So I got a new instructor and have been bad about updating. I had planned to leave the school when Bambi left because I was frustrated. Tyson called me up and I told him my reservations. He said that pre-20 hours, everyone feels uncomfy because all of this is so new. It doesn't start clicking until then, so I needed to give it more time. I didn't go into detail about what happened between Bambi and I, but mentioned in passing that we didn't get along too well. He said that can add to the uncomfiness.
We scheduled a flight and I was blown away by how informative he was. Bambi never told me all of this stuff and he was surprised that she didn't tell any of her students. I met another one of her students who had been taking lessons as long as me. He hadn't soloed either, so we were on the same page. It indicated that the problem wasn't us at all.
Tyson and I weren't and still haven't become buddy-buddy. I think I need to let go of that notion. Mostly because he took over two instructor's students, so he's overly booked and busy. I understand, but I had just hoped when I had started that my instructor would have become a good friend through all of this. Icing on the cake. And I guess it could still happen - I could still have more instructors before I am through.
Tyson DRILLS me in the plane and it's fantastic. All of this is sooo hard to remember and just drilling, drilling, drilling until I don't even have to think of the answer is fantastic. He also had a different approach to the radios. Second flight up with him and I already became MUCH more comfortable with them. That confident, commanding voice that came out of nowhere that one time with Bambi comes through consistently now. It's fantastic - it doesn't even sound like me. I squeak and sound like Minnie Mouse or a little kid when I speak and this voice is... adult. haha
"P'tree Ground, student pilot Diamond two-four-one Delta Charlie, Clairmont ramp, requesting taxi for departure to the NE."
"Diamond two-four-one Delta Charlie, taxi runway two-left via bravo, alpha, cross runway two-seven, advise runup complete."
I write on my handy little pad - "2L, B, A, x27, advise runup" and then say back "Runway two-left, bravo, alpha, cross two-seven, advise run-up complete, one Delta Charlie".
Doesn't seem so intimidating and scary now. I have much more control. Although the time I flew before this weekend, the guy in the tower was a jerk and wouldn't slow down for me. I couldn't understand him and got frustrated.
Tyson and I have flown together about 4 times now. He mentioned possible soloing two weeks ago, but everything that could go wrong did go wrong. There was sooo much static on the radios and I couldn't hear him or the tower. We stayed in the pattern and things are just so fast there. There's also TONS of turbulence around the airport, and lots of people landing and taking-off. Very, very stressful! So I can't seem to remember things and I'm frustrated. The dude in the tower won't slow down and give me a break and I've got static on my radio so I can't hear the tower or the instructor. My confidence over the radios faltered. I messed up one of the calls... and cussed over the airwaves. There was a lot of back and forth about how the tower couldn't hear us and we couldn't hear them. They came back and said "Say again", so I think they didn't hear it. My mom thinks otherwise and they were just giving me a chance to correct myself. Gotta be careful about that sort of thing.
I've been getting bumped by a lot of groupons and it's only adding to my frustrations. Last weekend I didn't fly at all and my flight yesterday was cancelled from being bumped. I went into there today, planning to tell them that I was switching schools. I'm frustrated enough on my own, I don't need anything adding to my frustrations. Besides, if it builds up enough, I just may lose interest completely and I don't want that.
Clear blue skies today. (Oh yeah, Tyson taught me how to read the weather. I've been reading it everyday, even when I'm not flying. Kinda cool because I work in an office w/o windows and I'm able to tell everyone what's going on outside. Makes me feel kind of cool. haha) Minimal icing on the wings - wow, if I ever thought it was hard to scrape my car's windshield; scraping wings are worse.
New plane today that I nicknamed "Doc". Had radios down today. Pre-flight checklists are getting faster and faster. (Tyson taught me some tricks on how to speed up and still get everything right) I felt more confident and in control overall today. Preformed stalls like a pro and even made some corrections on my own. Still kind of frustrated that somehow I need to keep my eyes on three different gauges to keep them all right where they are supposed to be, yet look outside. OMG- Like rubbing your stomach, patting your head and dancing the hokey-pokey on ice skates while looking straight ahead at the same time. Co-ordination isn't one of my strong points. >.<
We're on final, approaching the airport straight ahead. "What speed do we need to be at?"
"65"
"And what are we?"
"70, oops." Pull up slightly to reduce speed. Hit 65 and trim the airplane so it will hold it without me having to put pressure on the stick. Used the trim more today. It's a lot to get used to.
There's two lights when you head into the airport that tell you how you are flying - if you are too high or low or not. Two white = too high. Two red = too low. One white, one red = where you need to be.
We head in. Two white. I drop down a little. Tyson tells me to pull up. I point out the white lights. He says he knows, but I was fine where I was. We get closer and the lights flash two red. I want to pull up. Tyson tells me not to. Again, I point out the lights, but he says we are over the runway now and it doesn't matter. Pull back power, hold right rudder to stay on the dotted line, lower down, and raise nose slightly. Touch the ground and we are home. FINALLY! A good landing!! I've been lacking for awhile. Not "mythologically perfect" like my second landing, but close enough.
Tyson freaks out next to me. "HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!" and not the type like "holy crap! what did you just do to the plane?" - it was a good kind! He just started "Wow, people don't land like that this early on! Wow, way to go!" and I know it was good, but thinking that I had an even better one earlier on. Although that one was accidental and this one had much more planning in it. I'd hope that people knew how to land at 15 hours.
Anyways, we get back inside and normally he gives me a "it was good, you did good" and I'm grumbly, not impressed with my performance. He always tells me I shouldn't be so hard on myself because I'm right where I should be in my training. I guess I want things to go faster and things to stick better in my head than they do.
We got back inside today and he said "Great job today! I mean, really good! Still got to work on keeping altitude level and watching airspeed, but the maneuvers were good. Overall great job today."
He said we're going to work on emergency procedures next time and hopefully solo the following time. I talked with him and the main guy in the office about my frustrations about getting bumped due to groupons. They listened to me, apologized and promised it would never happen again, so I'm giving them one last chance.
I was flying high after today's lesson. And geek alert - yesterday, I got a black bomber's jacket. Haven't worn it outside yet, but I wore it inside yesterday and pranced around in front of the mirror with it and my aviator sunglasses. Looked pretty spiffy, if I do say so myself. I told my mom that it was silly, but sometimes you need to do things like that for yourself, you know?
Oh, OH!! The engine light came on in my car a couple of weeks ago. It came on after I pumped gas, so I figured that I hadn't closed the cover enough and air got in there. I tried to correct it, but the lights stayed on. I was sure that's what it was, but I took it in to get looked at. Seems the PCV pipe connecting to the engine had disintegrated and too much air was getting into the engine. After the mechanic told me, I started popping up and down and exclaimed that must mean that I was burning gas too much also. She blinked, looked at me like I was an odd critter in the reptile house at the zoo and asked how I knew -airplanes!!! It was just like the mixture control in the airplane, except the car does that automatically and it's manual in the plane. She told me it would cost $300, but I was excited that I learned something and how learning about airplanes has taught me about my car.
Also, I looked more into the Civil Air Patrol. You don't have to be a pilot to join, but can work your way through their ranks to become one for them. They do search and rescue missions. Anything you want to learn, they will teach you! Looks like they teach some first aid/medical stuff, too. It looks really, really exciting! They recommend that you attend a few meetings before you join, so I'm going to go with a friend who wants to join as well.
Okay, now that I'm all caught up, hopefully I'll be better about posting after each flight. Until next time...
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