AvGas

I soloed today (at 26.5 hours)…a pretty amazing feeling (or maybe that was the sweat pooling in the earcups of my headset). Needless to say, after practicing pattern work for what seemed like the last 6 weeks, Karl let me out on my own today. Granted, it was only during our last lesson that my landings were anything resembling consistent, so I wasn’t in a big hurry to solo. After a bit of pattern work in 4319D, we landed and Karl told tower that we would be stopping in transient parking for a few minutes while he filled out the paperwork (log book/student pilot cert) for soloing me. After telling me he wanted 3 landings to a full stop, he shook my hand and stepped out of the plane.My first two landing attempts were not so hot…both 2-bouncers that required a go-around. The third attempt was the first successful landing, albeit a flat one. The last two were solid landings and I taxied back to parking feeling pumped (and sweaty).

Karl was happy to inform me that he was able to take pictures of me bouncing my first solo landing attempt…something I really wanted for posterity.

The next hurdle is the WVFC solo phase check (sort of a mini checkride to make sure that Karl has taught me the right things). I think the phase check will be scheduled for sometime next week, and I can’t solo again until it has been completed.

I was PIC (pilot in command) today for 0.6 hours…rock on.

Oh, and I got a WVFC t-shirt that says “SOLO”.

Things are getting smoother…the plane is feeling more natural…and my brain feels less like exploding. Only a couple of lessons in the last two weeks…Karl was away for training on the King Air, as well as getting his ATP out of the way, so I went up with Lorne Lawry. Going up with Lorne was good…since he isn’t my primary instructor, he didn’t say too much during our pattern work, and only helped out a couple of times. Needless to say, it was a bit of a confidence builder. Today I was back out with Karl, and my landings (once I figured out the winds) were markedly better, with only a few suggestions from Karl. No more T&G…all landings at this point are to a full stop. My checklist flows are getting better, and everything is feeling smoother.My (new…first one was stolen) Clarity Aloft headseat bit the dust today (mike quit)…I am tired of headset problems. So, I promptly ordered a Bose Aviation X. I am hoping that the most expensive headset on the market lives up to everyone’s rave reviews.

3 lessons on the books for next week…goal: smooth as a baby’s butt.

Pattern work is tough…at times I seem to be able to land well, and at others I can’t even accomplish a stable approach. That said, I am getting the general feeling that I am “almost there” when it comes to really being able to land. Today’s lesson was a Bay Meadows departure with some slow flight, steep turns, stalls, and emergency procedures. Despite not having done the slow flight, steep turns, and stalls for well over a month, I was able to pull them off rather well, although with a bit of prodding from Karl. After our brief maneuver work, we went back to SQL for some pattern work…with a crosswind from the East today (Monday’s lesson was a strong crosswind from the West). I had a bit of trouble with overshooting final, and my approaches were not very strong. Needless to say, overall landings were ok…and “almost there”. I am hoping that tomorrow’s lesson will be “there”.I have a quite a bit of homework tonight, and the sneaking suspicion that Karl plans on stepping out of the airplane in the next couple of lessons (a rather frightening thought still).

Tomorrow’s goal: Consistency (favoring the good)