If you....

want to learn a little bit about yourself, learn to fly. My CFI told me that I put very high expectations on myself and tend to beat myself up when I don't meet them. That I need to relax, shake off the failures, and move on. I never thought that I put high expectations on myself. I am not very competetive, haven't pushed to be at the top of the corporate ladder. I just did my job and that's it--or so I thought. I have spent a lot of time one on one with him, and he has taught a lot of folks to fly, so it interests me that he thinks that. I do stress out when things don't go right, but I never analyzed it at all. The point of all this is that I guess you can learn things about yourself that you had not thought about from unexpected sources. Amen.

Milestone?

We did pattern work in at KBOI yesterday. I pulled off the first landing where my CFI said "excellent." I also pulled off my first landing where he neither touched the controls nor said a word. He just sat there. No, it wasn't the one he called "excellent." He assured me that the first without coaching is a milestone... that I proved that I have the skills and abilities to be a pilot. I have a feeling that he overstated its importance to build my confidence, but I am taking it! Next milestone, solo. Then written test, solo cross country, solo night cross country, and check ride. Time to hit the books again and get ready for the written.

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.

Weather, Solos, and Mexico

I just got weathered out for the second time this week. We are going to Mexico on Saturday for 10 days, so it will likely be another 2 weeks before I can fly. I wonder what that will do to my landing consistency. Maybe it will help. Who knows. I told my CFI that my skills were marginal and couldn't take a lot of erosion. He said not to worrry, that he would "whip you back into shape quickly."

A friend asked about "scheduling a solo." From what I have read, they normally don't schedule it. You go up with the CFI for a bit and then he tells you to land. Upon landing he asks for the logbook and signs you off to solo. He then asks you to take off, stay in the pattern, and do 2 or 3 touch and goes on your own. From that point on, you are allowed to solo within the parameters that he establishes.

At the end of the solo, they often cut your shirttail off. I have seen them hanging on the wall at the club--signed and dated. I don't have that many shirts, so I may pass on that. I have read two explanations for the tradition.

The first is that in the old days the instructor rode in the back and the student in front. With no intercom and an open cockpit, the instructor would tug on the shirttail of the student to get his attention. At solo, you don't need the tail anymore.

The other explanation is that pilots wore scarves to protect their necks and faces in open cockpits. They also used them to wipe their goggles. The old planes used to puke oil that, along with other crap, mucked up the goggles. Students, however, weren't allowed to wear scarves and had to wipe the goggles with their shirttails. Cutting it off after solo was symbolic of being able to wear the scarf of the pilot from that point forward.

I like the second explanation best. Off to Mexico. It's 80 to 85 there in the day. 65 to 70 at night. I think I will do just fine! Going to a place I have been before, so I know it's great.

Wow.. Great link

This pretty well sums it up. It was made by a guy that posts a lot to the forum of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Hit the link (Windows or Real) for the January 26 post.
http://160knots.com/videos.htm

Weather Goes to Hell Quickly

We took off today in marginal weather, made one loop around the pattern in Boise and landed. From the time we agreed to give it a shot and started the pre-flight, the wind shifted 180 degrees, the visibility dropped markedly, and it started to snow. I am glad I wasn't heading out for a cross country.

Still Working

More landings. Still working on it.