Reach for the Sky!

Went up for some solo maneuver practice tonight. Started with a planned cross-country to Willmar, (KBDH), with a diversion to Winsted (10D). Did some practice approaches at Winsted, then headed southwest to work on maneuvers. I worked on approach stalls (both level and banked), steep turns, etc..

Flight time tonight 1.5 hours (Solo).

I am scheduled both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, however there is a Presidential TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) on Saturday afternoon due to President Obama visiting MSP. This will interfere with my flight training schedule.

Some pics from this flight:

10/21/2010 - Lake Minnetonka

10/21/2010 - Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM)

Went up tonight for some more check ride practice and preparation. Started off with a planned cross-country flight from KFCM (Flying Cloud Airport) to KABR (Aberdeen Regional, SD). Once we got to just past Lake Waconia, the instructor had me divert to the northwest (simulating weather moving in from the southwest), and said your GPS is dead, and your NAV radios are not working. Looking at my sectional chart,  I estimated that Winsted (10D) was about 25 degrees to the right, and about 10nm. So I turned toward Winsted, and looked for landmarks, lakes, etc. to mark my position. Then announced my approach into Winsted.  Winsted (10D) is a grass strip.

I practiced 5 landings (soft field) at Winsted, including 1 simulated engine-out emergency landing, beginning at 3800ft, and circling down to the runway. After Winsted, we headed back toward Flying Cloud, and tried some maneuvers on the way pack. We covered Approach Stalls, Banked Approach Stalls, and Steep Turns.

When we got back to Flying Cloud, we were in the right downwind for runway 28R, almost abeam the numbers when the instructor pulled the throttle to idle, and said “You just lost your engine”. So, I performed an emergency engine out landing (simulated of course). Another perfect landing!!

1.5 hours total flight time tonight, which brings the total to 38.9 now.  I still need 1.0 hours of solo, and 0.1 hours of simulated instrument before I have the hour requirements covered, but I have a bunch of flights scheduled over the next 2 weeks before my check ride on the 4th.

Getting close!!!!!! It’s getting exciting!

Went up this afternoon for some solo maneuver practice.  It was quite windy today, with gust to 25kts+ at 3000ft.  Practiced ground reference maneuvers.

Then headed back to Flying Cloud, where the wind was from 310 at 14kts (gusting to 20kts).  Landed on runway 28R. I was worried that it would be a sloppy landing due to the gusty crosswind, but it actually ended up being a pretty good landing.

More solo practice on Thursday (Oct 14th) weather permitting. I plan to practice Stalls, Slow Flight, Climb/Descent, Climb/Descent with turns, etc.

My check-ride is schedule for Thurdsay, November 4th, 2010 at KFCM (Flying Cloud Airport).

That means I have a few weeks to really hit the training and study hard. It looks like the next few weeks are going to be both busy, and expensive!

Went up for a training flight today.  We did lesson 20 in the syllabus, which is the Stage check for Stage II.  All went well.

I planned a cross-country flight from KFCM to KHCD, with weight and balance. Then as we flew, we did an in-flight diversion to KGYL.  Also checked slow flight maneuvers both visual and under the hood, as well as steep turns. We practiced simulated instrument failures (vacuum system failure with loss of attitude indicator and directional gyro), as well as loss of GPS and VOR navigation. At that point, you are flying by the map (pilotage).

Did well on all of it.

I have some solo flights scheduled this coming week. Will practice maneuvers in preperation for the check-ride.

1.4 hours today (.3 simulated instrument).   Total time now at 36.1