It's ABOUT Freaking Time!!!

Well, sorry I haven't written lately. I was on vacation for the 1st couple of weeks in May, so flying wise, there just wasn't too much to write about. I really enjoyed the vacation...I had an absolute blast!!! Eventually my family will read this, but right now I am keeping it hush-hush just in case I can't finish up the training I am doing. I really don't see that being a factor, but I don't want the constant "are you done yet?" questions when things are so fluid. As it stands, the scheduling has worked out GREAT, but there is a possibility that I am going to have to go back to ground school for the AF to get certified in the glass cockpit version of the C-5. I really have no desire to do so, but eventually the training is going to move here, and since I am the subject matter expert for the course ware, simulators and ground school, I will have to do it sooner or later....I would just prefer to do it after I finish the private pilot stuff. After that, I am all about it. Dover has a great aeroclub and the rates are REALLY good, so that would be a bonus. I just would prefer to keep the continuity of training I have now.

OK, now the "little plane" flying stuff. I flew the day I left for vacation and I sucked REALLY bad. What a way to go out! OK, so I come back from vacation and I have flown and additional 3 lessons...I was really getting bummed out since it seemed like I couldn't knock off the rust and I was still f*ing up the landings. The "Gods of Aviation" must have thought that I have my pockets LINED with cash...but I really don't. OK, so we take off today and do a few ground reference maneuvers which were "OK" but nothing that would water your eyes. After that, we cruised to my primary airport (we flew out of another controlled field because of my instructor's schedule) and did a few around the pattern. Again, nothing REALLY bad, just not great....Then, what I wasn't expecting happened. My CFI told me to full stop and taxi over to the terminal...holy crap, he's not about to do what I think he is going to do is he?!? I haven't had my stage check yet and well, I still suck!!! Well, he actually opens his door and says what I have wanted to hear for MANY MANY MANY YEARS...."Go ahead and give me three take off and landings...and don't bend my airplane!!!" My God, has he gone mad!?!? By all accounts, almost all students think this, and I figure "na...I won't think this....I'll know when I am ready." Well, I did think that I still think he is crazy! I taxied to the runway and saw that his door was unlocked and promptly locked it...that would have been lots of fun on the 1st solo. So, I took the runway and off I went. Is was all what I expected...a little scary, much faster and yes, one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life. I know now that I am seriously bitten by the flying bug...oh man this hobby is going to cost me A LOT of money!!! OK, back to the solo. It has also been said that everything is quite automatic and you'll hear the CFI's voice in your head yelling and smacking you around...well, that happened too and I had to chuckle when I "heard" the voices. As I was cruising along downwind, 3 more airplanes decided to decent on my little airport in West Texas. What the hell man?!? It's 100 degrees out here?!?! Who wants to fly in this heat?!? Well, I worked the 1st landing pretty good, but kinda messed up a Mooney that was inbound on the GPS approach. He had to abandon the approach and I felt a "little" guilty, but he didn't call in until he was 5 miles out. So, forget him. The second pattern was a little "different" as I wound up flying about a 5 mile downwind to let the Mooney get his approach in. When I turned base and then final, it looked like I was 50 miles from the runway!!! My instructor said that was the best landing he saw yet (from me) and I told him that I had LOTS of time to set up a nice approach. I bet if all my finals were 5 miles long, I'd do better too! The last one floated a little, but I put it down not too far from the numbers and RIGHT ON center line. I was fairly proud of myself. So, I taxied back, got my instructor and cruised back to the other airport. We debriefed and he told me a did really well. I think that is the first "that a boy" that I have gotten in a long time that I have really valued. We are scheduled to go back up tomorrow and again next Tuesday and Thursday. We will work a little more on the maneuvers stuff and I'll get a stage check from another instructor and then move along on my training. Hopefully after our lesson tomorrow, I'll get a little more solo time. It was quite fun, I must say. Oh yes...so total time to solo: 18.9 hours and 60 landings (good God man...that is a lot of landings!!!) OK, so I have rambled WAY to much, but I have one last thought for a few people in my life....perhaps a little bit of a regret:

Mom, Dad and Mommy...I am sorry you couldn't be there to see my mediocre landings. All of you have known how much I loved aviation from so long ago, and I would have loved to have you be part of this milestone. I have my crazy reasons for keeping you in the dark about all of this, but one day you will know all about it. Dad...I can see why you are a little envious about the things I do...I truly have a great life, I really, really do. I love all of you more than you will ever, ever, ever know!!!