flightmedic
Pre-takeoff checklist
Just a little background. I am a flightmedic on a fire department based helicopter. I have always had a desire to get my PPL. I thought this was going to start much later but the oppertunity came and I jumped all over it. I have a friend who is a helicopter pilot for Uncle Sam and recently came home from his deployment. Well, surprise, surprise, he is a CFI and we talked about it and he offered to train me for the cost of a plane rental. I bought Sportys Complete Private Pilot Course several months ago as a head start.
Finally after a long time waiting I received my first flight lesson. After 3 hours of ground lessons, we climbed into a Cessna 172R and the world as I knew changed for ever. After a through pre-flight, we started with what can only be described as a feeble attempt to taxi down to runway 6. My CFI then did the run up while describing what he was doing. I had very little do here but he described everything and showed me exactly what he was doing. then he took off, again with a detailed description of what was done.
Once in the air he gave me control and had me level off at 1000 feet. From this point we did some turns and some level flight which I realized is far harder than it looks. When I began to descend when I was supposed to stay level, I figured it was easy enough as saying "we're descending!!!" What a surprise when he said "so fix it." That's when it hit me, I was really flying and needed to learn this stuff. Holy crap!
So after a westerly flight consisting of following a heading, climbing to 2000 feet then 3000 feet with the obligatory turns and level flight training we descended into the pattern of 28J and he did the landing where we came to a full stop long enough for me to take the controls for some taxiing and then he said "OK, take off." luckily for the both of us, we talked about it and he helped me as we took off and climbed to 200 feet.
As we skirted two thunderstorms, we headed back to the beach where I made my biggest mistake. As we approached the beach from due west I made a coordinated turn but suddenly we began to loose altitude. It all happened so fast it is hard to describe it. I guess I was supposed pull back on the yoke but didn't. I thought we were dead. But obviously my CFI talked me through it and in the end it worked out, albeit, 500 feet lower but we lived for another day.
We then flew back to XFL with my usual unsteady flight and he again took the controls to make an uneventful landing. I brought the plane home with a decent taxiing back to it's hanger where I was allowed to take a full breath and call it a day.
It was a "Holy Crap" day that I will never forget. I realized how many things you need to coordinate just to make a simple turn or to climb. I have to say it was crazy as it could be but I can't wait for second lesson. Sorry for such a long read, but I'm a bit high on life right now and drunk on Absolute so I tend to ramble. Thanks for listening.
Finally after a long time waiting I received my first flight lesson. After 3 hours of ground lessons, we climbed into a Cessna 172R and the world as I knew changed for ever. After a through pre-flight, we started with what can only be described as a feeble attempt to taxi down to runway 6. My CFI then did the run up while describing what he was doing. I had very little do here but he described everything and showed me exactly what he was doing. then he took off, again with a detailed description of what was done.
Once in the air he gave me control and had me level off at 1000 feet. From this point we did some turns and some level flight which I realized is far harder than it looks. When I began to descend when I was supposed to stay level, I figured it was easy enough as saying "we're descending!!!" What a surprise when he said "so fix it." That's when it hit me, I was really flying and needed to learn this stuff. Holy crap!
So after a westerly flight consisting of following a heading, climbing to 2000 feet then 3000 feet with the obligatory turns and level flight training we descended into the pattern of 28J and he did the landing where we came to a full stop long enough for me to take the controls for some taxiing and then he said "OK, take off." luckily for the both of us, we talked about it and he helped me as we took off and climbed to 200 feet.
As we skirted two thunderstorms, we headed back to the beach where I made my biggest mistake. As we approached the beach from due west I made a coordinated turn but suddenly we began to loose altitude. It all happened so fast it is hard to describe it. I guess I was supposed pull back on the yoke but didn't. I thought we were dead. But obviously my CFI talked me through it and in the end it worked out, albeit, 500 feet lower but we lived for another day.
We then flew back to XFL with my usual unsteady flight and he again took the controls to make an uneventful landing. I brought the plane home with a decent taxiing back to it's hanger where I was allowed to take a full breath and call it a day.
It was a "Holy Crap" day that I will never forget. I realized how many things you need to coordinate just to make a simple turn or to climb. I have to say it was crazy as it could be but I can't wait for second lesson. Sorry for such a long read, but I'm a bit high on life right now and drunk on Absolute so I tend to ramble. Thanks for listening.