ms flight sim x and emergency practice

I decided to buy a new (much faster) computer this weekend and have doing some emergency practice flying with Microsoft Flight Simulator X. One thing that I tried a number of times (and failed each time) was a low altitude engine failure on takeoff with an attempt to turn back to the field. It is very interesting to see how tempting it is to try to make it back at around 400 AGL. I found myself wanting/hoping that I could make the 180 turn but just couldn't make it work.
I should point out that this fits exactly with the adage "don't try to stretch a glide".

instruction expenses and the Wash ADIZ

My new instructor does something differently than my previous one that has a bearing on time spent instructing vs transit I think. Previously, I would depart JYO (inside Washington ADIZ) for the Hoage intersection (outside ADIZ). That requires leaving and re-entering the ADIZ (and the related clearances and ATC contacts). My new instructor has us stay in the ADIZ which has had a few benefits I hadn't realized:

• inside ATC contact and radar coverage (for safety)

• less transit time which leaves more time for instruction

• additional radio traffic (in the background) which I think is beneficial for getting used to it

• since we don't have to re-enter the ADIZ we can start heading back in when we're ready vs waiting for and new squawk code and ATC approval

AOPA Fly-In and Open House - fdk - 2-jun-2007

http://www.aopa.org/special/fly-in/

AOPA Fly-In and Open House

Saturday, June 2, 2007

AOPA Headquarters
Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK)
Frederick, Maryland
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

flying with a new instructor

I flew with my new instructor yesterday for the first time. I was impressed with his teaching style and professionalism. We went over the basic maneuvers and so on so he could get a feel for where I am. I think I did reasonably well but my landing was not the best. I was a little high so he had me side slip to drop some altitude quickly and the nose was a little canted on landing so I caught one wheel before the other and was off the centerline as a result.

new instructor

Rather than wait (for some unknown amount of time) I decided to be proactive re getting a new instructor. Someone else that went to the same ground school class I did had already transitioned to another instructor and recommended him. I just got a callback from him and he sounds a bit serious/professional. Next flight is in a few days and we're going to go over where I am at, goals and so on.

ch-ch-ch-changes (with instructors)

I got some surprising news today. My instructor said that she had gotten a job with an airline that starts next weekend so this was her last week (and probably my last lesson with her). She and her husband both got jobs with the same airline and were both heading to 6-weeks of RJ training. I was disappointed because I had expected to do at least all of my private training with one instructor. She was getting an instrument instruction check-ride herself after my lesson so I got to ride-along with her and another instructor which was pretty interesting. She flew under the hood almost the entire time to OKV and back so I got to see full instrument flying. I'm not sure what happens with switching instructors but I'm going to find out next week. I'm assuming the new one has to get familiar with me in terms of where I am at and so on so I suppose that puts me back a little.

bringing along a barf bag...

so, i told my instructor that i'd like to do a ride-along during an ifr/night flight sometime so that i could watch. she's getting a lesson tomorrow after mine so i might get to go along in the back seat. it occurs to me, i have never ridden in the back seat of a small airplane. i'm bringing along a few barf bags, just in case...

weather cancel

Could not fly today because of a thunderstorm in our area. Rats. Trying again first thing tomorrow.

leesburg fss move, first try at filing via phone

I've had the (considerable) convenience of being able to file Washington ADIZ flight plans in person at the Leesburg FSS up until now (they moved on 7-May-2007). I'm due to fly tomorrow so I thought I'd try filing by phone for the first time today in case it takes a while. I've been on hold for 10-mins now. Apparently, it takes a while.

flying with someone new

I flew with a new instructor yesterday (mine is out of town) and it was an interesting experience. He is a bit older and thus had a couple of different perspectives on a few things which I found interesting and informative. One thing was that I didn't was that you do not have to use an aviation beacon with your ADF receiver. We did a few of the usual things (which I did 'ok' with I think) and my landing was decent. I wanted to see whether or not I would be nervous with someone else in the right seat (such as an FAA pilot examiner) and I don't think it bothered me at all. The weather was almost rainy but improved right before we took off. I was hoping to fly in some rain because I haven't done that yet but no such luck. This was also the first time that we had to burn the carbon off of the plugs which I had heard about but had never seen done.

flying with a new instructor this weekend

My instructor is out of town for the next few days so I'm going to fly with a different instructor (my first time doing that) this weekend for more practice. It will be interesting to see how that feels (and how I do).