Cha-cha changes!

I really had my heart set on flying the Piper Warrior or even a140 for my training, but, I had to make the switch.

I enjoyed the location of my school. Only 10-15 minutes away and also 3 location. But, due to the cost, I have to now drive to Wadsworth Sky Park Field (15g). It’s really work the drive though. All but 5 minutes of the 45 minute drive are freeway.

The only downside is that I have to fly Cessnas. I want to fly Pipers. The other thing is, by suggestion, I am back to the Cessna 150/152 model which is a 2 seater. Yes, it’s a shock. But the important thing right now is to solo and get my license. Once I solo I may consider going up to the Skyhawk which is a 4 seater.

So far I took an intro and then a full hour lesson in the 152. Well, I have to admit, I was less turned off to it once I got started.

Sloppy take off and departure but I got over it in short order. I tend to climb at a higher airspeed so that I can look over the nose.

I found the 152 not too hard to manage and actually almost too fun to fly. Of course there are different procedures than in the Cherokee. The constant yanking of the carb heat was annoying. The slow electrical flaps were annoying. Climbing onto the wing to check the fuel cap and to visually check the fuel quantity was annoying. The visibility down was spectacular. The visibility in turns was down right scary because the wing cuts off your view completely.

First landing on my intro was okay. Too firm though. The landing on my second lesson was better and my third overall landing was crap by my standards. I miss ground effect in landings.

I looooooove the small field and that was a selling point to me. Skinny, 2,400 foot runways teach you how to land. You become a much better pilot at airports that make you fly right. I floated on my landings but that will change.

Also the small airports make you feel at home. At my old place, it was okay. At this Sky Park many of the people initiate conversations with you.

This airport reminds me of the long gone Chagrin Falls Airport. Man, I miss her.

First Flying Lesson. All Over Again

I was having butterflies in my stomach for two days. The excitement of flying again, that is OFFICIALLY flying again, was clearly taking over my thoughts.
I missed being in the air, and in control of the airplane. In fact, for years I even avoided small airfields due to the frustration that I was never going to have a chance to be a licensed pilot due to my transplants.
It was a cool day, but sunny and just a light breeze. The trip to Burke Lakefront took 5 hours. Okay, it was more like 15 minutes, but it seemed to take that long.
Bill was scheduled to be my instructor, but I ended up flying with Brian. A young’un. Too young to be my instructor, but so are many of the certified instructors these days are young and very qualified. Where do you think airline pilots get their start?
Pre-flight was easy enough, but I need to do the whole thing myself next time. Following the book with a few modifications worked out fine for me.
Start up on a cold day required 3 attempts and 4-5 shots of prime. Once running, the engine purred and we were off to the races. The radios were handled by Brian and everything flowed through the taxi, run-up, and takeoff.
Once we were southeast of Cuyahoga County airport D airspace we started maneuvers.
All of my maneuvers were fair to okay and since I have flown 1 hour in 18 years, I felt confident that I can hit everything on target soon.
30 degree turns were within range, but I have to work on my altitude holds and learn to trim and/or increase power for turns to offset drag.
Transition to slow flight was a hoot. While at cruise altitude and speed, you reduce the throttle to 1,700 RMPs and wait for the for speed to bleed off. This is not an easy maneuver to pull off without experience. I have to remember next time to reduce to 1,700 RPMs, and at 90 knots, to add in 15 degrees of flaps, then at 80 knots to add in 25 degrees of flaps and then at 70 go full 40 degrees of flaps, and when you are close to the desired speed add in the power to hold altitude. The nose up pretty much up into the sky and visibility over the nose is bad.
On the way back to Burke Lakefront I did a landing at Cuyahoga County and handled the radios. The landing was pretty smooth without excessive float. The take off was good and back to Lakefront and all went okay until we called in and found out that we were switched from 24 runways to the 6 runways, necessitating a downwind entry. Behind me was a Bonanza, and a Citation was also on the way in. We landed long since I was high in the pattern and rushed the turn to base for traffic flow.
It all went pretty well and I grade my lesson as a B- or C+ because I am so critical of myself. I remember how I used to fly and judge myself on those past performances. Brian told me to keep studying my ground school even though I passed last month and to not be so hurried.
I can not wait for my next time up.
My ASA headset should be in the mail tomorrow!

Okay, first lesson again!!

Here I am, planning for my first flying lesson.
Actually, it’s not my first one. That first lesson was years ago in Nashville when I was a young buck. Joe Smiley was my instructor at Cornelia Fort Airpark. Here I am many, many years later, starting all over again and while I am nervous, I am confident, I just wonder if I will fell the same 16 hours from now.
The forecast shows a high pressure cell over West Virginia, bringing the wind from the east, so I get to use the runway number 6 left or right. I like those because I get to fly over the stadium and Rock Hall of Fame.
The weather is calling for VFR and light winds.
Time to go read my Piper Warrior manual and review the procedures for the aircraft.
Wish me luck!

So, Why Do I Want to Fly??

Well as a young’un, I had dreams of flying a Boeing 727 for American Airlines. Way back then you could sit up front in the cockpit on the layover and chat with the crew. It was fun talking to them, quizzing them on the whys and how-comes of flying. It was even more fun showing them that I knew my way around the cockpit, could read charts and even knew procedures. I knew that my s**t didn’t stink when they let me read the checklists until we pushed back from the gate.

As I got older and when through this kick in the crotch called LIFE, new job, job loss, bills, living as a 20 year old, fighting for my medical, then a baby, I had to postpone for a looooooong time my dreams. Then, I had 2 transplant surgeries.

So, here I am, 30 years later and unable to realistically fly 73’s and other airliners. But, I can actually do something much better for society.

Angel Flight. I can volunteer for Angel Flight and help transport medical patients across the area.

I volunteer at the Cleveland Clinic in the transplant ward. Pre and post liver and kidney patients light up when they see that transplant recipients recover and are active in life in fairly short order. When I express my interest in flying patients, they are highly supportive and wish me well. Some told me that a former transplant patient flying them would be highly motivating to them.

There is nothing like watching a transplant patient go from sickly to seeing them months later fully recovered and active.

So, yes, my goal over the past year has been to help these patients. Many of them are coming from semi-remote areas and can reach Cleveland in a matter of 2-3 hours. So, to fly out and bring them to the area for their surgery will help them tremendously. Many of them are middle and low income. Not only transplant patients, but other patients need transportation. Angel Flight is filling that need.

I know what it is like to be flown from an outlying area to my home hospital.

So, no, I will not be flying the big jets, but I could be delivering something that is much more important.

FAA Written Test … 97%!

Last night I slept well. I woke up fairly early, and decided to do a little studying. I ended up only studying for about 35 to 45 minutes.
Yesterday was a bear because I studied for about five to six hours. I finally reached the saturation point around 3:00 in the afternoon. What I ended up doing was housework to keep my mind distracted. I wanted to go bowling but it was too late to get a lane. There is nothing like bowling in the afternoon to break up the stress. And based on my recent scores I need to as much stress relief as possible.
So, I took my leisurely drive across Cleveland to Cuyahoga County Airport. For some reason, I was nervous and I really don’t know why. Once I started to test things came right back to me and I took the test and probably no more than 40 minutes.
I had to go back and review two questions. One was on Tri-colored approach lights, and the other was on cloud conditions. After reviewing the results I got those questions correct and missed the other questions pertaining to terminal in our forecasts and reading weather charts.
So, the next step is complete. 97% I can accept.
Now I see that I could have gotten 100%. DANG!!

Written Test Day is Tuesday!

Well, I called CatTests and scheduled my Private Pilot Written test to be taken on Tuesday, February 3rd.
Years ago, something like 25 years ago, I took the test and passed with an 89%.
That was before on-line study, and on-line sample tests.
My Sample Tests with Gleim since I passed GS were 86% 3 days ago (yuck) and 96% tonight. Tonight I missed questions pertaining to weather. Not major weather questions, so there is no worry.
Thanks to ground school I saw a flaw in my calculations of wind direction, time and ground speed. I had the basics, but was doing them out of order. So, now that I have the proper order my answers were within .5% and with rounding I was on target.
I have 3 more sample tests to take if I wish, and I WILL take them.
I want my 96% or better!
I just realized last night that I can get my ground instructor’s certificate and train others. Sweeeeeeeeeet!!

I PASSED GROUND SCHOOL!!!

I could not wait to re-study, so I went on line today and tested out on the Gleim On-Line Ground School.
Yeah, I was nervous. Not because I was unsure if I was going to pass. Instead, I wanted that 95% or better.
I got out the tea, and took a sip, and dived right in. This time I went slow and read every question. I was very sure of them all except for 3 or 4 questions.
The end result was a 96%.
A 96% I can live with. It’s one better than a 95%, right?
Now, can I pull this off in February when I officially take the test? I hope so.