Prepping for 2016 Flying

Last year this time, I was just passed my first solo in the Cherokee Warrior. It was not my first solo ever, however, it was my first time soloing in the plane I really wanted to complete my training in.  Since then, I have experienced a range of emotions, mostly positive. I overcame many of my fears and finished my training in a very short period of time. When I say fears, I mostly mean anxieties of flying outside of my safety zone. I have not admitted this but I do have a fear of heights. Pretty strange, huh?  

I have always prided myself on being safe and prepared.  Most of my landings are in the category of 'short field', as in placing the airplane where I want, within 100 feet.  A friend, Carolyn, helped me to get over my cross wind anxiety and the end result is not sweating the 20 knot cross wind as much as I did before.  

My goals for the year are to start instrument training and also take more cross country flights. Most of my flights have been no longer than an hour in one direction. From my location here in Cleveland can take me well into Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, into parts of West Virginia and Virginia, and even Kentucky.  Since my goal is to be able to take mini-vacations, it only makes sense to prepare myself for longer flights into new and exciting locations.

While it is always fun to fly into locations such as Put-in-Bay (party center of Ohio and Michigan) and Kelly's Island, to fly into West Virginia and other areas to the south will be more exciting for me personally.  

I also plan to get checked out in the Piper Cherokee Archer, which is slightly more powerful than what I fly currently, the Piper Cherokee Warrior. On warmer days with 2 to 3 passengers it will be much safer with the Archer. I must say that flying the Bonanza was a very humbling experience!  WOW, what a rush. 

2016, should be a lot of fun as I continue to grow and move towards the Instrument and Commercial ratings.