5 minutes ago. Oh well, here we go! The second trip around got a little worse with the wind shifting to 310 @ 12Kt G 18Kt. Ok I thought.... a little cross wind practice. Thats why i came up today. Well who would've guessed that on final at 65Kts about 20ft above the runway here comes a strong gust of wind out of 310 that instantly picked me up, slowed me down, and tossed me right of the center line. <div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div><br /></div><div align="left">On the next trip around the pattern I was instructed to make right traffic and to extend my downwind to make way for an A-10 that was in the area practicing instrument approaches. That was a pretty cool sight as he passed me on the right at 1000ft no more than a mile away. ( I got a few good shots of him with my phone as he dominated the traffic pattern with some <strong>very</strong> steep banked turns and equally impressive steep climb outs.) after following him in once i got vectored out again to make way for the same A-10 in the pattern. As the controller called my base 6-7 miles out I politely told him I was going to call it a day. "734NM cleared to land 36" I was done. It was nice to get up in the old Nasty Mike again but man, I forgot how slow these 172's are. I miss the aerostar.... It even looks like it goes fast.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310316304255081042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgActxqKxpIqe8NE7BFjtmzjadeJKZePogF6RJNRxG22R-ulP1F98Ss0R1GuFabSCr7FS0jf8Xu8g6iOIps0C91lUrBvRWyZZkhTKosLGsqItgPgbOrDtapw138dYY7MfcPCx1vF0uNH88/s400/aerostar.jpg" border="0" />This is a great shot of a PA-60 taken by the famous CitationKid.</div>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-43428986625378503512008-11-12T00:01:00.005-05:002008-11-12T01:18:33.856-05:00Yatta!I did it! i had been meaning to make a short video of my adventures in flight for a while now and today i got it done. upon review of my pictures however, i noticed i did not have enough material. this video is part one of my flight experience. Theres a few photos from a solo flight or two, a dual x-country flight with Jason and my lady corie, and a selection of photos from me messing around in "nasty mike" with my friends. i'll be sure to make another short film of my instrument, multi, commercial, and CFI training experiences. For now though... enjoy part one of me chasing the dream of flight.<br /><br /><div align="left"></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='267' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvkktO-L51vj8bqkxaC01TxbswPE5zpf02F9aIhTEGVx1ObtMxpGJl_K7FKDUGlRGZ0LMjjIg5mm5th0X2Xg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-44027233509183976052008-10-29T13:37:00.015-04:002008-10-29T14:27:33.160-04:00pics and vids<div align="left">I took a flight over to St. George Island with my skydiving buddy Cory last weekend. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">en route</span> he snapped a few photos and a video with his phone. the video he shot is of us on final for 36 at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">KTLH</span>. actually we flew directly north from the coast so it really was something like a 30 NM final. you have to watch closely to tell that we are even moving as there was a pretty stiff wind coming out of the north west that day. if i remember correctly it was about a 30 degree crosswind lining up on 36 at about 15<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">kts</span>. i landed a little left of the center line <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">unfortunately</span> but its no biggie when your flying a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cessna</span> into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">tallahassee</span>. we've got 150ft wide runways that are both over a mile long. more than enough wiggle room for x-wind landings. if you listen closely at the end of the video you can even hear the right main touch first, then the left, followed by the nose wheel. Jason would have been proud. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">oh yeah, disregard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">cory's</span> yelling in the background. its the first time he's taken off and actually landed in a plane in a while. normally he just jumps out of them. he was understandingly excited.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262635058594265202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUALh-MUP9GbsV_V721CZhxD-3S2X7SitZeejX4Amv-7QwUCIfA_j7FpWchCOcb48svowZnEEwCQOYTfNC73tQbh6xN00Eth1i6LkNv3XJhyphenhyphenksaZpZkB7Lb2c6MKjCx0zYW1oeu-W2MU/s320/10-15-08_1746.jpg" border="0" />Cory (on the left) and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">en route</span> to St. George Island (F47)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262637304304381170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTsLw3n11dTnlDE2t5xQZ6zfQXggZGojKYpTVCYqseoJP1nwiEp_ImNG8H4iefG8oBfDuW7Lyu5Ljtf67q2AQk4Zg2oY8gW-B8ozWY2zgqOH9xhtxKF6tKkoOaK2mf9upijZtt7I8yLA/s320/10-15-08_1744.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Playing with the radios.... the one that works anyway. </p><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262637954853880162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksDh7rtHfsOIFNxEd_AjeXs55O2lGoXWsbN-7mxylGOZboj1vM293kKsZoTzDCBzWIXsAkYrL5gPBNORQZdHqb2uueVU2J1OIy6RX_6S84QGWISxy2Sypqgb6tJxVcqgf5dg5P-0GmEQ/s320/10-15-08_1745.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br />the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">props</span> blades are in the way, but you can see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">tallahassee</span> slightly to the right, and the field at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">KTLH</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">straight</span> ahead. i think we're over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">crawfordville</span> here. i believe <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">that's</span> their water tower just off the right old nasty mikes nose. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">here's</span> the video</p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwxGsAtJfLVkSFwiMvp-FtQxdMq-Hjk_2t6hsY8CStkU-e2ODiNfQbieBOjaG8y5MrCh2JIDjPy2GlLxJs4UA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-89972052905741334282008-10-28T17:45:00.004-04:002008-10-29T13:35:12.661-04:00Freqency change approvedwell <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I've</span> been a pilot for more than 2 months now and i think it is finally <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">beginning</span> to sink in. It has been a long time since <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">I've</span> posted anything to my blog and i have been waiting for a free hour or so to get my thoughts in order. i really have no excuse though. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">I've</span> just been a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lazy</span> posting since this initially was a training blog, and well..... i <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">haven't</span> been doing any flight training..... since i have gotten my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ASEL</span> license <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I've</span> only been doing local flights and some short x-country's. i have been very busy with school trying to finish up my degree and have not been flying as much as i should. my training, for now, has been put on hold. come <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">December</span> 13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> (graduation) i will begin actively pursuing financing for the rest of my ratings through the initial <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">CFI</span>.<br /><br />lately it seems i have been flying about once a week or so and will keep that up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">until</span> i get some $$ for the rest of my training. on these once a week flights i have been racking up some x-country time. i usually go over to St. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">George</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Apalachicola</span> via the coast. dog island is a fun stop, but its not quite the required 50NM straight line distance to qualify as a x-country flight towards my ratings. of course i have also been doing a few local flights, taking 45 minute trips around the city at night (which the girlfriend loves). i try to take a friend up with me <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">every time</span> and so far that has not been a problem. over all though, i prefer flying up and down the coast. we are only about 15-20 minutes north of the gulf here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">KTLH</span>. so its close, and i enjoy flying at 500ft above the water skirting the coast line while rocking the wings for the kids on the beach waving at me. I can remember having the roles reversed when i was young. i would always try to wave at the planes flying over head hoping that they would see and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">acknowledge</span> me.<br /><br />well <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">that's</span> it for now i guess. i will try to stay motivated about updating the blog, but without much training going on for the next month or so it will probably just be pictures or something. i have a flight to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Apalachicola</span> planned for this weekend. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">there is</span> a seafood festival going on so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">I'll</span> be sure to take some pictures. until then.....<br /><br />~<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">yoman</span> outyomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-83730146403533014802008-08-15T16:47:00.004-04:002008-08-15T16:49:45.799-04:00done.... for nowmatt = licensed private pilot<br /><br /> i just got back from my checkride and unfortunately i have to go to work right away. more to come when i get some time to write. for now though, this private pilot is off to work.<br /><br /><br />awesomeyomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-47372226735771171692008-08-12T11:13:00.002-04:002008-08-12T11:29:37.204-04:00oral exam cram festtomorrow is the big day! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">jason</span> and i have been working together a lot. we've been meeting as much as we can. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">i've</span> found that cold beer and studying for the oral work well together and have implemented that in our studying techniques. the past 3-4 days have been spent doing nothing but studying for the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">written</span> and the oral, mixed with some flying and watching the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">olympics</span>. we've been practicing the basic maneuvers and all the different landings. on a landing note, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sunday</span> i had an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">eventful</span> landing. a little excitement never hurt anyone right.......... i think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">i'll</span> leave it at that since my mom now is reading this blog. on a side note, my landings yesterday were just fine. greasing that soft field landing really feels good.<br /><br />anyway, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">im</span> sure <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">jason</span> must be getting tired of all things flying. he has two students <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">cramming</span> for our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">checkrides</span> tomorrow and i <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">don't</span> think he has anytime for himself. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">i've</span> seen him more the past two or 3 days than anyone else and he's doing a great job getting me ready. i feel pretty good about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">checkride</span>. i just need to digest the oral exam guide and make a run over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">tallahassee</span> commercial just in case my examiner wants me to fly over there. <br /><br />well, i think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">thats</span> enough for today. time to hit the books and order a new headset. i found a great deal on a new DC headset that i have been wanting. now i have an extra for passengers. man, i cant wait <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">until</span> tomorrow is over with. i cant wait to be a pilot.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-44980591571332034352008-08-08T12:09:00.004-04:002008-08-08T12:22:43.004-04:00almost thereon wednesday i did my long solo x-country. i flew from TLH - CTY - GVN - TLH. it was long and uneventful if you count out george (auto pilot) being a little squirely due to turbulance on the first leg. i took out the nice 172 that had the auto pilot and gps making my trip that much easier and allowing me to enjoy the flight more. the only bad thing was that i had to stop in gainsville. as you know im a seminole and all that blue and orange around the airport was making me sick. i needed 3.2 hours of solo x-country time to meet mins and i ended up getting 3.4 after being vectored in to TLH and taxing to the other side of the field. all i need to do now is rack up 6.7 hours by wednesday. that way i meet the minimum time before my checkride.<br /><br />i was supposed to go up today, but its pretty cloudy and i have to leave for work in about 3 hours. i might head over for an hour or so just to get airborne. what can i say... its fun. the written exam is now scheduled for monday, my checkride is wednesday, and my instructor leaves for law school the following morning. it was really nice of him to stick around for an extra two weeks to finish me and another student up. the poor guy is couching it with a friend while he waits for his to eager students to finish. he really is a good guy. too bad he's gonna be a gator in few weeks.<br /><br />well i suppose that will be it for a while. im just gonna pound out the rest of the time this weekend and practice some maneuvers with jason. i'll post again when i'm a licensed private pilot. for now i'll leave you with a qoute from darren byrd....<br /><br />"Blue up, Brown down...that's all you need to know."yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-57342122406203342492008-08-06T19:47:00.001-04:002008-08-06T19:47:34.676-04:00hi momyomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-28514585816426770252008-08-04T14:22:00.009-04:002008-08-04T15:11:57.105-04:00pilotagelots of flying this weekend! i got 3 x-country flights in for a total of 5.9 hours. the first was a early evening flight from TLH to ABY to TLH that lasted about 2 hours and ended with a night landing. it was a smooth flight and i even brought the girlfriend along (she took all the pictures). yesterday at around 10 my instructor jason and i went over to PFN and back for the second x-country. it was a little bumpy out as the clouds were broken at around 3000 and we had to fly below them. we did a full stop and actually borrowed the courtesy car for an hour or so to get some lunch and cruise around panama city for a little bit. heading back, jason turned on his ipod and dosed off a bit while i got us back to base. he told me, "don't get lost or you'll get me in trouble". every now and then he would have me point to where we are on the map to make sure i actually knew what i was doing. i suppose it was a little test as i made the trip back to PFN a few hours later that day for my first solo x-country! you really feel more like a pilot when your "going somewhere" instead of practicing maneuvers or hanging around the pattern. all in all it was a good weekend for me racking up almost 6 hours of flight time. all that's left for the license is the night x-country, which im doing tonight, and a long solo x-country which i am scheduled to do on tuesday. i have a lot on my plate right now as i need to take the written and prepare for my checkride which will be next week sometime. on top of that, i have a paper due for class tomorrow. i really should be doing that right now but instead i'm procrastinating by adding to my blog. oh yeah, i also need to study for a final that will be on friday. wish me luck.<br /><br />heres a few pics from the flight to ABY and back.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhLV89mGObMMr1SkStyhpHnx8rmDVyQgWcIpMzdL_HB_eqwfRwjW-VF4ZsDkqIsmKxZwit6xZAXqI1eJ3DFyfqgfQKEo0Z2lUMOo8vKBPnshnkvSAFGDsI_QFsZ1OSgDFKqF4PPBGMRg/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhLV89mGObMMr1SkStyhpHnx8rmDVyQgWcIpMzdL_HB_eqwfRwjW-VF4ZsDkqIsmKxZwit6xZAXqI1eJ3DFyfqgfQKEo0Z2lUMOo8vKBPnshnkvSAFGDsI_QFsZ1OSgDFKqF4PPBGMRg/s320/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230736726334969938" border="0" /></a>here she is 4NM<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB_BVg2vNSetGPA6QsNKqa5l0sWn52I1DN760pOSZ0ECjZ689zFOGOCOW0F4Iww_aMP2i1Jt8VN1AtX93vWK6UgYctzrg3VrKM-d-gWef2nKBqgIkSlHnkfmRjRG-v3MpJzDF4lBX110/s1600-h/058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB_BVg2vNSetGPA6QsNKqa5l0sWn52I1DN760pOSZ0ECjZ689zFOGOCOW0F4Iww_aMP2i1Jt8VN1AtX93vWK6UgYctzrg3VrKM-d-gWef2nKBqgIkSlHnkfmRjRG-v3MpJzDF4lBX110/s320/058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230738870871786498" border="0" /></a>nice shot of downtown. look its doak campell stadium. go noles!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjz8TtwElSxdMQ_pA4gl4iZh3gPqR8H8dIwvhurdiKfW-e9AKPNX2z6uS9gEyi5O30hmXeI1oj_RxU3DbdBF7lkUJlV9nHCeJhyphenhyphen95FBo2PpU-eCy-82qPYgQ0NfVypCrn_OLnebf-KQs/s1600-h/059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjz8TtwElSxdMQ_pA4gl4iZh3gPqR8H8dIwvhurdiKfW-e9AKPNX2z6uS9gEyi5O30hmXeI1oj_RxU3DbdBF7lkUJlV9nHCeJhyphenhyphen95FBo2PpU-eCy-82qPYgQ0NfVypCrn_OLnebf-KQs/s320/059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739269264138450" border="0" /></a>on our way north leaving TLH behind<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpNwQJrE8fFjbK8zlGxrIiewszo9ZNaTfijHVGGU4pkMVUjBpCK3i3oerSI-MhcPZoZyJNmmkMQc3DzTg-ajmn0bJkz7wLGUcXzUNNjhf3OFPygLHlPieoQm9tRZxWhhW-zb0l21CBzQ/s1600-h/062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 408px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpNwQJrE8fFjbK8zlGxrIiewszo9ZNaTfijHVGGU4pkMVUjBpCK3i3oerSI-MhcPZoZyJNmmkMQc3DzTg-ajmn0bJkz7wLGUcXzUNNjhf3OFPygLHlPieoQm9tRZxWhhW-zb0l21CBzQ/s320/062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230737369269547442" border="0" /></a>jason and i looking for a check point<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlRV0Ln93PMefS6rQaPIhJNWqbH0oMPmxihkvwgSUw1aAhyphenhyphenc5-NhfsYZX2uv_fWq_WCmjjBiO3u5dQ4Lm67FEvDpJW6an-wF96bY8UI59BtoxWksgk0GD6FnUy-VJ5WkrEcmcxCGY4GM/s1600-h/121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlRV0Ln93PMefS6rQaPIhJNWqbH0oMPmxihkvwgSUw1aAhyphenhyphenc5-NhfsYZX2uv_fWq_WCmjjBiO3u5dQ4Lm67FEvDpJW6an-wF96bY8UI59BtoxWksgk0GD6FnUy-VJ5WkrEcmcxCGY4GM/s320/121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230738112009497986" border="0" /></a>fueling up<br /></div>yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-39494188027131334972008-07-31T15:30:00.004-04:002008-07-31T16:19:15.126-04:00x-country timeok, so i have been slacking lately. i feel pretty bad. my instructor was out of town for almost two weeks, and i only flew twice. i solo'd once and did my 8 night landings with another instructor while he was gone. i have till the 10th to finish up which is when my instructor is off to law school. i feel pretty confident that i can get it done. after all, my goal was to solo in 10 hours (did that) and finish in 2 months on budget. the 10th will be just under 3 months and as far as budget goes... HA! flying is expensive. at least i'll be right at the 40 hour mark and not the average 60. thats a savings of over 2K! i planned my first x-country yesterday and went over a few things for the written which i will take on monday. i've been studying alot, but im still pretty nervous about getting it done. i havent even really thought about the oral exam. (yikes!) so right now its crunch time for me. im doing my first x-country on saturday and then another on sunday. i also have a paper due for school on monday and a final on the 8th. lots of work for me to do. so on that note.... exams4pilots.org here i come.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-23193300269806181322008-07-16T13:44:00.003-04:002008-07-16T14:12:06.963-04:00fun in the cloudsdidn't end up flying last night. got to the flight school and read <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TSRA</span> on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">metar</span> report. i backed up this information with a nice moving picture of a thunderstorm moving westbound over the field. god bless <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">aviationweather</span>.gov. anyway, we did the lesson on aviation physiology and went over night flight only to revisit it when my instructor gets back into town. the poor guy had a death in the family and will be out of town for a week or two. this leaves me with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">written</span> test to complete while he is out of town. i will be memorizing the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">jeppesen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">faa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">written</span> knowledge exam guide and doing a few solo flights to stay proficient in the airplane.<br /><br />i went up solo this morning in cloudy weather. the good thing was that is wasn't too bumpy and the temperature was agreeable at around 80 degrees. i took off on 36 and headed west to the practice area. i practiced a few steep turns and some ground <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">reference</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">maneuvers</span>, but mainly i was just enjoying myself flying around over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">quincy</span>. i headed back to the airport early to get some touch and go's in. however, on the way in approach vectored me southbound way west of the field. 27/9 was shut down to landing traffic leaving 36 busy, and i guess a student in a 172 doing touch and go's was far down the controllers list of things deemed important. i tried to pick my way through the clouds and got to 1000ft with my head just under the ceiling. i mean... i'm sure i was at least 500 ft under the cloud ceiling. so here i am flying south in the haze under the clouds with about 5-6 miles of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">vis</span> at best and i still cant see the field <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">because</span> they told me to turn south when i was still 10 miles west of the airport. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">finally</span> the controller calls my base and after a minute or two i see a faint clearing that turns out to be the field. i make my approach, do a touch and go and start my left traffic pattern. as soon as i get on the downwind the controller comes back on and tells me to extend my downwind for a landing king air, then for a b1900. i end up being asked to do a 360 before having my base leg called and once again i am about 7-8 miles out from the field. at this point i can make out the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">airport</span> amidst the haze, but only barely. as i get close i called it quits asking for a full stop. i was up an hour at this point and was tired of being run around by the controllers trying to deal with a shut down runway.<br /><br />no more flying for a few days. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">i've</span> got school and work the next two nights. on top of that, i gotta get the written done before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">jason</span> comes back. maybe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">i'll</span> go up on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">sunday</span>.... but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">definitely</span> by next week. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">until</span> then, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">i'm</span> out.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817579812783655520.post-62969144919725657412008-07-13T16:16:00.002-04:002008-07-13T16:23:04.649-04:00long timehavent updated in quite a while. i've been grounded for almost 2 weeks now. i had quite a bit of ground school to take care of and the typical florida weather as been... well... typical. i am now done with the ground work and just need to study up to take the written. i recently did the flight on radio navigation, and after a quick flight under the hood to meet mins, i will be doing a night flight and on to the x-country's. things are going by quite fast, but i cant wait to be done. im due to go up today at around 6:30 but there is a nasty weather system about 2 hours out right now so it doesnt look so good. thats all for now, more to come next week.yomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396445633691700213noreply@blogger.com2