AvGas

I have been out a couple of times solo in the 172SP…some pattern work and a few manuevers…nothing groundbreaking. Yesterday was the first day of instrument flying…which was assisted with Foggles. We also worked on lost/diversion…which combined with not knowing where I was after 30 minutes of Foggles-flight was a good challenge. I was actually pretty comfortable with the instrument flying, and got some accolades from Karl (a rare thing!). The lost/diversion exercise was much more clear after a little help from Karl…all in all a very good flying day. After locking up the plane and heading into WVFC, Karl introduced me to Mike Shiflett, who will be my DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) when I do my private pilot checkride. Mike seems like a good guy, and told a pretty funny story about an instrument checkride in which the applicant had a vacuum failure and suddently realized that his gyro instruments were indicating quite differently than he thought they should…needless to say, the story went something like this:

Applicant: “Spatial Disorientation!!”

Mike: silently knowing what is really happening with the vacuum system

Applicant: “Believe your instruments!”

Mike: still silently knowing what is going on

Applicant: …talking to the instrument panel: “I believe in you!”

…plane now in a dive at a high bank angle; Mike recovers.

A funny story (Mike, sorry if I didn’t tell it right…your version with the accent was much funnier)…and a good closer to my first instrument day.

Today’s flight from San Carlos (KSQL) to Marina (KOAR) had me practicing VOR navigation (something which definitely is easier to understand in the air) and getting flight following from NorCal Approach. It was a bit intimidating to dial in NorCal and make the initial call…especially given that I couldn’t for the life of me say our plane’s call sign correctly. “Five-Four-Juliet-Alpha” kept coming out “Five-Four-Juliet-Alpa” which apparently sounds quite a bit like “Delta”. Needless to say, after some “pep talking” from Karl, I tried to be very clear about our call sign. VFR flight following is extremely handy; it was very nice to get the couple of traffic calls that we did…and clearance through the Bravo on our climb out from San Carlos was very nice for speeding things along. Our arrival at KOAR was uneventful…my flight planning was spot on and I think I have at least a decent grasp of VOR navigation. Also, my radio communication at a non-towered airport was much better this time…but I still need more practice. On the way back we used the GPS to fly KOAR-MOSS-KSQL…I must say that GPS is a huge advancement over VOR nav…and really makes it easy to figure out where you are going (and where you are). I am now signed off for solo in the C172S…and plan to “spread my wings” sometime in the next couple of days out of Palo Alto (KPAO).