An Update on My Training - Flying to Miami

     I hate to admit it, but it has been close to two years since my last post. Since then, I have not only passed by Private Pilot Knowledge Test but have also been signed off for my Check Ride. College applications, graduating high school, and beginning my first year at the University of Dayton has proved to be both exciting and immensely busy. This has really made it hard to find time to get back home to fly and prepare for my Check Ride. However, I have really made an effort to fly while Christmas Break.

     Over the past few weeks, between spending time with friends and family, I have found time to get back into flying. I received another solo checkout which is good for 90 days, and I have begun preparation for the the Check Ride.

     My most recent flight took place on Thursday, January 7th with Joe in the N2814L, a C172H. After arriving at the airport at 8:45am on a very frosty 25F morning, I had to preheat the aircraft in order for it to start. I got the Cub Cadet out of the hangar, and attached its propane blower in the engine cowling in order to warm it up a bit. After talking to Joe inside the airport for a bit, we went outside to start it. The battery seemed to struggle in the cold, but eventually the prop turned over and roared to life. We taxied over to fuel ramp to fill up and planned out a route to Miami University Airport(KOXD) that would keep us clear of the Cincinnati Class B Airspace. The air was incredibly smooth and this flight was relatively uneventful. However, the campus was beautiful and the fun started on the way back. 

     After climbing to 5,500ft for the flight back east, we were about 10-12 miles from Middletown Regional Airport/Hook Field(KMWO). Once I was nice and relaxed, Joe pulled out the throttle and said, "Whoops, your engine failed!". I quickly began the checklist: Fuel-Both, Mixture-Rich, Carb Heat-On, Mags-Both, Primer-Locked...but where should we land? I told Joe we couldn't make Middletown and although he appreciated the safe decision to land elsewhere, he asked me to try to land there and remember the sight picture I had when the engine "quit". I did not believe we could make it, so I was quite surprised to find myself very high when on a base leg for runway 5. I put in flaps and switched to the grass runway 08 and finally made a safe landing. I couldn't believe the C172 could glide so easily, so this proved to be very productive.

     We then taxied over to runway 23 and departed back to Red Stewart Airfield. Enroute, I performed a number of required maneuvers for the Check Ride like stalls, departure stalls, and steep turns. I then did a soft field landing and taxied back. At this point, I am required to do one more hour of dual time with Joe before taking the Check Ride. After that and a solo practice flight, I should be all set to get my license!

Second Dual Cross Country!

     On 7/3/13, I did my second dual cross country flight with my instructor, Joe. This time, I had already planned out the flight to Marysville(KMRT), so after a quick brief we were ready to go. Because of some mechanical issues, I had to switch to Stewart's C172, N2814L, instead of the C150. I can't say I was mad...

     The airplane was short on fuel so I filled it up after a routine pre-flight. When I went out to do my run up and CIGAR checklist the winds were favoring 26, but they flip flopped within those few minutes so I had to taxi all the way down to 8. Once in the air, I immediately turned on course after reaching a same altitude and spotted my first checkpoint, Caesar's creek. I climbed to 5,500ft for a smooth ride and to take advantage of the huge tailwind and followed the rest of my checkpoints to Marysville without any issues. The AWOS reported winds out of the Southeast, as expected, so I entered the downwind for runway 27. The landing was probably the best I had so far since first flying the C172  for the first time the lesson before. (Not to brag or anything haha)

Route plotted on www.skyvector.com

     We had some time, so Joe and I tied down the plane and ventured inside to relax for a bit before heading home. There were a few nice pilots we chatted with in there for a bit, then decided to head back out to the airplane. Unlike the trip there, I remembered to set up my GoPro(The footage is down below). During start up, we noticed a strange noise when the starter was engaged. However, it started fine and the engine was running as normal. The winds were unchanged, so I taxied back to runway 27. During the run up, Joe and I double checked the gauges and listened for any noise and were thankful not to find anything abnormal.

My video of the return trip from my GoPro HD Hero 2

     After takeoff, I began a turn to what I thought was on course. However, I realized after passing adjacent to my first checkpoint that I was a few miles west than I should have been. I corrected for it and the rest of the flight went smoothly. Initially, I climbed to 6,500ft on the return trip but the GPS was showing a horrendous 70kt groundspeed due to those southeasterly winds. I descended back down to 4,500ft hoping for something better but the winds were still hitting us hard, and we were almost in the clouds. So, I returned to 6.500ft for the rest of the flight.

     On approach into runway 8, I noticed a tractor on the runway(Only in Ohio would that happen...). I continued my approach and thankfully the tractor was near the opposite end of the runway by the time I was on short final. I did a little slip and tried to land early to leave as much room as possible so I would not have to go around.

     Next lesson will be either another cross country or soloing in the C172. Either way, stay tuned!

Cessna 172 Introduction and Landing Practice

     To start off, I'd like to apologize for my lack of activity on here. I've still been flying and posting videos, but it seems as though I have neglected this blog. Anyways, I'm back! Since I have written last, I have soloed the C150 a couple of times as well as completed one Cross Country flight to Circleville.

     On 5/27/13, I went to the airport planning on flying the C150, N3718J. But, that did not turn out to be the case because of a broken alternator keeping the battery from recharging and the plane from starting. So, I went ahead and upgraded to N2814L, Waynesville's C172, for the first time. Because I had never flown this aircraft before, Joe gave me a quick introduction to the aircraft on the ground during the pre-flight.

     Once we were airborne, I headed due North away from the airport a few miles to do some stalls. Joe demonstrated the first one so that I could see how the airplane handled differently than the C150. Surprisingly, the panel and rest of the airplane was almost identical to the C150 despite a few tweaks, which made the transition very easy. After Joe demonstrated one stall, we turned back due South and I did four to get used to the aircraft before trying to land. After doing some air work, I entered the pattern for runway 8. My first two landings were long but soft considering about a 10kt crosswind from the south. The last few were soft as well, but I was also working on landing as short as possible. 

Video from today's flight with a GoPro HD Hero 2

      Overall, this was a very nice flight and I was really excited to get to fly a new airplane. But, I am still planning on sticking with N3718J, the C150, for the rest of my training. The next step for me is to solo at a towered field as well as complete all of my Cross Country flights. With my 17th birthday being in September, I am very close to my PPL, but just need to fly more often!