BFR and new FBO checkout tonight

[TangoWhiskey]

I'm due for my BFR at the end of the month, so tonight's the night. I had originally intended to have my Commercial rating finished, so I could "sub" that for the BFR, but between new job, not enough money, etc., the commercial training got put on hold (other than the book work, of course--I can do that without it costing me anything!).

I'm going after work to get checked out at a new-to-me FBO at Fort Worth Meacham... it's the closest airport to my house, a former associate runs the place, they have two newer-model 172's with Rosen visors, KLN94's, etc. I did my Instrument training in the new 172SP's, so I figure that's what I should do most of my instrument flying in right now (familiarity, a good autopilot, and slow enough to think ahead!).

Best part is, I should get night-current as part of the process too.

I haven't been flying much on my own since I sold my club membership; instead, I've been flying once per month or so as a safety-pilot and on Angel Flight missions with a friend who owns a Cherokee 235.

Anyway, it'll be nice to get checked out in something so I can fly "on my own" again. Hey, Dave, that means Teresa and I will be down to Marfa soon.

 

[TDKendall]

Good luck on the flight. Let us know how it goes.

 

[gismo]

I'm due for my BFR at the end of the month, so tonight's the night. I had originally intended to have my Commercial rating finished, so I could "sub" that for the BFR, but between new job, not enough money, etc., the commercial training got put on hold (other than the book work, of course--I can do that without it costing me anything!).

Funny, I had the same dilemma when I was working on my ASEL commercial last year. Due to poor planning on my part, the expected date for the checkride was near the end of the last month of BFR currency. As I got closer I couldn't stand the possibility that the day might come when I couldn't fly on my own so I went ahead and did a BFR in the twin. I ended up passing the ASEL-comm in time but it was great to have the pressure off.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Good luck on the flight. Let us know how it goes.

All done. An hour of oral, of course, and he was satisfied... (it was fun to teach him something he didn't already know about Jepp low-altitude enroute charts!).

An hour in the familiar 172S, and we were done. Winds were strong tonight, 160 14G24. Handled them fine. Crosswinds don't bother me at all. Gusty crosswinds are more interesting, but the runway was pretty much aligned with the winds.

During slow flight, we got a groundspeed of 32 knots on the GPS. I've heard of people going backwards (ground reference) in 152's, but I've never done it. This was the slowest I've been in flight at altitude, and it looked like we weren't moving when I looked down... strange sensation!!

Anyway, 3 landings back at Meacham (2 on runway 17, which was fun as I've never used the short runway before), and we were done. I'm all signed off to rent from them, and ready and rip-roarin' to go. Having only had 3 flights in 2005, and all of those in somebody else's plane, it feels good to be able to go rent and fly when I want to, not when my buddy with the 235 is available!

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Nice to have that freedom back isn't it, Troy.
Where do you go to do airwork etc out there, just somewhere west of the class B outer ring?

 

[jesse]

During slow flight, we got a groundspeed of 32 knots on the GPS. I've heard of people going backwards (ground reference) in 152's, but I've never done it. This was the slowest I've been in flight at altitude, and it looked like we weren't moving when I looked down... strange sensation!!

I've attempted to go backwards MANY times. I've only managed to do it once and it was in a 150.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

I've attempted to go backwards MANY times. I've only managed to do it once and it was in a 150.

Ive done that many times in a C150. My wife got mad and made me get a faster plane.
'When are we going to get there" takes on a whole new meaning in wild west winds!

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Nice to have that freedom back isn't it, Troy.
Where do you go to do airwork etc out there, just somewhere west of the class B outer ring?

Yes, just to the west and NW of Eagle Mountain Lake. Gotta watch out for F16's coming back to the NAS from Oklahoma, though... they'll run right over you! We monitor 118.1 (Regional Approach) and 123.05 (Hicks) when we're flying over there.

 

[Shipoke]

Congrats Troy, now go out and ENJOY it. Dave G.

 

[Paul Allen]

I was working on my BFR on Wednesday also. I had a GS of 28Kts. in my Mooney. On our way back in we saw a 172 that looked like he was hovering! Not a good day to be going west.