Solo Flight and New Instructor
I have been trying for the past few weeks to fly a local solo flight. But North Texas has been plagued by gusty winds almost every day. Or, at least, every day on which I had time to go flying.
Today I finally made it. The plan was to go to Denton or McKinney airport and practice short field and soft field takeoffs and landings as well as regular takeoffs and landings and go-arounds.
I opted to go to Denton and I think it was the right choice. Other than a helicopter and a couple of airplanes practicing IFR approaches I had the pattern to myself. A couple of other aircraft came and went ... including a pretty Luscombe and a Navion ... but I never felt pressured that someone else was waiting on me to get out of the way.
In 1.8 hours of flying I managed to get in two regular touch-and-goes, two short field landings, two short field takeoffs, two soft field landings, two soft field takeoffs and one go-around.
All of the landings and takeoffs went pretty well. I'm pretty sure that I stayed within the parameters that the FAA Examiner will expect me to meet (when it comes time for my checkride). The only bad landing I made was the one back at Addison. Because of the wind the active was runway 33 which means a right-pattern approach over some tall buildings. All those buildings make the wind do goofy things and I was all over the place on my final approach. I'm pretty sure the tower controller got a good laugh over my landing too!
Other than that I felt comfortable with the aircraft and myself. Next up is a ground session with my new instructor, Y. That's right ... new instructor.
C got hired by a regional airlines and is now in training to fly an Embreaer RJ145 ... lucky dog! He was a great instructor and I know he'll make a great airline pilot.
Y is actually a friend of his and so I feel like he has left me in extremely capable hands. Y was behind the desk when I returned so we chatted for a few minutes and he said we should get together so he can quiz me and see exactly where I'm at. Then we'll do a dual flight where I get to demonstrate my skills.
This flight: 1.8 hours
7 landings
Total: 51.8
Today I finally made it. The plan was to go to Denton or McKinney airport and practice short field and soft field takeoffs and landings as well as regular takeoffs and landings and go-arounds.
I opted to go to Denton and I think it was the right choice. Other than a helicopter and a couple of airplanes practicing IFR approaches I had the pattern to myself. A couple of other aircraft came and went ... including a pretty Luscombe and a Navion ... but I never felt pressured that someone else was waiting on me to get out of the way.
In 1.8 hours of flying I managed to get in two regular touch-and-goes, two short field landings, two short field takeoffs, two soft field landings, two soft field takeoffs and one go-around.
All of the landings and takeoffs went pretty well. I'm pretty sure that I stayed within the parameters that the FAA Examiner will expect me to meet (when it comes time for my checkride). The only bad landing I made was the one back at Addison. Because of the wind the active was runway 33 which means a right-pattern approach over some tall buildings. All those buildings make the wind do goofy things and I was all over the place on my final approach. I'm pretty sure the tower controller got a good laugh over my landing too!
Other than that I felt comfortable with the aircraft and myself. Next up is a ground session with my new instructor, Y. That's right ... new instructor.
C got hired by a regional airlines and is now in training to fly an Embreaer RJ145 ... lucky dog! He was a great instructor and I know he'll make a great airline pilot.
Y is actually a friend of his and so I feel like he has left me in extremely capable hands. Y was behind the desk when I returned so we chatted for a few minutes and he said we should get together so he can quiz me and see exactly where I'm at. Then we'll do a dual flight where I get to demonstrate my skills.
This flight: 1.8 hours
7 landings
Total: 51.8
posted by AirmanChet at
19:52
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