Gone for the weekend, but flying is still on!

I'm heading out for salt lake city today to visit a college. The guy who set me up for a tour of the place, is going to take me up in a Piper Archer. He told me I'd be able to log the flight time, so that will be nice to add to my repertiore as well as a new plane! Also, I get to take a ride in the simulator so that will be neat. I've never been in a real simulator before. I'll have pictures for when I get back, over and out.

Update Mission 20090322

Due to weather, I was unable to make my junket to KITH to KN23 and back to KN27. I went up and got some local solo time in. Of course it was quite busy by the time I ended up getting the plane fueled up with gas. A Canard Long EZ came in when I was departing the pattern, along with a 172 and what looked like a Vans. I went out and did some slow flight, stalls, and turns. Thinking about it now, I should've done a couple 720degree turns about a point. There was enough wind but I didn't think of it. I did a maneuver Niel told me about. Start in slow flight, pull up like you're flaring for landing, and before you stall, you add power. Just enough to keep you at altitude. It worked well. Then I did some turns. Straight and level and steep turns. The steep turn today was nasty. By nasty I mean, good. I barely gained or lost any altitude and it went quick compared to every other turn. The first time I actually had to counter the G's by flexing my abdominal muscles...or lack thereof...but it worked. I came back down and did four landings. The first three were shortfield approaches and the last one was a slip. I'm working at the "walking the plane to the ground," but it's proving slippery as a leech. I'll get it. I know it.

Mission: COMPLETE

Private Pilot Exam

Normally, I don't sweat exams. Exams like the SAT, ACT, and most any school multiple choice exam. There are, however, exams I do in fact take seriously. The ASVAB, and any written test for aviation, e.g. the Private Pilot Written Exam. I took my ASVAB and scored a fairly well 85 out of 99. Reason I take that exam seriously is because that exam can decide the rest of your life if the armed forces be what you want in life as it is for mine.
As for the second, the private pilot written. This test is so utterly important because after all the time and money you've put in to your dream of being a pilot, failing sucks. It sucks because you failed, it sucks because you've wasted 100 dollars of hard earned cash only to find out that, until 30 days are up, you do not have a satisfactory amount of aeronautical knowledge to become a pilot. I never really faired to well on multiple choice tests. I just barely passed this one. I recieved a 70, the passing grade. Lucky. I'd rather have someone asking me stuff like it was an interview. But really there is no point in having two oral exams. All well. I passed. Peace out.

Preflight 20090322

Mission: Fly direct to KITH using VOR and pilotage
Fly to N23 via BGM VOR
Return home direct from N23

Notes: Next week I will be in Salt Lake City. A flight instructor from the college I am looking at is going to let me take him up. Good thing, I'll be able to log some flight time. And even in a new plane. I don't know which one. It's either going to be a Cessna 172 or a Warrior...or Archer. Unsure, can't remember at the moment. (UPDATE 20090321)

Mission Status: COMPLETE (20090413)

UPDATE 20090322: Scrubbed until 20090413

Debrief 20090315

The day began and from the point I woke up everything went as well as they possibly could have. I got to the airport about 0900 and talked to Jerry who looked over my planning. He signed me off and let me head down to the hangar to preflight and get on my merry way. I saw him leave as I was filling her up with gas. He rolled down his window and pointed his finger at me like a gun and pretended to shoot at me. I couldn't help but smile as I waved. So I started her back up and taxied to five. Did the runup and during the magneto check I noticed the left magneto was running rough. I ran the plane up at high RPMS and leaned the mixture and performed the magneto check. It didn't work. I ended up callin Jerry, who figured out my problem. I didn't let it run long enough. SOooooooOOOooO, I let it run at high RPMs mixture leaned and behold! It worked just fine! Thankfully.

So I took off and no further problems arose. I picked up my heading after climbing to 3500 feet. I dialed in my VOR frequency and radial. I chose to fly to the BGM VOR and then pick up my new heading that would take me to N23. The only thing that was a hinderance was the visibility. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I could see fairly far, probably about 6-7 SM visibility. But once I changed headings, the route to N23 cleared up a lot. I talked to ATC, let BGM approach know I was headin to Sidney and they had me squawk 0332 (Pretty sure). About 7 miles away, they called and told me to beware of a flock of geese that was seen at altitude on my route. My first thought was, oh great, now my English teacher (calls me Goose, he likes Top Gun as do I.) has a reason to keep callin me Goose. I keep telling him it's inaccurate because Goose was a RIO, however awesome he was, was also not a pilot, which I am. His rationalization is I can't hold Maverick's jock strap! Haha, he only calls me Goose cause he knows it aggrivates me, and not cause it's Goose, I like Goose, it's just inaccurate. But now he has a reason!! (A bunch of my friends and I made up nicknames for ourselves to celebrate our Girls Vs Guys Vs Faculty Basketball game along with Top Appreciation Day on May 13th. They are as followed, Mark, "The Iceman" Cruver, Eric "X-Factor" Warner, Ardy "Warrior" Dorman, Degan "So Good" Smith, Raul "El Diablo" Pedrosa, Caleb "Demand" Sheldon, Colton "Boo-Boo" Schools, and myself, Adam "Maverick" Azpiazu. As far as I know that's what they were gonna use. We picked 'em, and I told my english teacher, and he told me to use Maverick, so I said okay, then he changed his mind in Student Council! Indecisive. Jeesh) I DIGRESS!

So I landed at N23 no problems. Once I let ATC know I had the field, they terminated my radar service and I was let go. I landed on two-five and I really had to relieve myself. Man, it was bad. I thought about stopping and going at Sidney, but I figured I could make it. So I turned around and taxied all the way back to two-five and pulled off to the side. This is where I snapped this photo.
I called out I was taking off of two-five. The take off was as normal as it can get.

I picked my new heading up and began for home. I felt my 251 degree heading was a bit high, but I put my trust into the heading and it worked out just fine. Everything was good, visibility had gone down a bit, but I was able to make it home faster than I thought. I entered the pattern left downwind for runway five as a Mooney entered its base for five. I reached the end of the runway and did a 360 degree turn for spacing. I pulled the throttle to 17oo RPMs and waited until the runway was 45 degrees off my shoulder, then I put her into a hard slip. With the speed at 65 knots the airplane descended rapidly and once lined up with the runway, I neutralized the controls and let her fly until she didn't wanna fly no mo! I flared it and she came down. My parents were at the airport today. I asked them to come see the landing and they'd brought my grandparents with them. They missed my first solo XC cause of miscommunication but wanted to see me arrive from one, so they came today. I taxied back runway five and noticed another plane coming on base and he called it on the radio so I called back, "94609, I'll get out of your way in a sec, come on in."

"You got plenty of time 609, it's okay, I'll be watchin ya."

"Roger that Tango, (I didn't catch the two numbers before it) I'm taking Charlie here. Clear of the active."

A few moments later he called back after he'd landed, "94609, you can come on out, I'll get behind you."

"Roger that." I pulled out on the runway and he taxied behind the length of five. I took off as the Mooney, who'd done a touch n' go, was midfield downwind. I did a shortfield takeoff. My pattern looked good, as it normally does (Just a little gloating never hurts:P). I came in a little high so I took off power and added flaps. The landing was good, it looked nice on the video my brother took of it. Both of them looked real good on the tape. I'll add that to this when it's available. I met my parents at the hangar. I stopped the plane in front to the doors and shut her down. I immediately started walking toward the port-o-john that was at the end of the long building that held multiple hangars. I came back out and saw my parents and grandparents taking pictures of each other next to the airplane. It made me smile. My dad saw me coming, and I couldn't help but smile after my successful cross country. He snapped a couple pictures of me walking toward them. I was wearing

the flight suit my girlfriend bought for me. I bought a couple patches for it, two of which are on it, a US Navy patch on my right breast just above the pocket's zipper and the American flag on my left shoulder. I have a couple more coming. I am using this flight suit as a patch collector. Although I may wear it because it is convenient and actually comfortable, I wear to show my pride for Naval Aviation and as a tribute all aviation. My grandparents and parents were all happy and smiling and patting my on the back for a job well done. I don't think they fully understood what it was like to be in the presence of such machines until today. I don't think they fully understood that I have what it takes to handle them, but I proved that I could today. Next step, pick out a route 150 nm miles of longer with two stops and two separate airports. Today was a great day. Mission: ACCOMPLISHED

Preflight 20090315

Mission: Solo Cross Country Flight to N23
Use pilotage
Possibly track BGM VOR then divert heading to N23
Full stop landing at N23
Return home direct route

Mission Status: COMPLETE

Debrief 200903123

First solo cross country. I had this trip planned out for last weekend, but due to rain and low ceilings, I was unable to even start the junket, let alone complete it. Friday however, was an amazing day for flying. There was some slight turbulence, not much at all. I took off of five, and turned my crosswind and downwind. I kept climbing while extending my downwind leg of the pattern then at 2500 feet I turned toward the airport. Once overhead, I started my time off and called I was exiting the pattern northbound. I picked up my heading and so my journey began. Jerry called me from his plane as he was heading in to land after his day's work. He asked me how the trip was going and I replied with so far so good and that's the way it stayed. After I hit my first checkpoint, I dialed in my Xradial for the VOR and made sure I was where I thought I was. I switched frequencies and listened to the Ithaca tower awhile, until I hit Danby, then I switched to the ATIS. After the recording went through the spiel I wrote down what I needed, and noted that it was information Delta.
"Ithaca Tower, Cessna 94609, student pilot, is overhead Danby with Delta."
"Roger 94609, report when you enter a right downwind for one-four."
"Report right downwind one-four."
I started my descent by engaging the carb heat and pointing the nose slightly downward. The controller was talking with a bunch of other aircraft, one was a glasair and a couple more were Cessnas. One I did not catch was the plane I landed behind. But that's later. After awhile, I don't think he expected my lack of speed, he called, "94609 what's your position?"
"94609 is just now turning right downwind for one-four."
"Roger 94609, report when at the midfield position."
"Roger that, report midfield." I was midfield pretty quickly. "Ithaca tower, 94609 is midfield on downwind for one-four."
"Roger, 94609 there's traffic on right base do you see it?"
"Roger, 94609 traffic right base, gotcha" (probably not an appropriate phrase while talking to ATC, but all well.
"94609 do you have traffic in sight or are you looking for it?"
"94609 has the traffic in sight."
"Roger 94609. You are number two, caution wake turbulence, clear to land runway one-four."
"Roger 94609 caution wake turbulence clear to land runway one-four."
"94609 advise you are number two."
"94609 is number two." I saw the plane in front of me turn onto final. It was large, orange, and had two big@$$ props. It was a rather large plane and the color, holy crap was it bright. If I couldn't see it, something had to be wrong with me. I saw letters on it indicating it was an airline of some sort. I read what it said as we passed but I forget now. I turned onto base, lost the airport for a second until I looked just a little further to my right and found it again. I turned final, corrected myself down the centerline and levelled off high purposely. This was a long runway so I knew I had enough time. The plane floated as I took off the power. It began to sink and I applied it too quick and my descent stopped, so I took off some and my sink started again, so I added a little power. I set the plane down and so the roll began. I slowed down quick and performed my cockpit cleanup. I set everything to the side and focused on taxiing. As I was doing so, another Cessna called in. I was wondering if I'd end up taxiing the length of the runway before the controller even started talking to me again. But then he called.
"94609, are you planning on going to the ramp?"
"Negative, 94609 would like baxi-tac(yes I #%^$ed up. :P) Sorryabout that, 609 would like to taxi back to take off one-four."
"Roger that, would you like a right turn departure to the south."
"Affirmative, we're headin home."
"94609, turn right taxiway Delta, right Alpha and hold short of one-four."
"Roger, 94609 Hold short." I followed my instructions and taxied to the hold short line. I waited as he and the Cessna talked back and forth. "Ithaca tower, 94609 is ready for takeoff."
"Roger 94609, hold short one-four, incoming traffic."
"Roger tower, hold short for incoming." After a few minutes, the white cessna 172 hit the tarmac and I was given the clear for takeoff. "Roger, 94609 clear for takeoff." The takeoff was as normal as normal gets in aviation. I picked up my heading while climbing after I'd made it past the end of the runway.
"94609 call when clear of Delta airspace."
"94609 copies." So I waited awhile. No further conversations were made until I was just about to clear Delta and someone called in. I had to wait for a break. "Ithaca tower, cessna 94609 is clear of Delta airspace."
"Roger 94609, switch frequencies and have a nice flight."
I waited a second, thinking about what to say, then said what Jerry told me to, "609 so long."
I gotta figure out something to say when they say "Have a nice flight." Gotta think of something.
The return trip was really not eventful, however the visibility went downhill but not bad enough to cause problems. so I made it back..obviously. Landing was uneventful, and that's a good thing, however the wind picked up a lot. But that's okay. Flight Complete. Mission Accomplished.

Unplanned flight 20090308

Today I went on an unplanned mission. I shot take offs and landings today. The duration was less than an hour. Point six in fact, but I do not think it would've been wise to continue. The weather is fine save for the few sprinkles of rain drops every now and then since I finished, I worked on my short and softfield takeoffs and landings, problem was I don't feel I was doing very well. It's the addition of throttle in the flare of my soft field landings that's getting me. The tires squealed slightly in each one. That bugged me. I figured it was best to put the baby away before I got either A: Extremely Frustrated or B: Put Unecessary wear on the plane. All in all I guess it was okay. I got the plane down safely. I'm not very happy about today. All Well.

N27

These are pictures taken at the Bradford County Airport. It's a small airport. The people are friendly and 9 times out of 10 someone is there to help you out or to have a conversation with. Everybody knows each other here. We've all seen each other before.
If it's calm everywhere else, it's windy here, if it's cold everywhere else, it's colder here, if it's hot everywhere else, it's hotter here. Jerry and I came up with that little slogan. It really isn't anywhere close to that miserable. There are absolutely beautiful days. Whether there's two feet of snow on the ground or a cloudless summer day, it's always a pleasure to be at the Bradford County Airport.

Preflight 20090313 (Update from 20090307)

Mission: Fly solo XC to ITH
Use VOR, checkpoints, & X-radials
Full stop landing
Return to N27

Mission Status: COMPLETE (20090313)

Debrief 20090304

We topped her fuel tanks off and got goin. The flight went pretty fast. I almost liked it better than the day. I like the red glow of the gauges, granted it is much harder to do, it presents a challenge and that's one thing I like about aviation. Every time you fly there is a new challenge to beat. We went to Ithaca tonight all in all took us 2 hours. 1.5 to get back to N27 but including a full pattern and a go around (By no mistake of mine! He wanted me to practice one at night!) it took another .5 hours.
I frigged up real bad on my ATC tonight. Being in an unfamiliar place at night I think helped continue. We did a full stop landing and taxied back...I think that's the real reason why. I had not mentally prepared myself for the instructions the tower would give me. All in all it went real well. I filled my night requirements. It was an extremely enjoyable 3.9 hours. '609 peace out.

Preflight 20090304

Mission: Fly to KITH at night
Use checkpoints and VOR
Return to N27
Takeoffs and landings

Mission Status: COMPLETE

Debrief 20090303

First time night flying and it was awesome. It was really neat to watch the runway lights pass underneath me. It was totally different than during the day, but felt strangely familiar. The first landing was a bit shaky, but come on, it was my first time. Second was good. Third and fourth were also good. Then the fifth and sixth ones he started messin with me on. The best landing was also my last. He simulated the electrical systems failure after I'd keyed the mic to turn on the airport lights. The landing also had to be a no flaps landing. I slipped her in with no taxi lights. He said something about my taxi lights being off and I reached for them. He said, "You can do it without 'em if you want." I told him okay. So I did it and it worked out very very nice. He said I did well. He even broke out some Top Gun on me. I asked him if I was to slip it in, he said, "Just do some of that pilot shit." Way to break out the Top Gun.
Airwork came before the landings but that went well. Worked on steep turns to left and right. Tonight was a success. Peace.

Preflight 20090303

Mission: Shoot takeoffs and landings at night
Airwork

Mission Status: COMPLETE