judypilot
Cleared for Takeoff
Well, following the law of airplane maintenance, my panel upgrade got started late and took 2.5 times as long (at least from drop off to pick up, if not in the actual labor costs) as it was supposed to, but I finally, after a bit more than a month, got to pick up my airplane with its new panel. I got a GNS 430 and a few upgrades (new AI, TC, audio panel, transponder and had a bunch of non- or poorly functional stuff removed). I LOVE the GNS 430 already. What a nice little box! Here's a picture. The GNS 430 is in the lower-left corner. Wasn't sure how that was going to work, but I have an old airplane and rearranging the panel is difficult and expensive. It actually works extremely well, better than I expected.
In a nice little convergence, I got to pick up my airplane on the 16th anniversary of my first solo.
Now I need to get current on instruments again, as I'm, oh, about 3.5 years out of currency. Went with an instructor yesterday and shot a very nice ILS, one that wouldn't have embarrassed me on a checkride, and then a not-so nice VOR approach, but the latter was as much because I managed to distract myself in an unproductive way. I, once again, relearned that distraction is always worse than not doing whatever it is you're trying to do (in this case, waiting too long to set up my second NAV as backup). I was glad not to embarrass myself too much, as I'm a CFII and therefore supposed to be perfect.
I can't TELL you how glad I am to have my airplane back. The last month was h*** at work, and I could have really used the mental health break of flying. I thought I was going to jump off the nearest tall building, quit my job (I actually had a draft of a resignation letter!), or something else rash. Had I been able to fly during that time, I'm sure I wouldn't have been in such bad shape. But all is right with the world again.
Judy
In a nice little convergence, I got to pick up my airplane on the 16th anniversary of my first solo.
Now I need to get current on instruments again, as I'm, oh, about 3.5 years out of currency. Went with an instructor yesterday and shot a very nice ILS, one that wouldn't have embarrassed me on a checkride, and then a not-so nice VOR approach, but the latter was as much because I managed to distract myself in an unproductive way. I, once again, relearned that distraction is always worse than not doing whatever it is you're trying to do (in this case, waiting too long to set up my second NAV as backup). I was glad not to embarrass myself too much, as I'm a CFII and therefore supposed to be perfect.
I can't TELL you how glad I am to have my airplane back. The last month was h*** at work, and I could have really used the mental health break of flying. I thought I was going to jump off the nearest tall building, quit my job (I actually had a draft of a resignation letter!), or something else rash. Had I been able to fly during that time, I'm sure I wouldn't have been in such bad shape. But all is right with the world again.
Judy