Plane Conversations

I was just reading through some of my past blogs, and realized that I have gone through an enormity of ups and downs in my journey to becoming a pilot.

A PILOT!  I’m a PILOT!  It’s still seems surreal at this point.  Probably because the elation has not yet worn off.  But I did it.  I realized a dream.  And it’s a wonderful feeling.

It was a long time coming.  One year, and 19 days.  There were some obstacles which were unavoidable, like weather of course, but also the fact that I had to switch from the Cessna 152 after 10 hours of flying, to the Katana DA20 (with 7 months of no flying in between) because of an engine issue.  But looking back, switching to the DA20 was the best thing that could have happened to me.  It has a GPS!  And is a joy to fly.

The weeks leading up to my final test (check ride and oral) were the hardest I’ve had to endure in a long time.  The stress was building, knowing I would have to sit with my examiner while he asked me questions which, at the time, I was not sure I would be able to answer.  Why would anyone voluntarily submit themselves to this much pressure, I wondered.  My fear was that I would not retain all of the information that I was forcing into my head.  But my instructor went above and beyond and spent hours going over what he thought were my weak spots.  This helped enormously, and built my confidence to a point which allowed me to push on.  It’s amazing how a glimpse of success motivates you to push through the tough times.  Looking back, it’s moments like those which make me proud of the tenacity I showed.

I’m not sure how it all came together, but it just did.  I have to give thanks to my Instructor Kirk, who spent hours teaching me to aviate, navigate, and communicate.  I said it in the beginning and I will say it again, choosing a good instructor is invaluable.

So if your instructor signs you off as ready for your check ride, then you probably are.  Have faith in that.

These are some things which I found extremely useful in the lead up to my check ride:

-          Work on your weak areas – of theory, and in the airplane.

-          Fly as often as you can in the week before your check ride to be completely comfortable.  Leaving a week in between shouldn’t matter too much, but I was glad to have gotten in a few good mock check rides before the big one.

-          Nice segway:  Do mock check rides with your instructor.  This will allow you to feel comfortable with the process and to see the order of how things will likely go along.

-          If you can, do a mock check ride with a different instructor – sometimes something that they do differently may help you in your learning process if something is not sticking.

-          Know your aircraft – where everything is, and how it works.  And how it flies best (e.g trim, speeds, etc)

-          You won’t know the answers to all of the questions the examiner will ask you, but know where to find them.  Tab your books if you have to.

-          Know the area – if you can find your first few points on your mock check rides, this will take the pressure off a little so you can ensure you will not miss them.

So I did all of these things, but still, everything did not go perfectly.  But I’m happy to say I wasn’t a complete bumbling fool in the oral.  Somehow, I was able to dig the answers out of my brain.  I guess they did stick!

And just like clockwork – the weather came down after my oral.  So we deferred the flying portion to a better day.  Four days later, weather and I had coincided.

Right before my Examiner arrived in the FBO on the day of my checkride, I was sitting, looking for the millionth time at my flight navigation log, nauseous from anxiety.  Within ten seconds of Reece arriving, he had put me at ease.  I gulped and just decided to do what I had done many times before.

I went through my navigation log and my first leg to Chattanooga, explaining my check points, my heading, my altitude, the weather.  This was nowhere near as scary as I thought it would be.  Feeling ok with my paperwork he said “Let’s go terrorize the skies”.  Ok, lets!

I flew well, but they were definitely not the best take-offs or landings I’ve done.  But they were to standard.  My steep turns were great, my power on and power off stalls were pretty darn good, and I even used the VOR without messing up.  The entire check ride turned out to be fun, which was very unexpected.

It was an unbelievable experience which I will never forget.  Taxiing in along Alpha and Juliet to the ramp I could see Reece signing “S” in the columns to the right.  I can only assume “S” was for satisfactory, which would mean I had passed.  When I turned off the engine he smiled at me and said “you did it”.  Nothing could have made me happier than hearing those words.

I did it.  I am a private pilot.

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I’ve been flying the Katana DA20 for about 17 hours now, and I finally feel as though I have gotten over the hump of the directional control issues I was having due to the differential braking steering on the airplane.  It hit me one day when I was explaining to a colleague that I was pushing on the right rudder pedal as though I were applying brakes on a car.  I’ve been driving for 19 years, so I obviously know you have to apply the brakes gently.  Not so with rudder pedals on an airplane.  It’s an even pressure, but it is HARD pressure, especially when the rudder becomes more effective with increased speed.

During each and every take-off my instructor Kirk was telling me “right rudder, right rudder!”, with my response of “I am, I am!”.  Well, I was, but it was too gentle pressure.  Thankfully, after a few swirly take-offs, it has now clicked in my head about the amount of right rudder  I need to apply in order to maintain directional control on the runway roll and landing roll out.  (The right rudder is to counteract the left turning tendency in an airplane due to the torque of the engine and a number of other factors).  I’ve also overcome my fear of talking on the radio, unusual attitudes, and power on stalls.  I feel as though I am getting over the humps that always seem to appear on the  road to achieving a goal.   But the end result wouldn’t be so sweet if it were easy, right?  And like everything, the more you do it, the better you become. 

I like this quote by Cardinal Newman – “A man would do nothing, if he waited until he could do it so well that no one would find fault with what he has done.”

So, where am I at now?  After a successful stage check ride with another instructor today, I realized I’m past the hurdles which were nicely set up in front of me, and now ready to tackle my next.  My solo flight.

I’m almost certain that the next blog you read of mine will be of my solo flight.  Stay tuned. 

In the meantime, here’s a video of me flying the pattern and landing at MQY (Smyrna, TN) with my instructor Kirk. 

Want to learn to fly?  Wings of Eagles (MQY)  and Wings of Eagles, JWN

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After a six month hiatus from flying, I am finally back in the left seat!  And the one thing that has become apparent to me since starting up again is how the end result of some things we choose to do is worth enduring discomfort or hard work.  And this pertains to everything we choose to do in life.  If you don’t enjoy it, then why do it?  Well, of course sometimes there are things we have no choice in, but with flying, this is something I choose to do.  It can be uncomfortable at times  – like the first time Kirk pushed my head into my lap, put the plane in an unusual attitude and said “your airplane.”  He then gave me controls while I was wearing a hood which didn’t allow me to see outside of the cockpit; so, I had to use only the instruments to regain control, returning to normal and level flight.  It can also be hard – like when I have to spend my weekends studying for a ground school test, while everyone else is out having a good time in the gorgeous Tennessee spring weather.  But if you love something, all the other “stuff” becomes worth it. 

During the time I was not flying, I studied only a little (because I hate to), but then ramped up my efforts as the time I knew I would be back up flying again drew closer.  On Monday of this week, I took my first flight in the Katana DA20.  Now you might remember I was flying a Cessna 152 last year, but due to maintenance issues, I had to change to the DA20.  The switch was what took me so long to get back to flying; but, now I’ve done it and and I’ve jumped back in. 

I was nervous about flying again after so long, and especially because I had never flown this type of aircraft before.  But let me tell you, I love this airplane!  All the line service staff at CFM told me I would, but I still had a soft spot for the Cessna 152.  Well, now that I have flown this airplane a few times, I think it is just wonderful.  The canopy allows for a better visual, and it is a very easy airplane to fly.  Steering with brakes is the one thing which has me a little rattled.  Because the nose wheel of the DA20 is not linked to the rudder pedals, turns while taxiing must be made with differential braking.  I was a little swirly on the runway the first time I had to takeoff, but thankfully, Kirk was there to keep me on the runway.  I know in a few lessons I’ll have that down.

I’m somewhat starting all over again lesson-wise, but I’m okay with that because I’m excited to be flying again!  And all the study and discomfort that I know I will sometimes experience in this learning process will pay off with the fact in all the fun I have flying.  I guess the one thing I’m saying here is that sometimes we have to do things we don’t like, but look at what you get at the end.  What do they say?  No pain, no gain?    

I’m going to be blogging about my experiences on a regular basis again.  So follow me along the path to becoming a pilot, because I am definitely going to be sharing some interesting stories, on life in the left seat, and life in general.

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I can’t remember what it was like the first time I flew, but I was fortunate enough to get a taste of that incredible feeling when I watched three very special girls take their first flight ever. 

Alexis (8), Sidney (9) and Skylar (10) come from a East Tennessee, an area hard hit by the recession.  But from the beaming smiles on their faces, you wouldn’t know it.  The three little girls from Huntingdon were excited to be spending their first vacation with their Great Uncle Mike, and he wanted the girls to experience many firsts; firsts which may kids their ages from more affluent areas of the country have experienced by now.  Mike took the girls to the mall for the first time, made a pizza from scratch, and went boating, all of which they had never done.  But he had the brilliant idea that a first flight in an airplane would help him clinch the title of The Greatest Great-Uncle Ever!  If the girls’ expressions were anything to go by, he was on to something.

I met the girls at the FBO, and they were quiet and shy at first, but I’m sure that was because of the nerves. I took them out onto the ramp and showed them some of our larger turbo-prop Jetstreams.  Their eyes grew wide with each cool new thing I showed them; the large propellers, the plush interior of the airplane, and the cockpit with a million knobs and buttons.  I could hear the trepidation in their voices as they asked me questions, and then see the excitement in their faces and as we inched closer to the little Diamond DA40, which would be their plane for the next hour.

After some photos of Great Uncle Mike and the girls beside the airplane, Paul Lamb (the Owner of Wings of Eagles), and Chris  Carnett (the flight instructor who was taking the girls on the flight) met with the girls and made sure that they were buckled in nicely, and had their headsets on correctly. 

Then, Chris closed the canopy, fired up the engine, and then off they went!    

Excitement and nerves are an uncomfortable feeling for some.  But others just love it.  I guess that’s why there are adrenalin junkies out there, and then those who wish to only do the things they are comfortable with.  I was really proud of Alexis, Sidney and Skylar.  They stepped out of their comfort zone.  They tried something new.  They got to fly! 

If there is one thing I hope they took away from this experience, it is a sense of accomplishment and fearlessness.  I hope they continue to find the inspiration to keep exploring new things throughout their life.  

Kudos to Great Uncle Mike!

The letters below were written by the girls after the flight:

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