About Me and My Blog

I am nearly 65 and nearly retired. Still don't know what I am going to be when I grow up. I have three blogs. The first as a student pilot at age 59 (erico49.blogspot.com). I had always wanted to fly, but for one reason or another I had never been able to pull it off. The second documents my experience with the Topsy Turvy updside down planter that was advertised on TV (erico492.blogspot.com). And my current project--a redwood slab (redwoodart.blogspot.com).

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Catch Up

Well, Mexico was wonderful. Highs in the 80s, sun, sand, and great service. I am having a tough time getting my mind right after that. I returned last week and flew Monday and today. Monday was not a good thing. I didn't do well, was tight, and got pretty discouraged. I though that a couple weeks off would magically turn me into Mr. Landing... it just made me rusty. Today, at my CFI's insistence, I calmed the hell down and did much better. I am landing on my own all the time, but some are pretty ugly. Today, because of visibility issues in Nampa, we stayed in the Boise traffic pattern and I did very well (or at least better). I am not a "fluid" sort of guy and it shows. I had the same fluidity issue learning to ride the motorcycle, so it's not a surprise. We pretty much used one runway today (10R) while the other traffic used 10L. At one point however, they switched me over to 10L which put my traffic pattern over the city. Take off to the east, turn left and cross the freeway and the NY Canal, turn left paralleling the runway and the 2 more lefts to land. During one of those cycles they wanted me out of the pattern to work in a couple other aircraft and he told me to do a right 360 for spacing. I did a nice wide turn and flew over my office on the way back. Very cool. Nice view of the city.

On a separate note, I heard some great "flying in Mexico" tales from my CFI from back in his corporate jet days. Funny stuff.

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