Jaybird180
Final Approach
Several of my started threads when I initially joined PoA are about my taking a ~500nm trip and looking for the right airplane to do the trip in.
Since that time, I've purchased a share of an airplane and added a member to my family.
The time has arrived, and I've got the dates planned to do this trip just before Veteran's Day. Unfortunately, I won't be flying this route as frequently as I thought when I conjured buying an airplane (as history bears this out). Truth is, in the last year my dad developed a medical condition and I perceive that he's not telling me the true nature of his condition.
I'm going to request the option at KATL just to put it in my logbook and then full stop at KPDK and stop by to visit my dad. I don't plan to tell him that I'm coming so as to eliminate any scheduling issues if I run into weather. I will stay about a day, giving myself plenty time to come back home and if time is sufficient, make a few stops along the way - shame too, cause I should have good tailwinds traveling in a NE direction this time of year.
I'm on the fence about 3 options:
1- I can log my CPL 250nm solo XC requirement, whenever I decide to tackle that; I get that sense of accomplishment like I had when I did my student solo XC; I'll likely get bored (might be a good thing)
2- Break up the monotony; We can make an adventure of the return trip. OTOH, I don't think she is looking forward to being in an airplane that long. She offered to meet me there via Southwest (in that case, it's back to option 1 or 3). She claims that she's up for the trip.
3- It could be fun; If our schedules/ purposes magically coincide (wink, wink), then it could be a way of reducing costs; Our new online scheduler has a shared flight option, I've never used it and really don't know the other pilots in our club. My circle of aviation friends outside the club is pretty small. There is another pilot I've flown with that just likes to fly and I would be OK with being in a small airplane with him for a couple days, but he'd most likely want to fly in his Skylane instead (and I think we'd be at or over the Fwd CG limit in my Skyhawk anyhow). Problem here is that he's a CFII and I'd sacrifice some of the sense of accomplishment. OTOH, I could get some Wx experience.
....
Looking for things I haven't considered to help me overthink and make this decision more complex than it should be
Since that time, I've purchased a share of an airplane and added a member to my family.
The time has arrived, and I've got the dates planned to do this trip just before Veteran's Day. Unfortunately, I won't be flying this route as frequently as I thought when I conjured buying an airplane (as history bears this out). Truth is, in the last year my dad developed a medical condition and I perceive that he's not telling me the true nature of his condition.
I'm going to request the option at KATL just to put it in my logbook and then full stop at KPDK and stop by to visit my dad. I don't plan to tell him that I'm coming so as to eliminate any scheduling issues if I run into weather. I will stay about a day, giving myself plenty time to come back home and if time is sufficient, make a few stops along the way - shame too, cause I should have good tailwinds traveling in a NE direction this time of year.
I'm on the fence about 3 options:
- Do the flight solo
- Invite my wife along for the trip
- Invite another pilot along for the trip
1- I can log my CPL 250nm solo XC requirement, whenever I decide to tackle that; I get that sense of accomplishment like I had when I did my student solo XC; I'll likely get bored (might be a good thing)
2- Break up the monotony; We can make an adventure of the return trip. OTOH, I don't think she is looking forward to being in an airplane that long. She offered to meet me there via Southwest (in that case, it's back to option 1 or 3). She claims that she's up for the trip.
3- It could be fun; If our schedules/ purposes magically coincide (wink, wink), then it could be a way of reducing costs; Our new online scheduler has a shared flight option, I've never used it and really don't know the other pilots in our club. My circle of aviation friends outside the club is pretty small. There is another pilot I've flown with that just likes to fly and I would be OK with being in a small airplane with him for a couple days, but he'd most likely want to fly in his Skylane instead (and I think we'd be at or over the Fwd CG limit in my Skyhawk anyhow). Problem here is that he's a CFII and I'd sacrifice some of the sense of accomplishment. OTOH, I could get some Wx experience.
....
Looking for things I haven't considered to help me overthink and make this decision more complex than it should be
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