"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
01/27/2019 at 01:17 • Filed to: None
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"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
01/27/2019 at 01:17 • Filed to: None | 13
| 11 |
It was a big day of flying for me. I completed my second solo flight. My instructor and I went around the pattern a few times, then I dropped him off, got back into the air, then headed to the practice area on my own.
I’m flying out of David Wayne Hooks airport (KDWH, circled in red below) which is under the airspace controlled by George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH) . When I say under, I mean that literally. The airspace immediately over KDWH is from the ground to 2,000'. As we fly northwest, that increases to 3,000', then 4,000'. For practicing stalls, we fly up to 3,500', so getting out from under KIAH airspace is a smart move. Nobody wants a call from the FAA about entering airspace without authorization.
That means it’s best to fly at least 10 miles out before practicing maneuvers that require a lot of altitude. That also means it’s a bit nerve-wracking to head out there on my own. As I told my daughter, it’s like driving on the interstate by yourself for the first time.
Well, I survived. It wasn’t without a bit of drama. The best part were the aircraft I shared airspace with today. I wasn’t able to snap pics for obvious reasons, so enjoy the ones I found online below.
The biggest drama happened when I came back to KDWH. An aircraft which had just taken off requested an immediate return to the airport. The pilot didn’t declare an emergency, but they treated it as one. Air traffic control got busy clearing everyone else out of the way so he could land. I happened to be in the pattern on my downwind leg when it all went down, so I had the chance to watch him turn on final and land. I was cleared to land right after him. Exciting stuff.
Here are the fun aircraft I saw today:
This is a Citabria. One was taking off as I was pre-flighting my plane.
A Cirrus Vision was taking off as I was taxiing to the runway.
There are a couple of T-6 Texans based at KDWH. This pic is particularly appropriate since one of the KDWH planes is yellow and the other silver, although neither of these are the same planes.
Svend
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/27/2019 at 01:52 |
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Sounds like you enjoyed yourself, well done.
shop-teacher
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/27/2019 at 09:38 |
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Good stuff
John Norris (AngryDrifter)
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/27/2019 at 16:36 |
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Congratulations!
CaptDale - is secretly British
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/28/2019 at 16:08 |
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Awesome! So unds like a fun day!
PyramidHat
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/29/2019 at 08:42 |
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Always a bit stressful when ATC gets busy and all you want to do is land...
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> PyramidHat
01/29/2019 at 09:28 |
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KDWH is really busy on the weekends. On one busy saturday it took almost half an hour to get into the air and I was bumped multiple times to let other traffic land. I’m glad I’m learning at a busy airport. A friend of mine who is a long-time pilot is really uncomfortable flying into controlled airspace. He does a good job of announcing his intentions, but gets a little freaked out when he has to talk to ATC.
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PyramidHat
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/29/2019 at 15:25 |
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I have a middle point...when I’m in practice I’m better with a lot of traffic. But if it’s been a while, I like the less crowded days. My gripe is when I’m sitting in the run up with the engine running, waiting for takeoff for 15 minutes...
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> PyramidHat
01/29/2019 at 15:34 |
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I’ve experienced that! When 35L is active, the big birds don’t have enough room to take off from taxiway hotel which is the furthest south along the runway . They have to back-taxi to the end of the runway. That just slows everybody down. I have successfully landed and taken off from 35R, but it’s safer for me to use the bigger runway, especially if I’m by myself.
ttyymmnn
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/29/2019 at 17:43 |
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I’ve been meaning to reply to this, if only to say “congratulations.” It’s neat that you wanted to do this and you went out and did it. Fly to AUS sometime and I’ll take pictures of you. The observation spot is on the GA runway, 17L/35R.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> ttyymmnn
01/29/2019 at 20:25 |
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KAUS is 110nm from KDWH, which makes it about an hour-long trip. The airport is in Class C airspace, so that will be something new for me. KDWH is Class D airspace sitting under Class B airspace.
That trip fits in well with my solo requirements which include:
5 hours of solo cross country flying;
1 solo cross country flight of at least 150nm total distance with full stop landings at 3 points and one segment of at least 50nm between T/O and landings; and
3 T/O’s and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
I think it would be great to meet up! You could take some pics and maybe we could grab some lunch.
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ttyymmnn
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/29/2019 at 21:04 |
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That would be great. Just let me know!