Summary
Scheduled Time: 2PM - 4PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 0.9
Total Hours Flight: 9.9
Yesterday, we went up for just under an hour. During that time, we practiced lazy eights and eights on pylons before returning to Paine Field for short field and power off 180 practice. Everything went well, but I still need more practice time spent on eights on pylons.
After the flight, it became very clear that my training time is quickly nearing its end. This is both exciting and intimidating. It's nice to know that I'm so close to being complete, but it's intimidating to think that now I have to prove I can do the maneuvers to an examiner. Plus, I need to wrap up my 5 hours of solo night flight soon. Plus I need to schedule and pass my written exam. Yikes!
Last night, I flew the Commander from Renton to Bellingham and back. I was hoping to get 2 hours flight time, but the Commander is just too fast - I only managed to get 1.6 hours. Tonight, I will fly again. I only need 1.9 more hours, so I will fly slower to ensure I get the required time.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Commercial Training - Day 15
Summary
Scheduled Time: 10AM - 12PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 1.4
Total Hours Flight: 9.0
The weather today was absolute perfection. The temperature was in the mid 70's with just a slight breeze from the north. We decided to fly east towards the valley near Monroe and work on eights on pylons. On the way, we did four chandelles, gaining altitude with each. By the time we finished, we were at 5000 feet, so we did a steep spiral around a small lake in the valley to lose altitude and set up for the eights on pylons
After that, we found some pylons and did two sets of eights on pylons. This time, I was much better prepared than the last time and we had lots of fields around us, in case we had a mechanical issue.
Next up, we flew to Monroe and did three short field approaches. The first was too high, so we did a go-around and tried again. The second wasn't bad, but I was a little too fast. The third was the best, with a well controlled approach, but still we floated a bit past our mark.
The next time around the pattern, we did a 180 degree turn to landing. I did not turn soon enough and would have came up short of the runway, so we did another go-around and headed back to Paine Field.
At Paine, we wanted to do another turn to landing, but there was traffic in the pattern, so we simply landed and called it quits for the day.
The syllabus calls for about 10 hours to complete the commercial training. Things are coming along quite well, but I'll certainly need more than one more hour to master the maneuvers.
Scheduled Time: 10AM - 12PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 1.4
Total Hours Flight: 9.0
The weather today was absolute perfection. The temperature was in the mid 70's with just a slight breeze from the north. We decided to fly east towards the valley near Monroe and work on eights on pylons. On the way, we did four chandelles, gaining altitude with each. By the time we finished, we were at 5000 feet, so we did a steep spiral around a small lake in the valley to lose altitude and set up for the eights on pylons
After that, we found some pylons and did two sets of eights on pylons. This time, I was much better prepared than the last time and we had lots of fields around us, in case we had a mechanical issue.
Next up, we flew to Monroe and did three short field approaches. The first was too high, so we did a go-around and tried again. The second wasn't bad, but I was a little too fast. The third was the best, with a well controlled approach, but still we floated a bit past our mark.
The next time around the pattern, we did a 180 degree turn to landing. I did not turn soon enough and would have came up short of the runway, so we did another go-around and headed back to Paine Field.
At Paine, we wanted to do another turn to landing, but there was traffic in the pattern, so we simply landed and called it quits for the day.
The syllabus calls for about 10 hours to complete the commercial training. Things are coming along quite well, but I'll certainly need more than one more hour to master the maneuvers.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Commercial Training - Day 14
Summary
Scheduled Time: 1PM - 3PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 1.1
Total Hours Flight: 7.6
Today was nearly a repeat of yesterday. At this point, it's all about refining the maneuvers to perfection. We were unable to practice turns on pylons due to the turbulence down low, but we did hit all the other maneuvers at least once.
We wrapped up with a power-off 180 degree turn to landing. On our power up to take off again, the baggage door popped open and we aborted the take off while still on the ground. Now that was unusual and exciting.
Scheduled Time: 1PM - 3PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 1.1
Total Hours Flight: 7.6
Today was nearly a repeat of yesterday. At this point, it's all about refining the maneuvers to perfection. We were unable to practice turns on pylons due to the turbulence down low, but we did hit all the other maneuvers at least once.
We wrapped up with a power-off 180 degree turn to landing. On our power up to take off again, the baggage door popped open and we aborted the take off while still on the ground. Now that was unusual and exciting.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Commercial Training - Day 13
Summary
Scheduled Time: 1PM - 3PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 1.5
Total Hours Flight: 6.5
Hello summertime! Ah, what a joy to fly through warm, clear skies.
The flight got a bit of a slow start due to some pilots visiting from the Arlington Fly-in, which just started this week. It's amusing, but also a little concerning, to hear how unprepared non-local pilots are when out of their comfort zone.
Once in the air, we jumped right into chandelles, steep turns, lazy eights, and a steep spiral. All went pretty well, except the chandelles at high altitudes were not working out quite right.
After the air work, we flew to Port Townsend and did two landings, then headed back to Paine Field. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty uplifting and successful flight.
Scheduled Time: 1PM - 3PM
Actual Hours Ground: 0.3
Actual Hours Flight: 1.5
Total Hours Flight: 6.5
Hello summertime! Ah, what a joy to fly through warm, clear skies.
The flight got a bit of a slow start due to some pilots visiting from the Arlington Fly-in, which just started this week. It's amusing, but also a little concerning, to hear how unprepared non-local pilots are when out of their comfort zone.
Once in the air, we jumped right into chandelles, steep turns, lazy eights, and a steep spiral. All went pretty well, except the chandelles at high altitudes were not working out quite right.
After the air work, we flew to Port Townsend and did two landings, then headed back to Paine Field. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty uplifting and successful flight.
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