Monday, December 16, 2024: weathered out: I was just about ready to leave for the drive to Hammonton yesterday (Monday), when Bob sent a text asking if I’d seen the weather. I knew we would not be flying, but was going to drive over anyway because that is what he’d indicated I should do. After a brief exchange – I was told to stay home and we’ll pick it up tomorrow.
Flight #5; Tuesday, December 17, 2024: Jeff and i drove over this morning. He had business to do, and would fly back home with me later in the day.
I had asked Bob for an IPC and a Flight Review to be included with this training (never hurts).
Flight #5 was to launch from N81 for multiple approaches in some weather.
During this time, Bob reminded me of Captain Keim from Fate is the Hunter (book version). By the way – if you haven’t read this book yet and you like to fly – order it today. Author is Ernie Gann. Outstanding.
Anyway, and I’m chuckling every time I tell this story. I’m flying these approaches by hand while my instructor is telling me things about the airplane, and banging on my shoulder every time he wants to emphasize a point. He’s trying to fine-tune my instrument flying when I think it is just fine thank you. Granted, I had trouble getting the button pushing down to get into the hold. Once I had that done, the rest was easy.
The really funny part, in my mind anyway, was how Bob never stopped talking the entire time. During my trouble getting the procedure loaded and navigating, Bob set up the #2 radio and tells me to start flying on that radio. I’m thinking “no thanks”, because that radio has calculated what I’d call an odd/aggressive turn to get into the procedure turn in lieu of the hold. It just didn’t look right to me, so I decided to continue with a plan based on my geo-referenced position until I could get the approach loaded. I had a clear picture in my mind of where we were, where we were cleared to go, and how to get there. The approved plate on my iPad made a tear drop entry the obvious choice.
Once I had the approach loaded and activated (it’s obvious how it’s done when you aren’t hand flying with Bob on your shoulder), the entry and subsequent approach went smoothly. Bob continued teaching other things all the way down to the missed approach and beyond. One the next approach, I exceeded the 17o of bank that approximates a standard rate turn, and he made his point by failing the low wing engine. Point made, I corrected the overbank and finished that single engine approach to a single engine missed approach, before he gave me the engine back and we continued.
Bob is a safe and highly qualified instructor. Very knowledgeable about these airplanes in their operation and construction. It may not sound like it, but I enjoyed flying with him very much. I do like a bit more structure, but this guy is a character larger than life. When you are flying with him, you are learning the entire time. How the hell his full cup of coffee made it through all that flying – without a lid – is amazing. It was time for lunch and we landed.
Flight #6; Tuesday, December 17, 2024: After some ground discussions over lunch, I Bob and I went around the pattern once before signing me off. I went on my own three times.
You can see from the image how I wanted to practice high approaches, and shortened each pattern until I was close to the runway threshold when turning final. I eased into the high approach we’d practiced, and nailed the landing.
At this point, Bob wrapped up the paperwork and sent me on my way to have some fun. This has been a tiring (the driving) but good experience in my mind. I’m a better pilot for it, in my own airplane and in this new one.
Flight #7; Tuesday, December 17, 2024: Success!! It was time to go home at this point. I was pretty tired and looking forward to putting the airplane away back at home. Jeff and I loaded up and we took off from runway 21.
There were two issues noted in the last flight home. Landing off the centerline and lowering the gear a few knots too fast. Those are easy to work on, and I’ll do that with or without a right seater.
We had planned to fly again on Friday, but the weather and our respective schedules made it a challenge. Rescheduled to Next Monday, the 23rd. Looking forward to it.
Fly safe!
Frank