Not much to write about. I have my two week break in between training courses, so I've decided to take some leave and visit my old stomping grounds of Omaha. Gotta say, though, I definitely prefer the San Antonio weather. It's nice to take a break and get away from everything for a bit.
Got word that the fourth, and final, guy in my training class passed his final check ride back at IFS. Good news to hear, and I'm glad he made it through. Now, it should move more towards a "training" course objective, rather than the "screening" objective that we just went through. Studying starts tomorrow with the new operation limits and boldface emergency items (reference an earlier post where I explained these terms, if their new to you). I have until March 8th to memorize everything.
But for now, I'm going to enjoy the time off that I have and visit with old friends.
Sunday, February 27
Sunday, February 20
A Promise is a P{romise
I said earlier that I would post something at least every Sunday...well, it's Sunday and here's my post:
I just got back to my apartment tonight after about a 12 hour drive from my brother's place in Albuquerque, so I'm a little tired. I'm going to put off the unpacking until tomorrow (thankfully President's Day is a federal holiday, so now work!), and any in-depth posts. Mission objectives for tomorrow: unpack my stuff, clean my car, clean my apartment, enjoy the freedom of not having to study or plan for flights. Oddly enough, I'm actually looking forward to this. Weather forecast for San Antonio for tomorrow is partly cloudy and a high of 80. Sweet.
I just got back to my apartment tonight after about a 12 hour drive from my brother's place in Albuquerque, so I'm a little tired. I'm going to put off the unpacking until tomorrow (thankfully President's Day is a federal holiday, so now work!), and any in-depth posts. Mission objectives for tomorrow: unpack my stuff, clean my car, clean my apartment, enjoy the freedom of not having to study or plan for flights. Oddly enough, I'm actually looking forward to this. Weather forecast for San Antonio for tomorrow is partly cloudy and a high of 80. Sweet.
Saturday, February 19
On to the Next One
IFS is done! Finished my check ride Friday afternoon. Wasn't the prettiest flight I've flown here, and just like my first check ride, I thought I was borderline failing it the entire time. However, this time around it was due to the residual gusting winds we've been having the past couple of days. Everything was calm and fine when I took off from Pueblo, but when I got to the airport I was flying to (La Junta), the winds were gusting up to 25 knots, which is right at our maximum limit. So, landing was extremely stressful with the winds gusting and knocking me all over the place and even just trying to fly straight and level was a chore. But it's done, I passed, and now I can go home and enjoy a couple weeks off before I start step two...Instrument Qualification, starting March 8th! I'll describe the next class I have to go through a little later, probably after I start it, but it basically involves learning how to fly an aircraft solely by reference to the aircraft instruments. We'll be doing our training in T-6 Texan II simulators, so no more actual flying in an aircraft from now on.
But, I'm going to enjoy my freedom for the moment, check out of this place tomorrow morning, and head on back to San Antonio to put in for leave and take a quick mini-vacation. I'll do a more in-depth re-cap post this Sunday once I get back to my apartment and get settled in. Here's a (semi-decent) picture of the four of us still left in my flight, next to the "Mighty Katana" DA-20C:
But, I'm going to enjoy my freedom for the moment, check out of this place tomorrow morning, and head on back to San Antonio to put in for leave and take a quick mini-vacation. I'll do a more in-depth re-cap post this Sunday once I get back to my apartment and get settled in. Here's a (semi-decent) picture of the four of us still left in my flight, next to the "Mighty Katana" DA-20C:
Wednesday, February 16
Wind...My New Enemy
Once again, I've been delayed in my quest to finish IFS by the weather. Today looked nice. It was sunny, hardly any clouds, and it even got above 60 degrees! Except that the wind was blowing at 25+ mph, gusting to 40. These little glider-like airplanes that we fly are fairly sensitive to wind. In fact, the max wind that we're allowed to fly in is 25 knots (28.769 mph), so 40 is a bit above that. Of course, it had to be on the day of my final check ride. I could be on my way home right now, able to enjoy my three day weekend and a couple weeks off before I start my next class...but nooooo. That would be too easy.
Tomorrow is actually supposed to be even more windy than today was, so I probably won't fly until Friday. Awesome! It's annoying, but I actually wouldn't mind not flying tomorrow, because they switched the IP that I'm supposed to fly with to the same guy I flew my first check ride with. Not sure how in depth I went about that first check ride, but this guy is...how do I say it nicely?...frankly, I wanted to punch him in the throat and tell him I quit, and that he could fly the rest of the way and I would just re-do it. So, I'm really not wanting to fly with him again. We'll see. The forecast is calling for wind gusts up to 40 knots (46 mph), so I don't think it's going to happen.
But for now, I just have to sit and wait.
At least Purdue beat Wisconsin tonight. Boiler Up!
Tomorrow is actually supposed to be even more windy than today was, so I probably won't fly until Friday. Awesome! It's annoying, but I actually wouldn't mind not flying tomorrow, because they switched the IP that I'm supposed to fly with to the same guy I flew my first check ride with. Not sure how in depth I went about that first check ride, but this guy is...how do I say it nicely?...frankly, I wanted to punch him in the throat and tell him I quit, and that he could fly the rest of the way and I would just re-do it. So, I'm really not wanting to fly with him again. We'll see. The forecast is calling for wind gusts up to 40 knots (46 mph), so I don't think it's going to happen.
But for now, I just have to sit and wait.
At least Purdue beat Wisconsin tonight. Boiler Up!
Sunday, February 13
Nothing New
Umm...I don't have anything to really write about today. I followed up the double-turning flying week with a weekend of studying mind numbing, pointless aviation questions. Looking forward to a short, but busy week and finally being done with this "screening" program. All I have left is that written exam tomorrow morning and my last three flights, one of which is a check ride. Flying once a day, I should be done by Wednesday and on my way back to Texas Thursday morning. The weather looks like it'll cooperate, too. Highs in the 60's and sunny, it almost feels like spring time!
Thursday, February 10
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Just like that, 24 flights down and 4 to go. Granted, one is another check ride, and there's a big written test I have to get through as well, but it's almost over!
The last two days have been two flights a day, one being a night flight, so it keeps me pretty busy and my sleep schedule is a little off kilter.But tomorrow I only have to fly one solo cross country flight, so it should be a fairly easy day. On top of that, the four of us in my class are far enough ahead in our training schedule that we're not going to have fly this Saturday, which we originally thought we would because of the weather cancels earlier in the week. Instead, we get to study all weekend for that aforementioned written exam. Basically, there's a 1,000 questions available that they choose 100 from for our test. We have access to all 1,000 questions, so it's just a matter of going through them all. And I think we have to pass with an 85%?
Anyways, the new class of RPA students is here getting started on their academics, and start flying next week, so it's nice to see new faces and have the IPs focus on someone besides the four of us who have been here since January. They all seem a little apprehensive because they know my class had 50% of the people fail out. Hopefully it'll do them some good and they'll study extra hard, because pretty much all of them have zero previous flight experience. The four guys that failed in my flight had zero flight experience before coming here, and the four of us who are left had at least a couple hours before we came here. Best of luck to them.
Sorry, no pictures. I've been too busy flying lately. Maybe this weekend.
The last two days have been two flights a day, one being a night flight, so it keeps me pretty busy and my sleep schedule is a little off kilter.But tomorrow I only have to fly one solo cross country flight, so it should be a fairly easy day. On top of that, the four of us in my class are far enough ahead in our training schedule that we're not going to have fly this Saturday, which we originally thought we would because of the weather cancels earlier in the week. Instead, we get to study all weekend for that aforementioned written exam. Basically, there's a 1,000 questions available that they choose 100 from for our test. We have access to all 1,000 questions, so it's just a matter of going through them all. And I think we have to pass with an 85%?
Anyways, the new class of RPA students is here getting started on their academics, and start flying next week, so it's nice to see new faces and have the IPs focus on someone besides the four of us who have been here since January. They all seem a little apprehensive because they know my class had 50% of the people fail out. Hopefully it'll do them some good and they'll study extra hard, because pretty much all of them have zero previous flight experience. The four guys that failed in my flight had zero flight experience before coming here, and the four of us who are left had at least a couple hours before we came here. Best of luck to them.
Sorry, no pictures. I've been too busy flying lately. Maybe this weekend.
Sunday, February 6
One Day Weekend!
Almost forgot it was Sunday.
Like I said earlier, we had to fly yesterday due to the weather earlier in the week causing us to cancel flights. Makes for a long week. Slowly chugging along and getting through flights. Yesterday's flight was a cross country flight with an IP. We basically just flew to an airport about 70 miles east of Pueblo, did a landing, and came back. Timing was perfect, because on the way back we had to dodge a snow shower that was coming in from the north. Wish I could have taken a picture, because it looked awesome. After we landed, it started snowing for a few hours.
Today was a much needed day off. Slept in, watched the super bowl, and did a little bit of flight planning for tomorrow. I'll be flying the same cross country flight that I flew yesterday, except I'll be flying it solo. Weather is supposed to be descent, so hopefully that holds out. Tuesday and Wednesday, however, is supposed to bring more snow. Right now, I think we're scheduled to fly a couple of night flights on those two days. Anyways, I only have 9 flights left to go! Hopefully I can get that done in the next two weeks, but it's up to the weather.
Here's a funny RPA related comic strip. It's from the online comic website Air Force Blues. Basically, the main character is an F-22 fighter pilot who naturally hates anything RPA related. Prior to this particular strip, he had gone to a hobby shop and bought a remote controlled airplane and crashed it the first time he tried to fly it. I've been following this comic for about 5 years. It's great, once you get the storyline down. (click on it to be able to read it)
Like I said earlier, we had to fly yesterday due to the weather earlier in the week causing us to cancel flights. Makes for a long week. Slowly chugging along and getting through flights. Yesterday's flight was a cross country flight with an IP. We basically just flew to an airport about 70 miles east of Pueblo, did a landing, and came back. Timing was perfect, because on the way back we had to dodge a snow shower that was coming in from the north. Wish I could have taken a picture, because it looked awesome. After we landed, it started snowing for a few hours.
Today was a much needed day off. Slept in, watched the super bowl, and did a little bit of flight planning for tomorrow. I'll be flying the same cross country flight that I flew yesterday, except I'll be flying it solo. Weather is supposed to be descent, so hopefully that holds out. Tuesday and Wednesday, however, is supposed to bring more snow. Right now, I think we're scheduled to fly a couple of night flights on those two days. Anyways, I only have 9 flights left to go! Hopefully I can get that done in the next two weeks, but it's up to the weather.
Here's a funny RPA related comic strip. It's from the online comic website Air Force Blues. Basically, the main character is an F-22 fighter pilot who naturally hates anything RPA related. Prior to this particular strip, he had gone to a hobby shop and bought a remote controlled airplane and crashed it the first time he tried to fly it. I've been following this comic for about 5 years. It's great, once you get the storyline down. (click on it to be able to read it)
Wednesday, February 2
...And Then There Were Four...
Just a quick update:
The bad weather that swept the country kept us from flying Monday, Tuesday, and my first flight today. My first flight today was canceled because it was supposed to be a solo flight, and the weather minimums are more stringent, so they had me sit it out. My second sortie (flight/mission) was supposed to be with an IP, but the weather improved enough to let me go solo, so that was fun. I only scared myself once, on a landing.
Bad news, is that all three of our guys failed their last chance flights today. They were kind of set-up for failure, in my opinion, because they had to sit around for four days not flying, losing that "feel for the plane," and do nothing but think of the flight itself. So, now our flight is down to just four people. 50% washout rate, so far. It's depressing for the rest of us, seeing them all have to go back to San Antonio, but we're all scheduled for another double turn tomorrow (and probably Friday, too) and we're going to have to fly this Saturday to catch up for the two lost days earlier this week. Should make for an awesome Super Bowl weekend. At least the Colts aren't in it, I guess. 14 flights down, 12 to go!
Here's a picture my IP took as I finished my first solo (since pictures in flight are prohibited)
The patch is a big hit with everybody. Even some of the IPs are wearing them. Unfortunately, the eight stars represented the eight of us who were in the flight. Maybe we should sharpie out four of them, now?
The bad weather that swept the country kept us from flying Monday, Tuesday, and my first flight today. My first flight today was canceled because it was supposed to be a solo flight, and the weather minimums are more stringent, so they had me sit it out. My second sortie (flight/mission) was supposed to be with an IP, but the weather improved enough to let me go solo, so that was fun. I only scared myself once, on a landing.
Bad news, is that all three of our guys failed their last chance flights today. They were kind of set-up for failure, in my opinion, because they had to sit around for four days not flying, losing that "feel for the plane," and do nothing but think of the flight itself. So, now our flight is down to just four people. 50% washout rate, so far. It's depressing for the rest of us, seeing them all have to go back to San Antonio, but we're all scheduled for another double turn tomorrow (and probably Friday, too) and we're going to have to fly this Saturday to catch up for the two lost days earlier this week. Should make for an awesome Super Bowl weekend. At least the Colts aren't in it, I guess. 14 flights down, 12 to go!
Here's a picture my IP took as I finished my first solo (since pictures in flight are prohibited)
and here's a picture of our class patch that we designed and just got in on Monday:
The patch is a big hit with everybody. Even some of the IPs are wearing them. Unfortunately, the eight stars represented the eight of us who were in the flight. Maybe we should sharpie out four of them, now?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)