Unit74
Final Approach
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2014
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Unit74
I earned my PPl and INST ratings 14 years ago. After getting the instrument, I never used it again. Money, military and family all had other plans for me.
Last year I bought a plane and have put about 120 hours in the book. But that voice kept nagging me, over and over. I have been grounded for weather that wa otherwise flyable and been stuck 60 miles from home due to thin layers of fog.
Well, maws supposed to go deer hunting this weekend, but all my plans fell through. I took vacation through Wednesday and found myself with nothing to do and a whole lotta time to do it in.
I made the call.
Spent about 4.5 hours on the ground shaking the dust and rust off. Surprisingly though I knew a lot of stuff, and with some promting, I could work through more. We covered all the circular topics.
Went up for the first flight and at 1000 agl, the doggies were on. For the next hour, we worked on three LPVs, hold entries and PTs and systems. I did surprisingly well, and much better than I thought I would. The first two LPVs went very well. The third my CFi begAn to pester me and ask about all the nifty gadgets in the plane and all that. I thought he was doing it to distract me, but didn't want to be rude and tell him to shut up. Well, the approach looked more like a snake pattern and he was" mission accomplished".
He also chastised me for changing tanks while just outside the FAF. The 430w reminded me to,swap tanks, so I did as normal not thinking I a in a critical stage of flight.
What made the training much more intense is that there was some decent winds, about 8G15 on the surface and almost 90 deg to the approach course. I was getting pushed all over yet was able to keep it under control. I busted 100ft twice due to getting fixated on the DG while getting tossed around by the wind.
All in it was a good day. Tomorrow it's the rest of the circular. I just hole the winds calm down though. I was sweating profusely, and it wasn't that hot!
If anyone is in my boat, I say stop thinking about it and step up to the plate. I procrastinated for 17 months saying I'd do it. I wish I would have done it sooner.
Last year I bought a plane and have put about 120 hours in the book. But that voice kept nagging me, over and over. I have been grounded for weather that wa otherwise flyable and been stuck 60 miles from home due to thin layers of fog.
Well, maws supposed to go deer hunting this weekend, but all my plans fell through. I took vacation through Wednesday and found myself with nothing to do and a whole lotta time to do it in.
I made the call.
Spent about 4.5 hours on the ground shaking the dust and rust off. Surprisingly though I knew a lot of stuff, and with some promting, I could work through more. We covered all the circular topics.
Went up for the first flight and at 1000 agl, the doggies were on. For the next hour, we worked on three LPVs, hold entries and PTs and systems. I did surprisingly well, and much better than I thought I would. The first two LPVs went very well. The third my CFi begAn to pester me and ask about all the nifty gadgets in the plane and all that. I thought he was doing it to distract me, but didn't want to be rude and tell him to shut up. Well, the approach looked more like a snake pattern and he was" mission accomplished".
He also chastised me for changing tanks while just outside the FAF. The 430w reminded me to,swap tanks, so I did as normal not thinking I a in a critical stage of flight.
What made the training much more intense is that there was some decent winds, about 8G15 on the surface and almost 90 deg to the approach course. I was getting pushed all over yet was able to keep it under control. I busted 100ft twice due to getting fixated on the DG while getting tossed around by the wind.
All in it was a good day. Tomorrow it's the rest of the circular. I just hole the winds calm down though. I was sweating profusely, and it wasn't that hot!
If anyone is in my boat, I say stop thinking about it and step up to the plate. I procrastinated for 17 months saying I'd do it. I wish I would have done it sooner.