Rabidsnipe
Active Member
I read the rules before posting this, and I have to say that it was unclear, if this post is off base, deleted. To avoid deletion I'll include this token "RV phrase". I really want to build an RV, I'm just not building yet.
Today I flew for the first time as the only occupant of the airplane; it was quite possibly the greatest feeling in the world.
My instructor, Bryan Rudd, had been telling me for quite some time that he thought that I was ready to solo; all that was left was taking a pre-solo checkride with the owner to verify his opinion. Weather and scheduling issues had drawn this process out for several weeks. This last week I went up on Tuesday and went through all the manuvers: slow flight, stalls, emergency procedures, unusual attitudes, ground reference manuvers, patterns, etc. All was ready to go for Thursday. But then freezing temperatures, freezing rain, and low overcasts blew in and grounded our flight for Thursday.
I talked with my instructor and he said that he would be gone almost all next week. I called up to the FBO (Crabtree Aircraft, Guthrie-Edmond Regional) and they said that the weekends were booked but they had a spot open on the C152 from 2:00-5:00 on Friday. I normally don't get off until 3:45 but I figured this might be my last shot for more than a week, let's take it.
I didn't find out that Glenn (the owner) was available to go up to give me the checkride until about 1:00 on Friday. So I rushed to get my things together at work so I could leave just before 2:00.
I got to the airport and the overcast was 2800' AGL (more on that later) and Glenn said that we could probably "squeak it in". The cloud cover was quickly moving off to the east and in another 30 minutes or so it would be clear. The 152 was still in the hangar as it had just completed its 100 hour inspection. I did a through pre-flight and went back to let him know I was ready.
After Jason pulled the plane out and fueled it we hopped in and were ready to go. Glenn was saying that we were just going to go up and fly the regular procedures just like Bryan had taught me; I was still nervous. I checked the weather and winds (32004KT) not bad for a checkride.
We took off and departed to the west while climbing. A little bit before 2300' I asked Glenn if we shouldn't level off at 2300' to stay clear of the clouds. "Now, let me ask you Chase, is that 2800' AGL or MSL?" "Good point." I was obviously still nervous.
We went up and did power off stall, slow flight, sharp turn, emergency procedure (engine failure), turn around a point, and then came back in and did three landings (2 no flaps, 1 20 degrees flaps).
On the ground Glenn commented that I had just done some nice flying and that he agreed with Bryan that I was ready to solo. We went back inside and Bryan came out to take me up for one last pattern. On short final a private jet (I forgot the type) pulled out onto the runway to take off,
and we went around for another pass turning cross wind early. We eventually got back on the ground and we went inside and he filled out my logbook and medical and let me loose.
I got back in the plane and starting working through the checklists once again. Checked the weather, once again, calm, clear and 7 miles. Not quite clear and forever, but close enough for today.
I made my radio call, "Guthrie traffic Cessna 5265L is taxing to runway 34, closed pattern, Guthrie traffic." So there I am almost to the end of the taxiway to do my run up when I hear, "Guthrie traffic, Cherokee xxxx is taxing to runway 16, Guthrie traffic." I was a little intrigued by this. I had been in the general area and in the pattern for about 1.5 hours now and 34 had been the runway in use the whole time. So here I am about to take my first solo flight and I'm about to use the wrong runway??
No big deal, after my run up I called to him and asked his location. I then informed him of my intention to go ahead and take 34 and stay in the pattern. He seemed understanding and thanked me for the position update and intentions.
Clear the area, taxi out, and firewall the throttle. Over the bump in the runway, hold the nose up slightly for the nose wheel shimmy, hit 60 knots and I'm flying. Turn crosswind and find the Cherokee still at the end of 16. As I turn downwind he starts to take off. I end up calling that I'm going to fly an extended downwind to allow the Cherokee to clear the area. Once he's off and has made his turn to the SE he calls back that he is clear. I turn base and come in for a landing that was "acceptable" as Glenn had called it.
Around for one more shot. This time I try 20 degrees flaps. Bring it on around, turn to final is spot on, I've nailed the glideslope, 2 whites 2 reds on the VASI all the way down, pull the flair as I get closer to the ground and she just floats onto the runway and **squeak**. The best landing I've ever had; I actually laughed in my headset. I thought that I ought to call it a day at that.
It never really dawned on me that I was in the plane alone until I cleared the runway and made my radio call. Holy ****, there's no one else in here! I guess I was just so focused on doing everything else that it never really dawned on me.
Got back to the FBO and was all smiles. There were several folks in the lobby there to congratulate me and Bryan had the scissors out already. I asked about the runway 34 vs 16 and he said that 16 is the preferred with calm winds; he swore he told me.
Today I flew for the first time as the only occupant of the airplane; it was quite possibly the greatest feeling in the world.
My instructor, Bryan Rudd, had been telling me for quite some time that he thought that I was ready to solo; all that was left was taking a pre-solo checkride with the owner to verify his opinion. Weather and scheduling issues had drawn this process out for several weeks. This last week I went up on Tuesday and went through all the manuvers: slow flight, stalls, emergency procedures, unusual attitudes, ground reference manuvers, patterns, etc. All was ready to go for Thursday. But then freezing temperatures, freezing rain, and low overcasts blew in and grounded our flight for Thursday.
I talked with my instructor and he said that he would be gone almost all next week. I called up to the FBO (Crabtree Aircraft, Guthrie-Edmond Regional) and they said that the weekends were booked but they had a spot open on the C152 from 2:00-5:00 on Friday. I normally don't get off until 3:45 but I figured this might be my last shot for more than a week, let's take it.
I didn't find out that Glenn (the owner) was available to go up to give me the checkride until about 1:00 on Friday. So I rushed to get my things together at work so I could leave just before 2:00.
I got to the airport and the overcast was 2800' AGL (more on that later) and Glenn said that we could probably "squeak it in". The cloud cover was quickly moving off to the east and in another 30 minutes or so it would be clear. The 152 was still in the hangar as it had just completed its 100 hour inspection. I did a through pre-flight and went back to let him know I was ready.
After Jason pulled the plane out and fueled it we hopped in and were ready to go. Glenn was saying that we were just going to go up and fly the regular procedures just like Bryan had taught me; I was still nervous. I checked the weather and winds (32004KT) not bad for a checkride.
We took off and departed to the west while climbing. A little bit before 2300' I asked Glenn if we shouldn't level off at 2300' to stay clear of the clouds. "Now, let me ask you Chase, is that 2800' AGL or MSL?" "Good point." I was obviously still nervous.
We went up and did power off stall, slow flight, sharp turn, emergency procedure (engine failure), turn around a point, and then came back in and did three landings (2 no flaps, 1 20 degrees flaps).
On the ground Glenn commented that I had just done some nice flying and that he agreed with Bryan that I was ready to solo. We went back inside and Bryan came out to take me up for one last pattern. On short final a private jet (I forgot the type) pulled out onto the runway to take off,
and we went around for another pass turning cross wind early. We eventually got back on the ground and we went inside and he filled out my logbook and medical and let me loose.I got back in the plane and starting working through the checklists once again. Checked the weather, once again, calm, clear and 7 miles. Not quite clear and forever, but close enough for today.
I made my radio call, "Guthrie traffic Cessna 5265L is taxing to runway 34, closed pattern, Guthrie traffic." So there I am almost to the end of the taxiway to do my run up when I hear, "Guthrie traffic, Cherokee xxxx is taxing to runway 16, Guthrie traffic."
I was a little intrigued by this. I had been in the general area and in the pattern for about 1.5 hours now and 34 had been the runway in use the whole time. So here I am about to take my first solo flight and I'm about to use the wrong runway??No big deal, after my run up I called to him and asked his location. I then informed him of my intention to go ahead and take 34 and stay in the pattern. He seemed understanding and thanked me for the position update and intentions.
Clear the area, taxi out, and firewall the throttle. Over the bump in the runway, hold the nose up slightly for the nose wheel shimmy, hit 60 knots and I'm flying. Turn crosswind and find the Cherokee still at the end of 16. As I turn downwind he starts to take off. I end up calling that I'm going to fly an extended downwind to allow the Cherokee to clear the area. Once he's off and has made his turn to the SE he calls back that he is clear. I turn base and come in for a landing that was "acceptable" as Glenn had called it.
Around for one more shot. This time I try 20 degrees flaps. Bring it on around, turn to final is spot on, I've nailed the glideslope, 2 whites 2 reds on the VASI all the way down, pull the flair as I get closer to the ground and she just floats onto the runway and **squeak**
. The best landing I've ever had; I actually laughed in my headset. I thought that I ought to call it a day at that.It never really dawned on me that I was in the plane alone until I cleared the runway and made my radio call. Holy ****, there's no one else in here! I guess I was just so focused on doing everything else that it never really dawned on me.
Got back to the FBO and was all smiles. There were several folks in the lobby there to congratulate me and Bryan had the scissors out already. I asked about the runway 34 vs 16 and he said that 16 is the preferred with calm winds; he swore he told me
.
