Success! - A Newly Certificated Pilot!

After 20 years of dreaming the dream has been fulfilled! Today I sat for my Private Pilot checkride; and I passed! It was a challenging experience, and I learned a lot. My DPE was tough but fair. She did a good job of revealing my knowledge deficiencies. I had a big brain freeze on Airmets and Sigmets (weather warnings to pilots). I was expecting the question, "what are the three types of Airmets," and she asked somthing like "tell me some examples of Sigmets and Airmets." For some reason I named a couple of sigment weather phenomenon under airmet. I'll give it up to nervousness.
Otherwise, I did very well with the oral portion of the test.
The practical portion was what you would expect after having read the Practical Test Standards (PTS). We did: Dead Reckoning / Pilotage; diversion to alternate airport, slow flight, approach and departure stalls, steep turns, turns around a point, unsual attitudes, simulated IFR descending turns, emergency procedures, soft field take off and landings, short field take off and landings.
We were flying along, and she pulled the power and said our engine died. I quickly trimmed to best glide speed and began looking for an open field. I looked to my right and my left, and picked a slightly rough clear field. I worked my check list, and descended until she told me to go around. Then she pointed out that the airport had been right in front of me! Sometimes things ARE right under your nose!
The last manuever was a short-field landing. When my wheels touched down and she told me to taxi to parking, I knew that I had passed! It was an incredible relief to have the practical test over and to hear her say congratulations! All my hard work over the last 8 months and studying over the last two years had paid off.
During the debrief, she gave me some excellent feedback on areas I need to be attentive to. Attending to her comments will make me a safer pilot; I am thankful for that.
I have a number of people I need to express my gratitude. First is my wife Brooke. When she told me at Christmas that it was time to pursue my dream, she gave me an incredible gift. This has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done. My three children have also been very supportive and have loved seeing their dad fulfill a dream. My CFI Jerry is an incredible teacher with an encouraging approach to instructing. He believed I could do it; and because he believed in me, I could believe in myself. I know that he would not have released me for the test if he didn't think I could do it. This gave me the confidence I needed. I look forward to doing my instrument rating with him! I also want to thank my friend Robin who helped rekindle the dream that had long lain dorment. He has been a great cheerleader as I pursued the goal.

Well, I guess I am going to  have to change my "willfly1day" to willfly2day"

ATC Communications

On August 23, 2012, I headed from Davidson County (KEXX) to Smith Reynolds (KINT) to follow my flight instructor who was ferrying a Baron. Then Jerry and I went and did soft and short field landings at N97. On the way there and back, I did some more simulated instrument training.
Up at the top left of the page there is an embedded link with my communications with Smith Reynolds tower as recorded from LiveATC. You will notice that sometimes my side was not very readable. But this will give you a flavor of my day.

Winston Salem Airshow - 2012

Well this year's W-S Airshow was a mixed bag. The weather for watching was spectacular. It was in the low 80's with a cool breeze. It made it one of the most pleasant afternoons ever for an air show. However, the wind was blowing 13 knots gusting to 20 knots about 70 degrees off the show line. As a result, most of the acrobatic parts of the performers routines were cut. So the afternoon was full of primarily flybys.
This year seemed to be notable by who wasn't here. The Aeroshell  Team, Team RV, and Honda Jet were absent.

The military did bring an EA6B Prowler, a C-130, and a P3C Orion as static displays, but there were no flying B-1's B-2's, F15's as in past years. It also seemed that the fly-in population was pretty light. Perhaps 20 planes at the outside.

The best part of going to the show was spending time with my daughter Madison, who loves encouraging my airplane geekness. She also loves the frozen lemonade!

One cool thing was that I had flown into Smith-Reynolds (KINT) on Thursday. I was able to see the grounds from the air. It gave me a better appreciation for the layout of the show.

I guess I was a little disappointed with the show overall this year. But it was still an airshow, and airshows are always worth seeing!

Winston Salem Air Show 2012

Tomorrow is the Winston Salem Air Show at Smith Reynolds airport (KINT). I flew into KINT yesterday to pick up my flight instructor for a lesson. (I will say more about the lesson in another post.) The grounds were well on their way to being prepared for this great event. I will be posting a bunch of photos and comments as the day progresses. You may want to follow along at my twitter: @willfly1day !

Slow Flight Practice - 8/17/12

Thanks Katherine and Robin!

Freedom Flies - Long Cross Country

    On the Fourth of July, I got up early in anticipation of my long cross country trip. I had met with Jerry, my CFI, two days prior to go over my plan, and I was confident of all my numbers and estimates of time. I downloaded the most recent weather briefing and was convinced that it would be a good day for the trip.
    My first leg was going to be from Davidson County, NC (KEXX) to Person County, NC (KTDF) via Causey Airport (2A5). Planned distance was 72 nm. I filed the plan and headed to the airport. I discovered  nothing untoward during the pre-flight inspection and climbed inside. I cranked up the engine and began to set all my radios, VOR's, GPS, and listen to the field weather (AWOS). The time was about 9 a.m. and the temperature was already in the mid 80's. I taxied to Runway 24 and took off. The initial heading was 084, and I began climbing toward my cruising altitude of 5500. I called Raleigh radio and activated my VFR flightplan. Then I switched to Raleigh approach and requested VFR flight following from ATC. I was right on with my check points cross referenced with the Greensboro VOR. I also had my iPad Garmin App and was checking my progress and position on the electronic chart.

Person County (KTDF)

    It was a little hazy but visibility was over 7 nm. Whenever I found myself enjoying the ride, I started asking myself, "What's next?" I wanted to stay ahead of the airplane, so I asked myself this question after everything I did. Before I knew it, Person County Airport came into view. I entered a left downwind for Runway 24. My landing was passable, and I taxied to the Fixed Base Operator (FBO). The Hobbs meter registered one hour. A very nice man met me and asked if I needed anything. I replied, "Just a signature, a photo, and a pepsi!" I texted Jerry and let him know I was safely on the ground. I also called to close my VFR flight plan.
    While I was on the ground, I filed for my second leg. Person County (KTDF) to Moore County (KSOP). I had already flown to KSOP during my night cross country instruction, so I was looking forward to seeing it during the day. Charted distance was 66 nm. I took off from Runway 24 and headed about 206 toward KSOP. As with my first leg, I called Raleigh radio to activate my flight plan and called Raleigh Approach for VFR flight following. On my way I passed Horace Williams (KIGX) off to my left as well as Sandford (KTTA). I continually cross checked my waypoints with  VOR's and my iPad Garmin App. When I arrived at KSOP, I entered a mid field crosswind for runway 23. My landing was good, and I taxied to the FBO. Total miles for this second leg was 66 nm. When I cut the engine, I was met by two nice linemen. I asked them to top off both tanks and went in to the air conditioned lounge. The temperature outside had risen to about 89 degrees. I filed my VFR flight plan for my last leg (KSOP - KEXX). I went out to the plane and checked the oil. It was a down a little so I added a half a quart. (Always important to check!).

    I took off on runway 23 and climbed straight ahead until I reached 1500 agl as per the noise abatement procedure. I turned to 314 degrees, activated my flight plan and called for flight following. The beautiful country side slid by quietly underneath. As I neared the completion of this long cross country, I found myself really enjoying the ride and gaining confidence in my flying.
    Before long, I saw KEXX in site. I entered a left downwind for runway 24 and landed. I taxied to parking, shut everything down, and smiled broadly. My long cross country was completed!
This flight was a real confidence booster. I was able to put into practice all my flight planning; I became more comfortable using flight service and flight following; and completed a total of 2.9 hours of flying. What a great Fourth of July!