First Multi-Engine Instrument Cross Country

Awesome first instrument instruction day! Today was long but a lot of fun and educational. The morning started with some review of VFR rules, airspace and chart identification.   After a brief break we meet up again and started going over IFR flight planning.  Matt and I planned a trip to San Luis Obispo. The plan was to fly up during the day and then return in the evening.    Our flight would take us over Carlsbad, Burbank, and then on to San Louis Obispo.

The flight was uneventful, my landing sucked but it was effective. We headed into town for a bite to eat. The San Luis Jet Center   kindly loaned us Toyota Prius to drive into town.  

Picture of the Ramp in front of the Jet Center

 Thankfully Matt went to college in San Louis Obispo so he knew where to go.  The chosen eatery was Firestone Grill, and we weren’t disappointed.   I had the Tri-Tip sandwich and Matt had the Steak Cobb salad.  The dinner and conversation was good.  After returning to the jet center and checking the weather.  Matt and I had an hour and half wait before we could take off to log night hours, so we reviewed the IFR charts, some much of it is new to me so it looks greek. Some of the features are common to the VFR charts but most are not.  It was a good use of our time.   

 As the evening United Airline flights landed, Matt and I headed airborne.  Once we leveled off at 9000’ the lights of LA were off in the distance.   Matt and I chatted about IFR rules and flight as we made our way south.   As we flew over LA we watched the fireworks over Disneyland.  

Unfortunately about the time we were getting comfortable with our flight I noticed the attitude indicator starting to go bad,  then it started to tumble.   Matt just smiled and said now you have a partial panel.   After a little awhile I got the hang of it.   Soon we were given decent directions for Montgomery.  Matt reminded me to watch out for the night illusions on landing.  

Thankfully, my landing was acceptable .. not bad for my first multi-engine landing.    Well it’s a late night…  tomorrow that simulator is waiting for me.  Darn it!