30 December 2007 – Flight 24

Today was another cold, but nice day to fly. Winds were about 7 knots out of the southwest.

As mentioned in the previous post, we flew 25 miles to the northeast to Prague to practice some touch and goes on their runway. The Prague runway is 60 feet by 2757 feet. In comparison the Shawnee is 5600×100. In addition about a half a mile to the south of 17 are a bunch of trees. There is plenty of distance to clear the trees, but I could not help but notice them looming like skyscrapers as I was doing my takeoffs.

Another difference between the Shawnee and Prague airfields is that Prague has no taxiway. Airplanes taking off have to taxi onto the runway to get to the runup area. Naturally there was a plane there as I was doing my first approach in. I would have been happy waiting for him clear, but Bob said fly the pattern and if necessary we will do a go around. The plane waited for us as we did our first touch and go. I managed to stay centered and land no problem, but it sure made me nervous knowing there was another airplane not more than 100 feet away. I have no doubt Bob was ready to take over if I got into trouble.

Once down, there was no messing around discussing the landing. Carb heat in, flaps up, throttle in and back into the air. And noticing the trees ahead of me if I did not gain altitude.

After three touch and goes, we flew back to SNL to do some more touch and goes there. We did three touch and goes there and called it a day. No opportunity to solo today. I would have if Bob had asked.

My landings did feel a little sloppy. On final I had problems getting a stabilized approach. I was continually having to fiddle with the elevator, rudder and ailerons to stay centered. Bob also says I need to flare sooner. I am waiting too long and my landings are coming in too flat. If that nose is not up, you risk putting pressure on the nose gear instead of the mains. If I do not get flare correct I risk problems such as porpoising, prop strikes or even breaking the nose wheel off.

Bob is going to be out of town next weekend, so the next lesson is scheduled for
12 January at 10 am. Hopefully the weather will be cooperative. If not then I can keep the lyrics from Both Sides, Now
by Joni Mitchell in my mind:

Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
Ive looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

I think it is particularly appropriate for flying.

29 December 2007 – Flight 23

Finally after 5 weeks of weather cancellations I finally got to fly today!

It was quite cold, which made preflight difficult. There was an urge to rush through it, but I took my time and followed my checklist very carefully. I did find a little water in the right fuel tank, but it was cleared out after one more sample. I did make one mistake on preflight that Bob caught. I did not make sure that the latch fully engaged on the cowling hatch after I checked the oil. It is not a major disaster if it manages to spring open, but you would have to land and close it.

I was not sure how much I would forget after being out of the air for five weeks. My startup check list went a little less smoothly than usual, but I managed to get all the steps. I had good control of the taxi and takeoff.

Bob had me go out to the west practice area to practice some 45 degree turns and work with the VOR. I did not do very good on either. I had problems maintaining altitude in the 45 degree turns and had completely forgotten how to use the VOR. So Bob had to talk me through that.

After that we went back for some touch and goes. I was a little shaky on the first few landings. I had problems getting set up properly on final and Bob had to prompt me to watch airspeed and cut power once over the runway. After a few landings though I started to get a little better. I still have problems with not keeping the nose up enough on touchdown.

After five times around, Bob asked if I wanted to take it around myself a few times. I opted not to. I felt it had been too long and I wanted today to be all dual time.

Since Bob was going to be in the pattern with me a few more times, he decided we should practice short field landings. Again I had to have Bob talk me through it because I had forgotten what I needed to do. We did two of those and then called it a day.

I did see one rather interesting plane today. It is an experimental called the Velocity. It is a pusher, canard design that looks similar to a VariEz or LongEz.

During the long break, Bob asked me to work out a flight plan for a flight between Shawnee, Ardmore and McAlester. Bob looked it over after the lesson and said the calculations looked good. I had marked electric lines for a few checkpoints. Bob said those do not work very well, but we would leave it in the flight plan and I could see for myself. He said we would do that cross country in a couple of weeks.

Next lesson is tomorrow at 10am. The weather looks promising. Bob said we would fly 25 miles NE to Prague,Ok and do some touch and goes from the runway there. It is 2500 by 40 feet. Should be interesting.

25 December 2007 – Schedule Update

For my own reference. Lessons are scheduled for 29 and/or 30 December at 10 am. The seven day shows no storms, but winds could be a problem if they get much stronger.

I tried to schedule a lesson for last weekend, but my instructor had just gotten his plane back from having the engine overhauled. He had not had a chance to put in a few hours on his own to make sure everything was good.

I hope this works out. It has been four weeks since I have flown last. Have to keep an eye on finances as well, but at this point it looks like I can at least afford one hour. Just have to take it an hour at a time.

18 December 2007 – Update

Finally got power back today after nine days. There are still about 21000 homes without power though.

I still have to evaluate my financial situation in light of the extra expenses incurred due to the ice storm. Regardless, I do not think there could be any flying this weekend anyway because of the weather. I am starting to get the urge to get back up in the air though.

I will get busy with completing my ground school study and try to take the written test before classes start on 14 January. Fortunately studying does not cost me anything.

14 December 2007 – Flight Cancelled

Thanks to the ice storm and a new winter storm this weekend there will be no flying.

Actually because of the extra expenses involved in getting through the ice storm, I may have to suspend lessons for a month or two just to build up my finances again. Even if that I happens, I will continue to study for my written exam and try to get that taken before the spring semester starts at UCO.

8 December 2007 – Flight Canceled

Sounding like a broken record. Overcast and foggy. Tomorrow is canceled as well because of an expected ice storm.
So lessons are scheduled again for 10 am for 15 and 16 December.

2 December 2007 – Flight Cancelled

Sundays lesson is cancelled as well. Things looked good at 9am, but when I checked the NOAA website I could see a cold front about 20 miles northwest with everything behind it showing IFR conditions. I called Bob and he agreed today was not going to work. By a little after 10am, SNL was showing IFR as well.

Lessons are scheduled for next weekend 8 and 9 December at 10 am.

1 December 2007 – Flight Cancelled

No flying today. Overcast and very windy. Looks the same for tomorrow as well.