Debrief 20090221

Finally we were able to knock this cross country out of the way. I was excited for it. The other weeks I was sort of glad that I couldn't go, but this week I was ready. I wanted to go the long way too, to the VOR and then to Sidney then directly home. I had planned two weeks ago that we'd go straight there pilotage and straight back, but Jerry wanted to go to the VOR then Sidney. Good thing weather was holding us back home. So I planned for the extra leg of the trip. And today we finally did it. Talking on the radio was a breeze. Jerry said I was so smooth on the radio today. Hopefully I keep exuding that confidence. It sounded something like this, "Binghamton approach, Cessna 94609 is inbound to the VOR en route to November two-seven." She told me to squawk 0301 and I replied with, "Cessna 94609 squawking 0301." He said the only thing for him to complain about was that i didn't mention to ATC where I was (Abeam Owego). But he also that wasn't really anything to complain about. Unfortunately I levelled off low both landings. I gotta get the transition from cruising mode to flying mode down faster and better. Everything went smooth. We were dead nuts on time. Our estimated time en route was 83 minutes and we made back with seconds to spare. Everything was planned perfectly. Planning is actually part of the fun. I like doing it. He told me next week we'd go to Ithaca again except this time he wasn't going to help me at all and if all went as today, he'd kick me out solo cross country. We've got Night flying and solo cross country left to do. And the written...ugh. But the night flying and solo cross country should be great. I'm a bit nervous for the night flying portion but I'm really excited for solo XC. After today, I feel extremely confident in my abilities. I think I'm turning out to be a damn good pilot. It may be arrogant to say, but hey, who says pilots aren't arrogant? Haha, it's mostly childish fun moreso over arrogance. Trying to one up each other's stories whether they are aviation related or not, or just simply letting other people know that your pilot, it's all just part of the mix. And I love it. Some people say I'm cocky, I tell them I'm a pilot. Some say I'm arrogant, I let them know I fly airplanes. Arrogant..maybe. But to me, it's the truth. Hell, my girlfriend just bought me a flight suit. I'll admit I have no true need for one right now, but I've been wanting one...don't know why, just another aviation piece of material that if given the chance, I'd use. We want to get the night flying done before daylight savings time, this way we don't stay until ten o'clock at night (we both have to get up early, his job and school for me). We got a little over three weeks left to do the night flying in. I think this will be really cool, but also nerve shaking. I think everything is going to work out just fine. Hopefully tomorrow I'll go up solo. We'll see. Peace out.