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-   -   I'm a new Intrument Pilot (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=146928)

lr172 02-21-2017 05:07 PM

I'm a new Intrument Pilot
 
Last fall, I set out to gain my Instrument rating. I did all of the training in my RV-6A and today passed my check-ride. I thought it was a great experience to learn these skills in my RV, as they taught me from the very beginning how diligent you must be on flying the airplane and that any distraction can allow you to wander. I think back to my first lesson and how far behind the airplane I was. I suppose it could be discouraging for some, but when it finally comes together, it is a great sense of accomplishment. I have to say that the advanced EFIS technology really makes some of this easy enough that I sometimes feel like I am cheating. My partial panel was covering the HXr and flying off the Mini-X :D With that said, I appreciate that I am ill equipped to fly a 6 pack airplane and would get rededial training if I ever chose to fly one.

To those that are considering going for their rating in their RV, I would encourage you to do so. The upside here is that I feel comfortable and confident in the airplane that I will be flying.

Thanks to those here that helped me by being a safety pilot!

Larry

ERushing 02-21-2017 05:35 PM

Congrats on your new rating!! Nothing wrong with taking another couple lessons and flying a rental with a six pack + instructor.

I did the first part of my instrument training in a Diamond DA40 with a G1000. About 1/2 of the way through my training the DA40 was taken offline. I completed the rest of my training in an old 6-pack 172 with a 430. It was an interesting experience to say the least!

You can also just fly a simulator like FSX and select an airplane with a 6-pack. Probably a cheaper option. I fly a sim 2-3 times a week to stay somewhat current in between getting out to fly real approaches.

C. Brenden 02-21-2017 05:58 PM

Congratulations! I know how much work and persistence that took! Good job!

blueflyer 02-21-2017 06:05 PM

good for you! I still recall how proud I felt after I passed mine. Congrats again!

vfr800 02-21-2017 06:29 PM

Got 'er done!
 
Congrats Larry! Enjoyed chatting with you a few weeks back. One of my favorite uses of the RV was training for and completing the DPE instrument ride, especially with GRT on the panel.

Well done, sir! Stay safe using that ticket for years to come.

Canadian_JOY 02-21-2017 06:31 PM

Congratulations, Larry!

Just out of curiosity, how do you have your HXr and Mini interfaced to your navigation sources? I have similar GRT equipment - HX and Mini-X, and am quite curious to know how you have things hooked up.

Thanks!

rzbill 02-21-2017 07:25 PM

Congratulations Larry.
As a friend said to me on my Instrument day "Remember this day, you are at the top of your game and may never be quite this good ever again".

Be careful friend. Toe in the water first.

As a side note, I read Robert Bucks book then. Much later, I read it again. Has more meaning now than it did then as a freshly minted ticket holder.

lr172 02-21-2017 08:57 PM

Thanks. I plan to get up a few times in the short term with 1000' ceilings and really work on being in the system, dealing with dsitractions and shooting approaches. I figure this is low enough to be real and high enough to keep out of real trouble. I feel that practice alone will further enhance some of my skills. It was interesting that I always felt that I was performing better and more proficiently with a safety pilot than with the CFII. I think it may have been the heightened attention required when the teacher wasn't there to lean on.

Larry

Chkaharyer99 02-21-2017 09:10 PM

Congratulations Larry.

That's a great accomplishment that I hope to achieve someday. If I could only figure out a way to do the training in my RV-8.

Jesse 02-21-2017 09:18 PM

Larry,

Congratulations! The trick is to stay current and to get/stay proficient. Id recommend exactly what you are planning. Look for days with decent minimums and practice being in actual and shooting approaches. Also, find a friend to be safety pilot and practice regularly. Take the opportunity to get very comfortable with using the Auto Pilot to shoot approaches while talking to ATC. Do the same by hand.

lr172 02-21-2017 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY (Post 1152091)
Congratulations, Larry!

Just out of curiosity, how do you have your HXr and Mini interfaced to your navigation sources? I have similar GRT equipment - HX and Mini-X, and am quite curious to know how you have things hooked up.

Thanks!

The challenging part was dealing with only 3 serial ports on the Mini. I set up three relays tied to a reversion switch. The first has the DU interlink in NC and a connection to my magnetometer in NO position. The second has a connection bridged to the AP links on the HX, allowing the bridging of the MINI and requiring the HX to be turned off (I will be changing this, as I feel better with a more traditional SPDT connection for this on the AP Tx side). The third relay bridges the nav input to my two radios (a DPDT switch chooses which radio will be fed to the Mini input NAV or GPS). I also connect the dedicated Trig Transx connection going directly to the Trig format interface (this has to be left off in software or it takes over control of the transx from HX).

I have some concerns over not wanting to be changing settings if in the soup if I lose the HX and I am taking out my SL30 and KLN-90 and replacing with a 430. The 430 can only provide serial-based CDI output for GPS-horizontal and I don't plan on adding ARINC to the Mini to get VLOC CDI data. My new plan is to connect a dedicated serial port from the 430 to the mini (assuming that the 430 won't hiccup from getting air data from 2 different sources - data should be the same courtesy of the display interlink). I will run the AP Tx feed to the common on a SPDT switch with the NC to the HX and the NO to the Mini. Rx is bridged as it is a multi-cast protocol. This will allow me to simply change which device controls the servos. I will leave the Display interlink in place and give up on the magnetometer, as I don't feel that I really need magnetic heading in the case of a failed EFIS. If I declare a loss of primary navigation, I am sure that ATC would accommodate me using track instead of heading. I will probably run the trig output from the Mini to a switch in the NO position. I may skip it. I just haven't decided how important it would be to have control over the Transponder in an EFIS loss. Certainly desirable, but not sure how critical.

I will still get ILS and V & H GPS data to the Mini if the AHRS fails but the DU is still working. The CDI data is passed over the DU interlink.

I bought a 5 Ah powersonc battery that I charge through a 20A GP diode (drops about .4 volts and fits into the float voltage range). The battery connection feed the single power input to the Mini. This eliminated a B/U switch.

Larry

sibriggs 02-22-2017 04:55 AM

That first solo flight into an overcast is almost like the very first time a pilot solos. Once you penetrate the cloud deck, you think well I 'm here now I got to get myself back down, by myself. :-0

terrykohler 02-22-2017 06:16 AM

Congratulations
 
Larry:
A few suggestions to aid in your new and never-ending journey...

File instruments on every cross country flight you take, even in CAVU weather and even if your destination doesn't have a published approach. The more you work with "the system", the more comfortable you'll become with it.

Practice often. Even if you fly every week in the Great Lakes area, you'll find that most IFR flying involves climbing thru layers and there will be very few times you'll actually do a full approach. Practicing is a great excuse to fly more.

Try to do as much flying as possible by hand. The auto pilot is your friend, but it can become your enemy if it turns into a necessary crutch.

Finally, relax and have fun. The more you practice, the more relaxed you'll become in actual conditions - even your passengers will notice this.

Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP

Neal Trombley 02-22-2017 06:22 AM

Congrats....cant wait to do the same thing

krw5927 02-22-2017 06:31 AM

Congratulations, Larry!

It was almost one year ago that I took the instrument checkride in the RV9A. It takes a lot of anxiety about weather out of cross country trips. As others have said, practice a lot and fly in the system every chance you get. Welcome!

turbo 02-22-2017 06:40 AM

real pilots FILE! nice going. i am assuming everything got to you. :)

lr172 02-22-2017 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo (Post 1152182)
real pilots FILE! nice going. i am assuming everything got to you. :)

It is due to arrive here tomorrow. I have ordered all of misc parts and hope to get it installed this weekend.

lr172 02-22-2017 07:20 AM

Thanks for all of the advice and ideas on best managing and further developing this skill. I appreciate it.

Larry

DeltaRomeo 02-22-2017 07:44 AM

Huzzah!
 
Larry,
Having taken the same written and checkride less than two years ago, I get how much of a milestone this is to you. How much a feeling of accomplishment.
Congratulations, Sir!
v/r,
dr

MK77 02-22-2017 07:56 AM

Congrats Larry!! The instrument is as tough one to get!

Dugaru 02-22-2017 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrykohler (Post 1152173)
File instruments on every cross country flight you take, even in CAVU weather and even if your destination doesn't have a published approach. The more you work with "the system", the more comfortable you'll become with it.

+1 on this. Filing instruments on every flight improved my procedures and radio skills. Now that you have the rating and understand how the system works, you can also learn a LOT by just listening to how ATC handles other pilots in the system.

Sam Buchanan 02-22-2017 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibriggs (Post 1152160)
That first solo flight into an overcast is almost like the very first time a pilot solos. Once you penetrate the cloud deck, you think well I 'm here now I got to get myself back down, by myself. :-0

I concur, that first solo flight through, above, and back through the clouds was a much bigger deal to me than the first primary solo.

Congratulations!

lr172 03-08-2017 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan (Post 1152210)
I concur, that first solo flight through, above, and back through the clouds was a much bigger deal to me than the first primary solo.

Congratulations!

I had my first instrument flight last weekend and spent almost 30 minutes in the clouds. Ceilings were relatively high, so approaches were visual. The first 30 seconds was quite "interesting." The skills kicked in pretty quickly and I felt pretty confident. One the return flight I climbed through 3000' of clouds to get on top and it felt really good. I felt prepared and it was a very satisfying experience.

Larry


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