Second Full Solo

Saturday 3/29/2008

Today I went up for my second full solo.

I got approval from Ryan, and headed out to the airport. Once there, I headed straight out to the plane, preflighted, and got ready to go. I started the engine right up today, but it was a warm start - as the plane had been flown right before I got there. I got ATIS, and then let Ground know I wanted closed traffic. I planned on doing two or three touch and goes, and then after that, heading out to the practice area to practice stalls, steep turns, and ground reference maneuvers. Here's a picture I took out the window of the airport while I was cruising around the pattern.

After a few touch and goes where I practiced some more Short field and Soft field landings and takeoffs, I headed out to the practice area. It felt amazing heading away from the airport. Almost like being a house dog finally being let outside to run around. After I practiced some power off and power on stalls, I headed out to practice a couple of steep turns. Here's some shots I took while making a clearing turn at some point.



After a steep turn to the right, and then one to the left, I headed over to a field that had a tractor in the middle of it to practice turns around a point. It took a few minutes to remember how I was supposed to do that, but after a turn or two, it finally started to feel good.

After making another clearing turn, I headed over to swan falls road to practice some S turns. Boy this was fun. In the beginning I was either too steep or too shallow, but I finally grasped the maneuver and did several more in succession as I traversed south above the road. I had looked down while I was doing this, and noticed a van traveling down the road in the same direction. I'll bet they were wondering what the heck a plane was doing slaloming down this road about 1000 feet above them.

I wished I could stay out longer, but my hour allowed out was coming up soon, so I had to head back.

I headed back to the airport after this and performed a Short field landing, so I could turn off as soon as possible as there was an MD-80 waiting patiently for me to land and clear the runway.

I pulled back in and parked, and logged my journey. I had timed it this time so I got exactly 1 hour on the hobbs meter. I also called Ryan to let him know I was back.

I can't wait to go out again!

First Full Solo

Saturday 03/15/2008

Ryan had stated last week that I should take some time on the upcoming weekend to try to go up by myself and do some pattern work. So I did.

This morning I hemmed and hawed and looked at the sky, and kept an eye on it until I decided that it looked good enough. The wind was light at about 3-5kts, there was 10 miles of visibility, and it was scattered at 4000 feet and broken at about 6000 feet when I decided to call Ryan. The forecast called for not much change, other than the ceiling lowering about 1000 feet in a couple of hours. It was going to be almost the same as Friday's weather.

Ryan approved, so I headed to the airport. I walked out onto the tarmac feeling great, this was going to be all ME... I'm solely responsible for everything that happens today.

I got prepared, did my preflight, and hopped in the plane. I had even started a video while getting ready to go, explaining everything I was doing, and then it came to the engine startup... which I then proceeded to botch. I had performed the normal procedure, which requires me to prime the engine about four to five times, pump the throttle twice, and then turn the key. It almost caught... and then my hand bumped the throttle which killed it. Of course, now it wouldn't start, and continued to not do so for a time. So, I stopped my video. I figured I could do it another time. After waiting for a bit, assuming I flooded the motor and needed to let it evaporate off, I tried again and it started right up. Yay!

I finished up, got ATIS, called Ground to remain in the pattern, and then taxied out of my parking slot. At the end of the ramp I waited behind a Diamond DA-40 who was waiting for a regional jet to clear the taxiway. I ended up following him down to the run-up area, where he kept going to the hold short line and I pulled off. Everything was in order during the run-up, so it was time to go. I decided the first thing I'd do was try to perform a Soft Field takeoff, and then and Soft Field landing. Here's some video.

After this I did another set (Which looked MUCH better, but I didn't get video of them!) and then went around for a pattern to the left to perform a Short Field landing, succeeded by a Short Field takeoff. Here's a video. Sorry it was cut short at the end, apparently I need to upgrade my memory card!

Yes, I noticed I said "OK" quite a bit! Sorry about that, I'll have to work on my narration skills!

After this, I continued and performed another couple TO &L's, alternating between Soft and Short Field. My last landing of the day was a Short Field.

I was again held up on my way back by another traffic jam between a Diamond (maybe the same one I saw earlier) and another regional jet as they tried to pass each other in opposite directions. It almost looked like one wing went under the other. But they pulled it off and I was able to continue.

As I taxied back to the ramp, I said to myself, "I can do this! And I love it, too!" I was only allowed an hour, and I pulled into my parking spot with .9 hours. Of course the first thing I thought was, "Darn! I had another tenth of an hour!" Heh.

Overall, the flight went great. I was very happy with myself, and I did experience quite a bit of training traffic in the air with me, as well. This made for quite a few radio calls and scans for traffic. Great for experience.

Proceeding forward from here I've got to get prepared to take my FAA Knowledge Test, and work on better understanding navigation items such as the VOR and the calculations of what it takes for cross countries.

Short Field TO & L

Friday 03/14/2008

Today we went back to Nampa and practiced the short field side of things.

I did much better here. On a short field landing I'm supposed to come in slow (about 60kts) and somewhat steep. Then I pick a spot that I'm going to try to "hit", basically where I'm going to let the mains touch down. After touching down, I pull up the flaps, and then slam on the brakes as much as is feasible without skidding all over the runway.

A short field take off consists of getting on the runway as close to the beginning as possible, and then holding the brakes. After I put down two notches of flaps, I throttle up about 3/4 of the way in the Archer while holding the brakes, and as I pass that 3/4 mark, I let up. Then we start to roll. I keep the plane on the runway until almost 60kts, and then I rotate. I then climb out at Vx (best angle of climb - 64kts) until the instructor says "obstacle clear". The idea is that I have to fly over some imaginary tree, or tower, or building at the end of my short runway. After I clear my "obstacle", I nose down until Vy (best rate of climb - 76kts), and climb out, proceeding to pull the flaps one notch at a time.
We did several processions, and in each I was successful.

We went back to soft field practice, and I performed a couple take offs and landings, which ended up looking a lot better than Wednesday's did.

Then, we went home.

I felt a lot better this day, I think some of it had to do with the weather. It was overcast, but very smooth air, and there was no sun glare to deal with.

_____________________

I went up for my first all by myself full Solo on Saturday, which I'll post about shortly. I have to get a couple of videos uploaded. For now, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of my logbook.

Yep, my second solo I have yet to write about is in there.


Looks like about 25.7 hours total, so far. Sometimes it feels there should be more! However, my big cross countries are coming soon, and I'll hit 40 in no time. I know I'll probably go over 40 before I get my license, depending on how much it takes to get me ready for my checkride, but I'm excited anyway.

Solo write up from Saturday to come soon!

Soft Field Takeoff and Landing

Wednesday 3/12/2008

Today was going to be learning about Short and Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings. We discussed them both in the office, however, we spent the rest of the lesson on soft field.

We started out the lesson with Ryan showing me a soft field takeoff out of Boise, and then after we traversed to Nampa airport, he showed me a soft field landing. We came full stop, and then taxied back so I could do it myself. I also learned about doing a 360 degree rotation on the ground at the hold short line to check for traffic.

We turned out and got into position. I was told to keep rolling and pretend like we don't have brakes to keep from getting stuck in the pretend mud that was on the runway. After straightening out, I throttled up with the yoke pulled back into my stomach. As the nose rose off the ground, and the plane took to the air, I was supposed to nose over - to level it out until our airspeed reached Vy (76kts or best rate of climb). I was SUPPOSED to keep it leveled out, in ground effect, about 5-10 feet up until said time. I failed. The plane really likes to fly. I floundered and bobbled until Vy, and let it climb. Very messy.

Upon landing, I am supposed to keep the nosewheel off the ground as long as possible. As a matter of fact, the idea is that I'll keep it up until I throttle up and take off again.

Ok, so, throttle at idle, check. Flare, check. Nose up, check. Keep that nose up! Mains touch ground, check. Yoke in stomach, check. Strain on left arm while pulling on yoke because my trim setting is working against me, check. Throttle up juuuussst a LITTLE to keep the nose up... Whoa, not that MUCH! Plane takes off again. Then mains touch again. Running out of runway, check. Throttle back up for takeoff, check. WAIT, don't forget to turn off the carb heat and raise the flaps a notch! Whoa we're already out of ground effect and we didn't hit Vy yet? What about that soft field takeoff?!

I went about 10 rounds in the boxing ring with this, each time I felt like I got a little better in some areas, and then got worse in them as I got better in other areas. I even had one particularly messy touch and go where I almost used the whole runway, each side included. That must have been the messiest thing I have EVER done since I've been in the air.

At least I didn't make Ryan hang on for dear life. I might have gotten his pulse rate up though. I know I got mine up on a couple of occasions.

Luckily, we can continue to practice until I get them right. Or close to right. I can practice them by myself now, if I'd like. Which I will.

Here's a video I found on YouTube that might be able to demonstrate for you what I was trying to accomplish. Kudos to the video creator.

I'm going to go up again with Ryan on Friday, the 14th if the weather cooperates. We'll probably practice these some more, and then get into the short field side of things. I have a feeling I might do better with the short field portion. We'll see.