Finally!!!

etsisk

etsisk

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iYiYi
After all this effort getting the ppl, and finding a plane, and getting checked out ...

I just had my FIRST solo flight that was JUST FOR FUN!!! I flew from KRDU (Raleigh-Durham, NC) to KCRE (Grand Strand, North Myrtle Beach, SC) to visit my sister - haven't seen her since Mom died in January, so it was time. Great flight - although it clouded up in Raleigh just as I was getting in the plane. I was worried that it was going to get below VFR mins, and when they turned me east after take-off, I hit rain, right off the bat. But that was short lived and it was sunshine (and a bit of haze) and smooth sailing until I got to the coast! I had to descend from 6500' to 4500' because the clouds were a bit lower than expected, but smooth flying was there to be had. Nary a bump, until I started letting down at North Myrtle - it was odd, just rocking and rolling for a minute or two, then eased up a lot and wasn't too bad. All in all, it was pretty great. And I get to do it in reverse tomorrow! :)
 
etsisk said:
After all this effort getting the ppl, and finding a plane, and getting checked out ...

I just had my FIRST solo flight that was JUST FOR FUN!!!

<Snip>

All in all, it was pretty great. And I get to do it in reverse tomorrow! :)
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Congrats Tom!! It's great isn't it?
I'm just a few more hours away from my checkride, and I can't wait to go somewhere .....alone, just for fun.

I flew (dual) IFR - NJ to Baltimore, this past weekend, and knocked out my Night-XC.and 3 hr IFR req's.

Visited an aunt that lives within walking distance of Martin State (KMTN). Haven't seen her in 3 years, and she's now 81. Will take her up next trip, as I'll have my PPL then.

We had a nice dinner at the "By the Docks" Restaurant
(Yeah, a Blatant Plug!) Prices, commensurate with quality.
Ask at the FBO, and the courtesy van will take you there, and back.
Their food, and service was excellent! I highly recommend it, to anyone going into Balt.

Return trip had us flt. planned to Modena,@ 5000' and ATC vectored us over Phila.,@ 2000' North, to Robbinsville, NJ, to avoid the heavies coming into KPHL.

What a breathtaking view at night!

Happy Skies!
 
Nice going, Tom.

Take some pics and remind us what the ocean looks like :)


-Rich
 
etsisk said:
I just had my FIRST solo flight that was JUST FOR FUN!!! I flew from KRDU (Raleigh-Durham, NC) to KCRE (Grand Strand, North Myrtle Beach, SC) to visit my sister :)
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Glad to see you in the air, Tom, and I really enjoyed our visit last year to the CRE area.
 
Yeah, it was great, Bill!

I came back today, and it was ALSO great! :) The weather wasn't - it was so dang hazy that I had to fly all the way back at 2500' (otherwise I could only see a small circle of ground!). But I was using both VOR's, setting them up consecutively so once I hit that first waypoint, the next VOR was set and waiting for me, and the final leg I had both of 'em (one on each end) set up. It got bumpy as I got near Raleigh (politicians!!) and I chose to not take 32 at RDU, so I got sent to Coventry a bit, but that just gave me a good ol' 15 mile final! :D Great landing (even if they WERE watching me...) and all in all, it was pretty cool across the board.
 
Hell yeah, Tom. Sounds like a fun trip (and rain only makes it sweeter because it washes the bugs off for ya!)
 
Sounds like you had a Good Time Tom, and nice nice X/c flight.
Dave G.
 
etsisk said:
Yeah, it was great, Bill!

I came back today, and it was ALSO great! :) The weather wasn't - it was so dang hazy that I had to fly all the way back at 2500' (otherwise I could only see a small circle of ground!). But I was using both VOR's, setting them up consecutively so once I hit that first waypoint, the next VOR was set and waiting for me, and the final leg I had both of 'em (one on each end) set up. It got bumpy as I got near Raleigh (politicians!!) and I chose to not take 32 at RDU, so I got sent to Coventry a bit, but that just gave me a good ol' 15 mile final! :D Great landing (even if they WERE watching me...) and all in all, it was pretty cool across the board.
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Sounds great, and also as if you're ready to go for that INSTRUMENT RATING!:yes::yes::yes:
 
etsisk said:
Yeah, it was great, Bill!

I came back today, and it was ALSO great! :) The weather wasn't - it was so dang hazy that I had to fly all the way back at 2500' (otherwise I could only see a small circle of ground!). But I was using both VOR's, setting them up consecutively so once I hit that first waypoint, the next VOR was set and waiting for me, and the final leg I had both of 'em (one on each end) set up. It got bumpy as I got near Raleigh (politicians!!) and I chose to not take 32 at RDU, so I got sent to Coventry a bit, but that just gave me a good ol' 15 mile final! :D Great landing (even if they WERE watching me...) and all in all, it was pretty cool across the board.
Click to expand...
You need to switch to a high wing if you want to see more of the ground Tom!:yes:

Congratulations. Looks like you had fun!!!
 
gprellwitz said:
Sounds great, and also as if you're ready to go for that INSTRUMENT RATING!:yes::yes::yes:
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Grant, that's already in the works - I'll start the instruction in June (the cfi is finishing up some folks before he is out of town for 6 weeks or so on training (he works at Flight Service). When he gets back, it's MY TIME!! :)
 
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