First Xcountry Flight

Man that felt GOOD! Working with the map and visually looking for checkpoints was a real challenge. Just keeping the correct heading at times was at times was a little difficult. It was the first time I'd been outside the pattern in awhile. Our cross-country flight took us over Blue Swan airport where we caught 0-8-6 degrees and headed up the river toward Tri-Cities. It was interesting and fun to use the sectional and check to see where everything was. Landing at Tri-Cities was different. It was only 400 ft shorter than my home runway but it sure seemed like it was half the size. The width was definately smaller than at N27. Comin' down was easy, everything pretty much was easy aside from actually getting there. But that's the thing about aviation. There's always something new to learn. And just when you think you got everything down, another thing comes up and hits you the face. Also, aviation is all about keeping sharp on EVERYTHING you know and everything don't know...yet. That's partly why I love flying. The ever-present challenges. Everything is different and you always have to be on the lookout and be on alert in case something new comes up. In the words of Eddie Rickenbacker, "Courage is doing the things you're afraid to do. You cannot have courage if you're not scared."
Peace.

Everything Worked out

Ahaha ahahaha, I am now flying after my scrimmage! Instead of 8 I am flying at 1. If the weather's good, we're going to do d'ed reckoning but if it's less suitable he wants me to get some solo time in. I'm stoked I get to try out my new headset.

Good News Bad News

The bad news first...
I was supposed to have a basketball scrimmage at 11 on Saturday. So I moved my flight time from 9 to 8. Go figure, my coach changed the time of the damn game to 10. Lot a damn good that f*ckin did. Pisses me off. Worst of all my coach doesn't seem to give a damn that I had previous plans. I 'm supposed to put the team ahead of myself. Partly I agree. On the other side I think it's total bullshit. It ties in to the last time I had to miss practice. I had to miss for a Navy DEP meeting and my coach got all pissy, but my friend had to miss the day before for National Honor Society and he was fine with it. Makes me angry that coach will make an exception for someone who's "Smart" and not for someone who is willing to fight to keep his way of life untouched. Total bull. Flying may very well be different, but the bottom line is, I'm leaving soon. I want my private rating. I hate missing flights. I found something I'm good at. Is it wrong of me to want to stay good? Is it wrong of me to want to fly rather than play ball? Most of the time I'd rather fly than do anything else in the world. Flying for me is the ultimate rush, the pinnacle of excitement. It makes me feel exhilerated, out of reach, untouchable, almost a higher form of human being. It may sound arrogant (I know it is) but I feel this every time I climb into the cockpit. It wouldn't matter if it was the 152 or an F-18. I live for this, and I love every moment of it.

Anyway, the good news. I got me headset. Oh, man is it nice. It's a David Clark H10-76 military issue headset. It came with an adapter for General Aviation. Unfortunately I don't get them until Christmas but I get to try 'em out Saturday which by the way will happen one way or the other. I'm giong to fly. That's all for now. Peace.

20081122

The flight today was absolutely awesome. We worked on more crosswind stuff, most of it is like second nature to me now. Taking off was easy, one time I forgot the cockpit cleanup and had the carb heat on so I had lost about 1000 RPMs, but other than that all went well today. We did a slip today, and the wind took me way off to the right so I cranked in more aileron and brought her to the centerline and slipped the other way into a fairly decent Xwind landing. Jerry was proud of that one.
The only other landing worth mentioning was the last one. The last landing was as close to perfect as a Xwind landing can get. The put in the right aileron, and left rudder. she went straight the whole time and descended smooth as a turtle shell. There was no thud, no squeaking from the tires. It was a complete greaser. The only noise was Jerry telling me that if anyone asked, he was gonna say he did it. It was a good day. More character for me. Man, this flying stuff justs gets better and better. (Knock on wood) Until next time, over and out.

Tomorrow's Flight

I was supposed to fly on Sunday but Jerry called me earlier and asked if I could fly Saturday. So naturally, I said yeah. :) Stoked. Maybe I'll go solo Sunday.

Navy update

I know this is becoming more of a personal blog but I promise you everything is related to flying. Well I found out, that the cut-off for ACT scores for math is 21, and that's what I got. It's all good now, I just have to have an officer interview and wait a little while. Sweetness.

This Weekend's flight

Jerry said a spot was open on Saturday so I was thinking that if no one took the spot, I'd go up with him and then go up again on Sunday. My mother is not too happy that I'll be missing her best friend's daughter's birthday, but what's that old saying? Oh yeah, I'd rather be flying. I'm torn. I really liked the challenge of the crosswinds, but I kind of want to get my third supervised solo out of the way. I either want nasty nasty winds or dead calm. Near winter it gets to be both, sometimes on the same day, or in the same hour! Let's just hope if it's dead calm and I solo that the winds don't pick up a whole lot. We were working in 17Knot winds gusting to 20. I don't think I could do it alone. Actually no, I could. I just don't want to. If there is one thing I've learned about this pilot business, it's that you have to go in thinking you can do it. You've got to be headstrong and have a pair cause if you lack confidence, only bad things will happen. I don't know if it is good or not, but I'm a very confident person now. Sometimes I think I'm too confident and my friends get annoyed with it. Half the time I talk to them about flying they sit there with blank expressions and say, "I have no idea what you just said." I feel bad for a couple of them. They have no clue what they're going to do after high school. I find it sad that so many people are going to stay around here. I shouldn't worry about it considering I know what I'm doing. Or what I want to do. My SAT scores should be back soon. I got my ACT scores and my math section was scored a 21. I'm pissed. The NROTC cutoff is 22. GAR!!! I'm banking on my SAT scores. Who knows, maybe they'll take me anyway. Keep your fingers crossed.

Today Rocked

I woke up this morning and thought to myself, I get to fly today. Ah and yes I did and it was awesome. Well Jerry said I'd be building some character today and well...I did. At first I was skeptical. I took two steps out my front door and saw snow, hail, and rain. I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to, but I went anyway figuring he'd call my cell if we had to cancel. Thankfully Jerry never called while I was on my way. I went inside and saw Jerry. Carl, Jerry, and I talked for a little bit and ended with Jerry saying he couldn't finish off the pot of coffee because it was the sabbath.
So yes, we were in fact gonna fly today. "I told you we're gonna build some character day, of course we're goin up!" He said. We went in the briefing room where he made a call to a student who was going to have his first lesson today; unfortunately for him they had to bag the lesson. After going up I'd say it was a good move. It was quite bumpy, although not as bumpy as I expected. We looked at the weather then we talked about the day's mission: Takeoffs, landings, taxiing, and flying the pattern in a Xwind. We tried to start the plane after the preflight or "Prefright" as me and Jerry call it. But the battery was shot so we jumped it. That was an experience. I actually had a reason to call "Clear!" for the prop area. So anyway, we taxied and he did the first takeoff and landing. Then it was my turn. I figured I'd be nervous, but the truth is, I get more nervous at home watching the Price is Right.
So I kept in my ailerons and kept her straight down centerline. Airspeed came up so I rolled out the ailerons a bit and jumped into the air in a right bank, nosed over, and put in my crab angle. That was cool. I find the Xwind landing is difficult, it's quite the challenge, but even though it was my first time, I felt just as comfortable doing it as I do a landing on a no wind day. I like the idea of comin' in hot. Xwind landings serve a dual purpose in training. They teach you the Xwind landing procedures and it makes you keep one hand on the throttle at all times during the approach and landing all the way to the end even while you're on the binders. That one hand on the throttle, if you're not used to it, is a chore until you do it so much that it's second nature. It serves the purpose not only on Xwind landings, but also an a no wind landing. Things can wrong at any time. Maybe you need and extra boost of power if you bounce off the runway or just to get to the runway. I did well today for not having flown in three weeks, and considering the weather.
In conclusion, the day rocked. I'm flying next Sunday again and I can't wait. I want to meet the first timer after his lesson see what he thinks. Basketball starts this week and I'm almost kinda bummed. I wanted to go flying after school one day. I guess that won't happen for awhile! Today has come and gone, and it was a great, challenging day. I love a good challenge.

Flying This Weekend

WOOOHOOO!!!! I'm flyin this Sunday. I'm stoked. Jerry said there oughta be a stiff crosswind for us! Good time to build up some character. WOO! I'm excited. '609 is back in the clouds once again!!

No flying again this week

I was supposed to fly today but as luck would have it, the weather is fair but the plane is still out! They ordered a new prop for t he bird. I guess it's better safe than sorrry. For the past few preflights I've noticed ths smoothness of the prop's edges was becoming increasingly rough. Anyway, I'm headed up there to volunteer some. I haven'tbeen up there in awhile.

No flying this weekend

!@&$#@% I am angry. I got out of SATs hoping Jerry would call my cell phone and see if I could go up today. Well Jerry did call. he left a voicemail saying that the plane was still being inspected and it would be back the middle of this week!!! I'm going to ask him if sometime this week we can go up and then go up again on sunday. I just want to fly! It's been two weeks now and I'm gonna freak out! Not cool.