Category Archives: Flying

Beyond My Limits…So Far

METAR: KXXX 021917Z AUTO 25011G20KT 10SM CLR 08/00 A2954 RMK AO2 T00970005 So far, Mother Nature has had two modes with me – terribly gust winds or low ceilings. Today turned into the former, but when I arrived at the airport it did not look that bad. Originally it was 11 to 20 knots mostlyContinue reading “Beyond My Limits…So Far”

Holy crap, I soloed!

There are surprisingly few AMEs in the area by me given how many people. It took a little bit of calling around to find one that could take me in. It became especially urgent when the word “solo” starting floating around. The evaluation was pretty quick and straightforward. My blood pressure was a little elevatedContinue reading “Holy crap, I soloed!”

Consistently Hitting the Center Line

METAR: KXXX 292014Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC021 00/M04 A3015 RMK AO2 T00001042 It was another cloudy, overcast day today, but that was alright, because today was about pattern work. After yesterday’s excitement of power-off landings and slips to landing, I wanted to try to put it all together. The first normal landing was not excellent.Continue reading “Consistently Hitting the Center Line”

Forward Slip and Power Off Landing

METAR: KXXX 281700Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC012 M01/M03 A3006 RMK AO2 It’s not the best day to fly today, at least not for cross country or maneuvers, but today was intended to be about pattern work. I had every ambition to see if my epiphanies held true in real life the way they worked inContinue reading “Forward Slip and Power Off Landing”

How to Talk to ATC

During the pre-solo examination for the flight school, one of the questions was “what are the procedures for arriving and departing at an airport with a control tower?” It took a really long time to find the information to answer that question. Ultimately I found an article on AOPA where somebody actually wrote out theContinue reading “How to Talk to ATC”

Rolling Takeoff vs Full Power Takeoff

A couple of lessons in during a takeoff my instructor told me that it would impress my examiner down the road if instead of rolling while applying power I should instead hold the brakes to 2000 RPM, check the gauges, smoothly release the brakes, and then go to full throttle. So for the next severalContinue reading “Rolling Takeoff vs Full Power Takeoff”