Joshrk22
Sierra Hotel
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2006
- Posts
- 230
Well today it happened... I became a private pilot.
After 1 year and two months, 48.2 hours, three different airplanes, and $4,000, I finally got the certificate. Here's the run-down of what happened.
Last night it was my school's homecoming so I couldn't miss that. I got home about 2:00 AM, did some prep for my ride and finally fell asleep about 3:45 AM. I had set my alarm for 6:10 AM but was too tired to get up, so I hit the snooze until 7:00. Not great to be going to a check ride on 4 hours of sleep.
I finally got to the airport, did all the calculations, and taxied the plane over to the FBO to pick up the examiner. He was supposed to get there at 10:00 AM but was running 45 minutes late so I ended up watching TV for about an hour.
Finally got in there and got to work. Everything turned out good and he was impressed with the organization of my instructor and me. The oral part took about an hour and then we were off to do the flying.
The winds were almost straight down the runway at 11 knots so he kept asking if I still wanted to do it. After about 10 minutes of debating I figured what the heck.
The flight portion went great. Short-field takeoff, then on to the cross-country portion. I was a little off-course but corrected it. Next was the instrument stuff, not to bad. Stalls went really well. Steep turns were next, and they definitely weren't my best. We did turns around a point, with the winds being about 15+ kts so I was a little worried because I'm not all that great at them; they were fine. Next was the emergency landing, which I didn't think I was quite gonna' make but somehow I did and he was pretty impressed with how I had done it.
Back to the airport to do one soft-field landing and it was over. Taxied back to the FBO, had them fill the plane up and inside we went. I saw him filling out my temp. and I knew it was a job well done.
Now it's time to just enjoy the flying! Then I'm off to start my instrument rating, whoo! Can't even explain the feeling! I am absolutely exhausted.
After 1 year and two months, 48.2 hours, three different airplanes, and $4,000, I finally got the certificate. Here's the run-down of what happened.
Last night it was my school's homecoming so I couldn't miss that. I got home about 2:00 AM, did some prep for my ride and finally fell asleep about 3:45 AM. I had set my alarm for 6:10 AM but was too tired to get up, so I hit the snooze until 7:00. Not great to be going to a check ride on 4 hours of sleep.
I finally got to the airport, did all the calculations, and taxied the plane over to the FBO to pick up the examiner. He was supposed to get there at 10:00 AM but was running 45 minutes late so I ended up watching TV for about an hour.
Finally got in there and got to work. Everything turned out good and he was impressed with the organization of my instructor and me. The oral part took about an hour and then we were off to do the flying.
The winds were almost straight down the runway at 11 knots so he kept asking if I still wanted to do it. After about 10 minutes of debating I figured what the heck.
The flight portion went great. Short-field takeoff, then on to the cross-country portion. I was a little off-course but corrected it. Next was the instrument stuff, not to bad. Stalls went really well. Steep turns were next, and they definitely weren't my best. We did turns around a point, with the winds being about 15+ kts so I was a little worried because I'm not all that great at them; they were fine. Next was the emergency landing, which I didn't think I was quite gonna' make but somehow I did and he was pretty impressed with how I had done it.
Back to the airport to do one soft-field landing and it was over. Taxied back to the FBO, had them fill the plane up and inside we went. I saw him filling out my temp. and I knew it was a job well done.
Now it's time to just enjoy the flying! Then I'm off to start my instrument rating, whoo! Can't even explain the feeling! I am absolutely exhausted.
