Clik here to view.
Thanksgiving
Flying has been a source of joy in a year otherwise marked by professional upheaval and disappointment. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn to fly and experience so much in one year....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Niwot's Curse Thwarted (for now)
Last weekend, I had planned to fly from Gaithersburg, MD (KGAI) to Boulder, CO (KBDU) in a Cessna 182E. This would have been my longest cross-country trip to date at 1,300 nautical miles. The owner is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First tailwheel transition lesson
Yesterday, I made my first takeoffs and landings in an airplane with a tailwheel--otherwise known as a conventional landing gear--rather than the tricycle configuration of the Cessna 172. The Super...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tailwheel Transition Lesson #2
The crosswinds today were strong enough to be interesting humbling, but not too strong. It hasn't clicked, yet; it will.Not the plane that I flew.
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wheel Landings
That's not me in there, and that's also not a wheel landing While I didn't experience the predicted 25 knot gusts, the wind did keep things interesting at 2W5. We shared the pattern with a Citabria...
View ArticleRental checkout
Having not flown a Cessna 172 since last October, I thought it'd be a good idea yesterday to take a CFI with me to grade my air work, practice a few simulated emergencies, and hopefully shoot some...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tailwheel sign-off, Eastern Shore, Gin Gins
Sunday, I received my tailwheel endorsement in the Super Decathlon after sticking the wheel landings, simulating an aborted takeoff, flying a few power-off approaches, and making a couple of short...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First Aerobatics Lesson: Loops and Rolls
The snow never appeared in the Washington, D.C. area. It was a perfect morning to begin learning aerobatics in spite of earlier forecasts. This was the most fun I've had so far at the controls of an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Petersburg (W99) Wave Camp
I spent last week at Grant County Airport (W99) in Petersburg, West Virginia for Wave Camp. I was fortunate to get instruction and some experience soaring in mountain wave lift as well as the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Aerobatic Lesson 2: Loops, Slow Rolls, and Half Cuban 8's
I'm surprised the instructor didn't get sick during Sunday's lesson with all of the side slipping that went on while I tried to get the inverted-to-knife-edge part of the slow roll down. I'd feed in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First Flight in the Schempp-Hirth Open Cirrus
Having met the pilot in command (PIC) minimums to fly the club's Open Cirrus sailplane, I'd wanted to get checked out in it for the past couple of months. After watching several Cirri compete in The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Immelmann
After several botched attempts, the Immelmann seemed to make sense to me. Enter a little faster than the loop and maintain a steady pull until reaching an inverted slow-flight attitude. Push a bit to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Friday Soaring, Weekend Washout
I got to the airport extra early on Friday to assemble the Cirrus. The wings must be aligned just right before the wing spar pin--the only thing that holds the wings together--will slide into place....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hammerheads and a little bit of Wave
I have no relevant pictures, so here is Hangar Cat. Despite the forecast, the ceilings allowed for an aerobatics lesson on Saturday. I was happy to get back into the Super Decathlon after two...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My first non-pilot glider passengers
Waiting for our turn in the tow queue After reading the 0Z forecast Thursday evening, I texted my friend Jeff that I'd make the decision when I got to the airport in the morning. Though strong winds...
View ArticleSpin ground training
While we couldn't go flying last Saturday, we did knock out the ground portion of the spin lesson. I'm excited for this flight, a self-contained lesson in my instructor's aerobatic syllabus that he...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Flew my first soaring task
My soaring club established a 60 kilometer race course to create some friendly competition: the pilot with the fastest handicapped time each quarter gets a free 3,000 ft aerotow. This is great...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First solo wave flight, among other things
I topped out at 11,950 feet MSL It's been a while! Though I've certainly been neglecting this journal, I have been flying quite a bit lately. On Friday, I had my first solo mountain wave flight in the...
View Article