This is Awesome! [Update]

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 08/18/2018 at 23:48 • Filed to: None

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First training flight today!

Preflight, taxi, run up, takeoff, climb, turns, level flight, and descent. Clouds rolled in and we had to go IFR for landing, so no practice for me. No problem. It gave me a chance to fly through the clouds in a small plane for the first time. I also took the opportunity to take a few pictures. Next flight this afternoon!

[Update] The afternoon session was even better. No pics from the air because I was flying the entire time! As expected, the ride was a lot bumpier and a lot hotter. At one point, the outside temp read 102° F at 3,500 ft. We were baking in the cockpit.

During the flight, w e worked on takeoff, steep turns, stalls, navigation, working the pattern, and landing. We had a chance to do a single touch-and-go, but had to stop on the second go-around due to a developing thunderstorm. There were two really cool things we saw - gliders in action, and a bird. There’s a lot of glider activity near Hempstead which is just northwest of the airport I’m flying from . Don’t believe me? It says so right on the map!

The bird? It was a black vulture which was thermaling at 1,500 ft. We were close enough that we both thought we were about to have a bird strike. It finally veered off about 30 feet off our left wing. Too close.

The thunderstorms were massive, so I’m glad we were down before they hit the airport. Driving back to the hotel was more than a little sketchy.

Tomorrow looks to be another great day for flying!

LOREM IPSUM > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 10:51

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Awesome! Sorry you didn’t get any control time this am, but sounds like you enjoyed the experience anyway. Here’s hoping for clear afternoon skies!

TheRealBicycleBuck > LOREM IPSUM 08/18/2018 at 10:56

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I was in control until we had to go IFR for landing. I’m really hoping for good skies this afternoon so we can do some landings!

Ash78, voting early and often > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 11:08

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Our local flying club has 2 Archers and plans for a third Cherokee-based plane soon. My dad is a member, so he pays modest monthly dues gets to book them and fly for $90/hr all-in. It’s the way to go... the US is way behind on this business model, but it’s far, far cheaper than owning your own plane, or traditional rentals.

Maybe we’ll have to meet halfway and grab lunch in Jackson some time ;)

Idiot In The Garage Needs A New CGI Job... > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 11:11

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Very Cool. What has it taken money and time-wise to get you to this point? 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 11:17

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Awesome man! Enjoy every minute of it! :D

LOREM IPSUM > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 11:18

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Ah, I misunderstood. Better than I thought then! Either way, I'll hope for the clouds to dissipate along with you.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 12:02

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Nice!

TheRealBicycleBuck > Idiot In The Garage Needs A New CGI Job... 08/18/2018 at 12:10

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So far, ~$500 plus the rental and instructor today. 

WilliamsSW > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 12:33

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Right rudder!

Breaking through the clouds on the climb is one of the best feelings. As is breaking out on the descent and seeing the runway lights!

Glad your enjoyed it!!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 13:00

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Nice, I had no such formal training. My dad was a carrier pilot and he used to have a couple planes off and on. He would let me take over and give me pointers. I tried to fly, and had a “guaranteed” flight contract when I went in the Corps but nobody was retiring at the time so I went to intel. My dad used to try and make my friends puke in the Stearman! He had a twin engine as well. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > Ash78, voting early and often 08/18/2018 at 13:39

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I looked into a flying club. I can only find one in my area and it is “being formed”. I tried calling the guy who’s trying to put it together. He answered the phone, told me he was at work and couldn’t talk, took down my number, then never returned my call.

The Piper I flew this morning is $90/hr all-in. It’s an older plane and the accommodations are a bit tight, but it will do for now. Renting a plane back home (I stayed the weekend in Houston) will cost about $40/hr more. I ran the numbers. It will save me about $3,000 in rental fees if I buy an older plane. Since my son wants to get his license too, that’s $6,000 between the two of us. He has a friend who wants to get his license too, so we might have the beginnings of our own flying club. The big challenge will be finding the right plane and a place to park it. Hangar space is at a premium in the Baton Rouge area.

TheRealBicycleBuck > WilliamsSW 08/18/2018 at 13:51

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We had mostly clear skies when we started. On climb, the CFI had me turn between a couple of small clouds like they were slalom cones. We went up to 1,500, cleared class B airspace, did some turns, climbed to 2,500, did some turns, climbed to 3,500, did some turns, then had to turn for home because the clouds had moved in. I took us down to 2,500, then we had to call into traffic control for IFR. After that, the CFI flew and I had a chance to take a few pictures.

The weather looks good for the afternoon, so I’ll be heading back to the airport for a 4:00 flight.

WilliamsSW > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 14:41

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Class B? Where are you flying out of?

I learned under the ORD Class B myself. A bit of a PITA at times but it made me pay attention closely to where I was at.

Sounds like fun- hope 4pm works out with clear skies!

TheRealBicycleBuck > WilliamsSW 08/18/2018 at 15:02

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KDWH. KIAH is E/SE of us. Class B is above us at 2,000'.

The only thing I really don’t like is the constant chatter. It makes it hard for my CFI to provide instructions since traffic is always talking.

I’m hoping the weather holds. Nice puffy clouds right now.

Only Vespas... > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/18/2018 at 15:22

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Good move!  Nothing is more exciting and rewarding than learning to fly.  Voice record all your sessions and play them back to hone your skills.  I learned in Cherokees as well and still have a fondness for them.  Now, after getting my private, I’m working on my glider rating.  Very different, very cool.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Only Vespas... 08/18/2018 at 15:30

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Thanks! How did you record your sessions?

I actually started with hang gliders, so I know where you’re coming from. It’s a very different experience.

WilliamsSW > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 00:07

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How did you lik e doing stalls? Did you go all the way to the break?

102 @ 3500 is insane. You need to switch to the 172 - I used to do pattern work with the windows open on hot days.

Chariotoflove > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 00:08

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Wow, so jealous. 

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 00:18

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Nice job. Now send some of that rain our way!

TheRealBicycleBuck > LOREM IPSUM 08/19/2018 at 01:08

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Thankfully, I didn’t dissipate, but the clouds did and we had a great afternoon!

LOREM IPSUM > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 01:13

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Happy to hear it. On both counts, lol.

TheRealBicycleBuck > WilliamsSW 08/19/2018 at 01:21

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Stalls are ok. We went all the way to the break every time, but the instructor let it break harder than I did. A friend of mine got me used to spins, so straight stalls aren’t that scary to me. I’m a cheap bastard, so I’m not terribly excited about spending the extra dough. For tomorrow (later today, I see), we’ll be flying a Piper 160. It’s the same price as the 172, but I don’t have much choice. The 140 is rolling right and the left tank gauge stopped working today. The upside? The 160 has a/c. I’ll try not to get spoiled.

pip bip - choose Corrour > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 07:24

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did you loop it like the guy who stole the plane the a week or two ago?

TheRealBicycleBuck > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/19/2018 at 08:21

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Excellent question! The answer is no. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 08:23

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next time then

;)

WilliamsSW > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 10:34

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Air conditioning?!! Much luxury!

Good on the stalls - all the way to the break is best. I’ve heard that some instructors aren’t doing that anymore. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > WilliamsSW 08/19/2018 at 15:16

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Well, the a/c was a bust. Lots of fan, no cooling.

Private pilots are required to do a full stall. Commercial pilots are required to go to the first indication of stall. 

Grindintosecond > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/19/2018 at 15:47

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Airlines are just now getting full sets of data from manufacturers into the simulators. so we now get to do stalls to the break in the big sim. Gets pretty busy...