inav8r
Line Up and Wait
Well, I've finally saved up enough money to take my first long XC since getting my PP. I've done a couple 60-70nm mile hops for $100 hamburgers with the wife and kids, but for this one I think I'm going to go solo, because it's looking like my wife has to work the weekend I have the trip planned.
My plan is to fly from Anderson, IN (AID) back to my home town in Wheeling, WV (HLG) to visit my family. I'm really excited to finally get the chance to take my father up with me, and maybe my brother will give in and go for a ride too (well, ok, I doubt it).
The route is pretty easy, and it's not really that far. It's only 228nm, but that's a long way for me as a new PP. Basically I just need to fly east and avoid the Dayton and Columbus class C's along the way. There are plenty of diversion airports along the way most no farther than 20-30 minutes apart, so there's no worries there.
I think this is going to be a good chance for me to really hone my fuel calculation skills as well as my leaning skills. We shall see how that plays out. But to be safe, I'm going to call several airports along the way to double check fuel prices and availability the day before I go! So far I've never needed to purchase fuel away from my home drome.
I'm going to be flying our club 172 which has no autopilot and only a yoke mounted GPS. I still need a few hours in our 182 before I meet the insurance requirements to take it solo. Too bad too - it's got a brand new Garmin 430 and a GPS coupled autopilot! But that's OK, I this will be a great learning experience for me.
Speaking of learning experiences, I've decided to do some shorter solo flights for practice as well as two lessons with my PP instructor over the next two weeks before I go. One of them is going to be for night currency. I don't want to get caught after dark without some training, that's for sure. The 3 hours I had for my PP surely isn't enough! I don't plan on flying after dark, but I want to be prepared.
I hope I've thought of everything. Now I just need to keep an eye on the schedule and the weather and it looks like it's shaping up to be a good trip!
My plan is to fly from Anderson, IN (AID) back to my home town in Wheeling, WV (HLG) to visit my family. I'm really excited to finally get the chance to take my father up with me, and maybe my brother will give in and go for a ride too (well, ok, I doubt it).
The route is pretty easy, and it's not really that far. It's only 228nm, but that's a long way for me as a new PP. Basically I just need to fly east and avoid the Dayton and Columbus class C's along the way. There are plenty of diversion airports along the way most no farther than 20-30 minutes apart, so there's no worries there.
I think this is going to be a good chance for me to really hone my fuel calculation skills as well as my leaning skills. We shall see how that plays out. But to be safe, I'm going to call several airports along the way to double check fuel prices and availability the day before I go! So far I've never needed to purchase fuel away from my home drome.
I'm going to be flying our club 172 which has no autopilot and only a yoke mounted GPS. I still need a few hours in our 182 before I meet the insurance requirements to take it solo. Too bad too - it's got a brand new Garmin 430 and a GPS coupled autopilot! But that's OK, I this will be a great learning experience for me.
Speaking of learning experiences, I've decided to do some shorter solo flights for practice as well as two lessons with my PP instructor over the next two weeks before I go. One of them is going to be for night currency. I don't want to get caught after dark without some training, that's for sure. The 3 hours I had for my PP surely isn't enough! I don't plan on flying after dark, but I want to be prepared.
I hope I've thought of everything. Now I just need to keep an eye on the schedule and the weather and it looks like it's shaping up to be a good trip!
