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- May 18, 2007
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jsstevens
I thought about putting this in the Student Pilots thread because it is another step in my learning, but well, whatever.
I flew a multi-engined airplane solo for the first time today. I got my ME rating in April, and got checked out in the flying club's Seminole in early June. (Two flights worth.)
Today I planned a short round robin flight from Sanford (KSFB) to Deland (KDED) to New Smyrna (KEVB) and back. It's a short flight but I'm limited to 50nm due to the ELT being INOP. Weather at New Smyrna was reporting marginal VFR, but heck, so was Sanford and it was one of those where-are-the-sensor things. I took off and while climbing out apparently bumped my headset plug one notch so I had no comms for a bit. Once I figured that out both tower and departure were trying to call me. (Oops!) I sorted that out and headed off toward DeLand. At this point I'm at 1500' and realize I can't hear departure. I can hear folks talking to departure, but not departure. Finally gave up and switched to squawking VFR and Deland CTAF. I was 9 miles north at that point. I purposefully stayed ~10 miles away passing to the west because I was not talking or listening to CTAF and Deland is a very popular training field.) I overflew Deland at 1500, and teardropped back into a left downwind for 23. There were at least 4 other planes all trainers in the pattern. I made one attemp at getting set up to land, but got bolloxed up choosing the runway. (It was hazy and I was busy.) So I departed to the north to avoid all the other planes. (Announcing all the way.)
I decided to head back to Sanford. Called approach, put in the squawk code, showed up where I said I was and he asked for a left 360 for sequencing to the Monroe Arrival (VFR corridor into Sanford form the north). Cleared me in and transferred me to tower. I headed in, asked for closed traffic and was cleared #3 on 27R. I did 2 T&G landings then did a full stop. In each case I followed the GUMPS check, checked the gear (3 green, one in the mirror) on downwind, base and final. Made three decent landings and quit for the day.
It wasn't all I wanted to do (I wanted to practice transitioning to cruise, then approach and landing at each airport) but I did fine with all I did other than getting mixed up at Deland.
And I did it without the constant input from a CFI.
The one downside? That 1.4 hours cost $306 for the plane and $139 in fuel.
John
I flew a multi-engined airplane solo for the first time today. I got my ME rating in April, and got checked out in the flying club's Seminole in early June. (Two flights worth.)
Today I planned a short round robin flight from Sanford (KSFB) to Deland (KDED) to New Smyrna (KEVB) and back. It's a short flight but I'm limited to 50nm due to the ELT being INOP. Weather at New Smyrna was reporting marginal VFR, but heck, so was Sanford and it was one of those where-are-the-sensor things. I took off and while climbing out apparently bumped my headset plug one notch so I had no comms for a bit. Once I figured that out both tower and departure were trying to call me. (Oops!) I sorted that out and headed off toward DeLand. At this point I'm at 1500' and realize I can't hear departure. I can hear folks talking to departure, but not departure. Finally gave up and switched to squawking VFR and Deland CTAF. I was 9 miles north at that point. I purposefully stayed ~10 miles away passing to the west because I was not talking or listening to CTAF and Deland is a very popular training field.) I overflew Deland at 1500, and teardropped back into a left downwind for 23. There were at least 4 other planes all trainers in the pattern. I made one attemp at getting set up to land, but got bolloxed up choosing the runway. (It was hazy and I was busy.) So I departed to the north to avoid all the other planes. (Announcing all the way.)
I decided to head back to Sanford. Called approach, put in the squawk code, showed up where I said I was and he asked for a left 360 for sequencing to the Monroe Arrival (VFR corridor into Sanford form the north). Cleared me in and transferred me to tower. I headed in, asked for closed traffic and was cleared #3 on 27R. I did 2 T&G landings then did a full stop. In each case I followed the GUMPS check, checked the gear (3 green, one in the mirror) on downwind, base and final. Made three decent landings and quit for the day.
It wasn't all I wanted to do (I wanted to practice transitioning to cruise, then approach and landing at each airport) but I did fine with all I did other than getting mixed up at Deland.
And I did it without the constant input from a CFI.
The one downside? That 1.4 hours cost $306 for the plane and $139 in fuel.
John
