9 weeks and 1 day, 7 academic tests, and 37 sims later and I can finally check RIQ off my list. Flew/passed my check ride today and that was it. I was the first one of my class to finish (since I was fast tracked in order to get done in time for my family vacation I had planned before they decided to bump the class back a week), so I didn't really know exactly what to expect besides the obvious hour-long ground evaluation and the 1.3 hour simulator flight. I think it was that fear of the unknown that made me study so much, but it paid off, because the overall check ride didn't seem that bad. My pre-check, however, was awful. I was so worried about everything at once that I was having trouble focusing on what was actually happening at the moment. So my timing was off on approaches, I forgot some checks and steps here and there, and my heading and altitude would drift occasionally as I got distracted. But I guess they say that if you do bad on your pre-check, you usually do good on your check. Seemed to be the truth in my case.
Looking back, I don't think I've ever been that stressed out for such a long period of time, or had that much information process through my brain. It hasn't exactly settled in 100% that I'm done and I don't have to do any more flight planning, or stand-up EPs, or be quizzed on the operating limitations of the T-6 or any of the other billion tid-bits of information we're supposed to know. Not done forever, that is, but done for the foreseeable future. We'll most likely get back to the EPs and such when we get to the FTU and start learning to fly whatever RPA we get assigned to. For the time being, though, it's going to be glorious! I can finally get back to a normal life...exercising on a regular basis for more than 30 mins at a time...cooking actual meals instead of living off of pre-cooked chicken and Subway sandwiches...staying up later than 9 on a weekday...awesome!
To celebrate, I get to see my family and go on this short vacation we had planned. Next class starts on the 26th and I'll be on the road traveling and visiting people I haven't had the chance to see since I started RIQ, so consider this my post for this coming Sunday. Peace out, thanks for reading, my (much-needed) break starts now!
