Solo not to be

Well .. I was working hard on my cross country planning, and the goal was to complete my first dual this coming tues (jury duty on Mon :( )   So the goal was to have me complete my solo flight today, so I could fly this weekend and we'd complete two cross countries, and then I'd be on my own for awhile.  Well I wasn't able to get my solo in due to a confusion about my student pilot license.  So being a great instructor, he looked at me and said, guess we are starting  the cross country phase, so off we headed.  My mind is spinning because I wasn't even thinking about cross country work, but was in the middle of it.  He was nice, and helped me through actual use of a VOR, we did a fly by of Oceanside airport and then headed back to Montgomery..  So I'll spend this weekend working on the next cross country planning to Hemet and Boreggo Springs ..

Greasing them ....

Well today was touch and go day... we spent the greater portion of an hour, in the traffic pattern doing touch and go's, executing short field take offs, forward slips, and engine out procedures.  Thankful, I did't have my head up my a%^  today and flew well.  From start to finish, my instructor didn't touch the controls at all.. Sweet!    I completed eight landings, that were smooth and controled, even pulled off a couple greasers. 

We did find a few areas that need to be tuned up, but I'm happy it was a successful day.  After the flight, I was told I needed to complete a pre-solo test, and another navigation log. Our next step was to get me soloed, and start cross country flying. Awesome, something more then the pattern!

Today's afternoon was spent doing my "homework" and reading the FAR/AIM.

 Ah studying pool side not too bad!


Off to complete an hour on the simulator, then call it good for the evening!

Grounded...

Well today was a ground school day, unfortunately there was a snafu with the scheduling of the aircraft, so my instructor went over some basics, as he helps me prep for my practical and oral test.  It was a ok day, I study alot, and my instructor has an innate ability for finding the knowledge I've forgotten or don't know. Damn!   But its good, he's doing  a great job prepping me for more a life of flying then a private pilots certificae, while making me the best pilot I can be, and I'm learning alot.

He looked over my navigation logs, that I'd completed the day before, and suggested that I switch to a Jeppenson format log. Thankfully he's a airline pilot so he knows what I'll need in the future so he's incorporating little tidbits that will help in the future, jeppenson being a good portion of my future life. So I spent some time entering my data into a navigation log that is easier to read.   After the navigation work, I spent the remainder of the evening reading the VERY boring FAR/AIM 2011: Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM series) all the info is suppose to be in the  Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot  but my instructor is having me read each section related to the private pilot. It must be a right of passage thing, why else would he torture me so.

Still Rusty but doing ok.

Headed out the door this morning, and noticed the gloomy clouds and wet pavement. I pray the clouds move on. Once getting to the airport, I set out accumulating and becoming familiar with all the information available! per the FARs .   Next preflight the plane, got the tanks topped off, set to setting up the instruments, then was rudely told the plane had been double booked, and I lost.SH*& now I need to go find a plane and get it preflighted  in the next 2mins before my instructor shows up.

Soon an alternate plane was found, and we were headed to 28R.  Thankful, I hadn't forgot everything from yesterday and we were headed out to the SE training area.  Once out there I was tortured with my lack of knowledge on power on stalls, etc. I did manage to pull off a couple steep turns within parameters as well as a couple power off stalls.  Soon we headed back to Montgomery.  I was happy; I found my check points and soon checked in with tower for landing approval.  I focusing on the approach, on airspeed, on altitude.. sweet this is looking good.  With approval to land on 28R, I'm not super happy but I glide the girl down to asphalt. Not too bad for my second landing in a year.  As I taxi onto taxiway D, my instructor looks at me and asks how my landing checklist looks..   Opps, oh well who needs checklists.

The debrief went well, he remind me I've been flying the plane without his help, after a year break so I take his koodoos and  note my weaker areas. 
 This evening was spend memorizing various Vspeeds, and  an hour and half on Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition, flying the traffic pattern for Montgomery (KMYF) brushing up for tomorrows flight. 
Enough for now.. time for some rest!

Back in the Air

Today I started back flying working towards the solo flight and private pilot practical test. I meet with my instructor, and went over the homework he gave me, and talked about the flight for the day. As we headed out to the plane, the questions started, and continued as I worked my way around the pre-flight. (I keep thinking, shit this guys is all over me like white on rice, but I'm getting my moneys worth). 

We take so long going through a strict pre-flight I'm wondering if we're going to go flying before his next client. Luckily I get through the pre-flight and get the beast started.  We head out to 28L,  the whole time I'm thinking, he's giving me a lot of control for someone he's never flown with.  

After engine checks we lined up and roared down 28L, after a left turn @ 1800 AGL we are headed to the southeast practice area.  On the way I get reacquainted with the southern California airspace. Its a beautiful day so its easy to see all the landmarks.  Once in the practice area, we find out how rusty my skills were.  I couldn't hold a 45 degree bank to save my life, but I was close on the airspeed (due to the shall bank :) , but held the altitude close.   Now he tells me my engine is dead, I know the procedures  but I looked at him as if he asked me to shoot an ILS approach to London Gatwick from memory!   I think the only thing I did correctly was to keep the plane airborne. 

He gently reminded me of the correct procedures,  we made a turn towards a open field for a "practice emergency landing". We were getting so low I was thinking, I'm landing this thing!  Don't hit the fence!!  then I heard, lets go.    We climb out and head back to Montgomery Field.  I have the picture in my mind, where to fly the line, and what the site picture needs to be but I totally forgot about setting up for landing, damn I'm rusty.  How about some flaps, GUMP procedures?  I get the plane lined up for 28L but we are high, with a little help the altitude comes in. I don't like this runway, never have. But soon we cruise and I mean cruise over the threshold.  I look down, damn I need to bled off 10 kts.    After floating what seems over half the runway, I get her down and take the left off onto taxiway D.   

He takes the controls and taxis back so I can take notes,  after a debrief, I didn't do soo bad, but have a huge list of homework.   He heads out as I tied down the bird.  All told it was .8hrs of flight time!!  only 30ish more to go.    On the bright side, as I headed out the door I noticed a owner was offering the club the fifth hour free! Sweet!  that ends up being $76.00 a hour.   I wander over to the pilot supplies shop to pick up the items that got canned for being too old.   Can't wait for the flight tomorrow, but I better start studying.