First real IMC today in training

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Blueangel

Line Up and Wait
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Scott
Had great time today flying the VOR-A approach into KOKB and then RNAV GPS approach into KSEE. First time flying with my instructor in clouds and was very cool! Then we did holds over OCN with parallel entry and then after the VOR approach at KOKB went missed to hold over Vista.
 
Actual is much more fun than foggles. Different, too, when you realize you can't get overloaded and just take them off and have immediate VFR conditions.
 
There are many different types of IMC. The kind with moderate turbulence, wind shear and cumulus clouds is very different from marine layer. Both are useful to experience. Which did you have?
 
True IMC can be fun. Does increase your confidence level.
 
MAKG1 said:
There are many different types of IMC. The kind with moderate turbulence, wind shear and cumulus clouds is very different from marine layer. Both are useful to experience. Which did you have?
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And then there's the IMC where you're in a level 3 thunderstorm, extreme turbulence and being pelted with hail. Maybe he should have that too?
 
bikert said:
And then there's the IMC where you're in a level 3 thunderstorm, extreme turbulence and being pelted with hail. Maybe he should have that too?
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Don't go off the rails.

Safe IMC can be wildly different from marine layer. Perhaps you would prefer the OP to discover that solo later?
 
Actually had over half hour in clouds yesterday and not too bumpy. Very bright inside cloud so need to wear my sunglasses next time. Good to experience with my instructor during training.
 
I remember the first time I flew into a cloud. As I approached it I said to myself "Oh no, I'm going to hit something hard and crash". Of course I knew I wouldn't. Then whoosh, inside. Got cool. Was cool. So cool. Love them cool clouds.
 
Blueangel said:
Actually had over half hour in clouds yesterday and not too bumpy. Very bright inside cloud so need to wear my sunglasses next time. Good to experience with my instructor during training.
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Looks like you'll have some more opportunity over the next few days. Wx's doing the opposite to me. I'm working a glider add on at Warner Springs. Have fun
 
Blueangel said:
Actually had over half hour in clouds yesterday and not too bumpy. Very bright inside cloud so need to wear my sunglasses next time. Good to experience with my instructor during training.
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Yes, near the tops it can be quite bright.

They can also be dark if thousands of feet thick and far from the tops.

It can be lit nonuniformly if the clouds are unstable.

Don't forget to turn your strobes off and your pitot heat on.
 
MAKG1 said:
Yes, near the tops it can be quite bright.

They can also be dark if thousands of feet thick and far from the tops.

It can be lit nonuniformly if the clouds are unstable.

Don't forget to turn your strobes off and your pitot heat on.
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I rarely do either (except the latter in icing conditions, which usually means a *very* short time in my non-FIKI), and have yet to experience any adverse effects (after hundreds of hours IMC).
 
I always turn on pitot heat before entering clouds. Never found any ice.

It's nice to depart under dreary clouds and climb into sunshine. I'll have to find a marine layer sometime to see what it's like. Sometimes I'll be cruising in clear conditions and the deck will rise up and engulf me. Flying out the top is more common, though.
 
I wish I had more actual. I think I have < 3 hrs actual.
 
Yeah its fun without the hood. Have almost 3 hours actual IMC experience so far in training. Good catch on turn on pitot heat before enter clouds. Need to add that to my checklist as a precaution. Also to turn off the strobes when entering a cloud. I hope to get at least 10 hours actual IMC as part of my training before the IR check ride. From what I've heard and read, many IFR students never get any real IMC experience during training which is a darn shame.
 
Blueangel said:
Yeah its fun without the hood. Have almost 3 hours actual IMC experience so far in training. Good catch on turn on pitot heat before enter clouds. Need to add that to my checklist as a precaution. Also to turn off the strobes when entering a cloud. I hope to get at least 10 hours actual IMC as part of my training before the IR check ride. From what I've heard and read, many IFR students never get any real IMC experience during training which is a darn shame.
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I'm about ready for my checkride but haven't got nearly as much actual as I would have liked. When I was working on my private I felt like I had to cancel every other lesson due to weather. While working on the Instrument rating every day is CAVU. I can't win!
 
Also had my first actual IMC after about 10 hrs under the hood. Got 1.4 hrs and was able to fly ILS at KRMN, then 2 PAR approaches from our friendly USMC trainees at KNYG, then a RNAV/GPS back at KHWY. I was surprised how light and different it felt in actual IMC, although admittedly it was fairly smooth and calm air. The two precision radar approaches at Quantico were a ton of fun. All in all a really great first experience! Hopefully more to come soon.
 
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