Reach for the Sky!

Today, I went up with my instructor for some wings training flights.  This is for the FAA Wings Pilot Proficiency program.  I completed the flight portion of phase 1, now have a few online courses to do then I will have completed Phase 1.

It was a great morning for flying.  The sky was clear below 12000ft, with winds variable at 4kts. We departed Minneapolis Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) runway 28R, then left turn to the southwest.  Once we got over to the practice area, we started with the maneuvers. Turns, Steep Turns, Slow Flight, Stalls, Spin Awareness. Then we headed over to Glencoe Municipal (KGYL) to practice a variety of takeoffs and landings. 5 Landings at Glencoe. Next we headed to Buffalo (KCFE) and went under the hood on the way there. While under the hood, I flew the RNAV 36 approach into Buffalo, with a circle to runway 18. After a landing at Buffalo, we departed and headed back to flying cloud.

We got a lot done in 2 hours of flight.  7 takeoffs/landings, a wide variety of maneuvers, 2.0 hours flight time including .7 hours of simulated instrument time.

Total log time is up to 79.0 hours now.   I plan to fly again next Saturday. I will likely get some more cross-country time in.  Winter is upon us soon, so I need to get some hours in before it gets too nasty.

Today was the day! The check ride!

Result:  PASSED!!!

I am now a licensed Private Pilot!

And now the next chapter in this adventure begins! I will be enjoying flying on my own, or with friends. I’ll be building up cross-country PIC time over the next 6 months or so.  Next summer, maybe around June or so, I’ll look into starting training for an Instrument Rating.

It’s been a long, crazy summer of training, so for now, I am just going to enjoy my wings for a while!

Now that I have passed the training and check ride, this blog will follow my adventures as a licensed private pilot.

Cheers!

Went up for some maneuver practice today, then some ground review (Aircraft maintenance logs, etc…). I received my logbook endorsements from my instructor essentially signing me off to take the check ride, as well as  filled out and submitted my application to the FAA.

All of the paperwork is ready to go for the check ride on Thursday!!!

1.1 hours today.

Total Time: 44.7 hrs /  Solo Time:  10.5 hrs

Today was lesson 26 (End Of Course Check), and the final lesson in the Jeppesen Syllabus.

Took off from Flying Cloud Airport headed towards Willmar, then diverted to Winsted. Started with a simulated engine out landing starting down from 3700ft with throttle at idle. Circled down to the runway for a perfect soft field landing.  Then we took off again, staying in the pattern for a normal landing.

Next we departed Winsted to the south to Glencoe. On the way to Glencoe, we practice low level ground reference maneuvers (S-Turns, Turns Around a Point, etc). Then at Glencoe, entered the left downwind for runway 31, and made 1 landing.

Headed back to Flying Cloud. When we got back to the hangar, we did about 1 hour of ground training/review. (Airspace, Regulations, etc…)

Tomorrow I’ll be going up for some solo practice, then I will meet with the instructor to go over maintenance logs for the plane, and finalize the application in preparation for the Check Ride.

The weather forecast for Thursday, November 4th (Check Ride Day), is Sunny and 48F.  It should be a nice day for a check ride!

Today was the Stage 3 check (the final stage). It was basically a check ride practice.

Started from Flying Cloud (KFCM) on a cross country plan to Willmar (KBDH), with a diversion to Winsted (10D).  1 Landing at Winsted, then went north towards Buffalo (KCFE), 1 landing at Buffalo, then flew northwest for an overhead view of Maple Lake airport (KMGG), before turning back towards Flying Cloud.

On the way back to Flying Cloud, we working on some manuevers. Went under the hood for some simulated instrument time, turns, navigation, slow flight, etc.

There is only 1 lesson left in the syllabus, and that is Lesson 26 – End of Course Check!!!

A week and a half now before my scheduled check ride!

Todays flight time was 1.4 hours (including .3 hours simulated instrument).

I now have all of the hour requirements completed.

Here are some pics from this flight:

10/23/2010 - Short Final for runway 9 at Winsted (10D)

10/23/2010 - Lined up for takeoff on runway 9 at Winsted Municipal Airport (10D)

10/23/2010 - Approach to Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE) Runway 35

10/23/2010 - Flyover view of Maple Lake Municipal Airport (KMGG)