killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Showed up with my g/f (Erika) and gift certificate in hand at Monarch (KADS) at 11:30 this morning. Our instructor for the flight was a nice soft-spoken kid from the upper midwest named Jacob.
During the preflight, Erika pulls me aside.
"Does he know what he's doing?"
"Sure. He's just doing the preflight, making sure everything is okay for us to go up."
"But...he's got a list of everything to check!"
"Yeah. It's called a checklist."
"You mean he doesn't know it?!"
I had to chuckle at that, and explained the need for checklists. Don't know if she felt better or not.
Now, I've been up a few times in a 172, but I'd never been up in one with a G1000 before. I can say with all certainty that it would be incredibly easy for me to get spoiled on that thing, so when I do primary training, it will NOT be on a G1000-equipped plane. Having TCAS, XM, WX and everything else is sure sweet though.
Erika had never been up in a GA plane before. She was nervous as hell, but she handled it pretty decently and I think she had more fun than she let on. She actually liked the landing best, but she was ready to get out. Every time the wings banked she thought we were going to fall out of the sky, but got very excited when she identified her building downtown from 2000 feet!
It was kinda bumpy today with gusting winds, but not too bad - more annoying than anything. We took off to the north, swung left and got clearance from KDAL to overfly at 2000 feet. That's always interesting. We turned a bit to make a nice loop around downtown Dallas. At that point, Jacob lets me take the controls.
I have to say that I am proud of the way I handled the plane today. I was able to maintain altitude and heading as directed. After the first 10 minutes in the air I was able to relax, and got into a nice scan routine and was really enjoying the flight...
...until the yellow letters TRAFFIC pop up on the G1000. At our 1 o'clock and same altitude is a SWA 737. Jacob has me adjust a few degrees left. KDAL then has us do a turn to come around behind the 737 and then we proceed out east over Lake Ray Hubbard. That traffic warning was a little unnerving, though...
I flew it around Hubbard, climbed up to 2500 and turned back west to return to KADS. They called in traffic to us - a D-Jet paralleling on our right - that we never saw. He was on TCAS but we just never got a visual on him. Weird.
A few miles out I handed the plane back to Jacob - I had no desire to attempt a landing. He brought it in a little steep but greased it perfectly. He explained later that he likes to clear the buildings south of KADS as much as he can and then confessed that he also pulled up the glideslope on the G1000 and flew it in to be sure.
Aside from some very early jitters I had, everything was very comfortable and familiar to me. I had no problems with control inputs, deciphering radio calls and Jacob said that I did great with the flying - he said he was impressed with the fact that I could keep it straight and level and turn without altitude loss/gain. Then again, he might've been blowing a little smoke - he was handling the trim, too.
Man, if I had any doubts about getting the PPL before they're gone now. Still don't know where I'll do it, although they (Monarch) have an excellent fleet - N1109V had only 191 hours on it. It's just a little expensive to fly there compared to some others.
Had a blast. Best Christmas present I've ever had.
Just gotta get the house sold.
PS - I've learned a hell of a lot here on JC, and the knowledge that I've picked up here, I think, went a long way toward my comfort/confidence level in the air. Thanks, all.
During the preflight, Erika pulls me aside.
"Does he know what he's doing?"
"Sure. He's just doing the preflight, making sure everything is okay for us to go up."
"But...he's got a list of everything to check!"
"Yeah. It's called a checklist."
"You mean he doesn't know it?!"
I had to chuckle at that, and explained the need for checklists. Don't know if she felt better or not.
Now, I've been up a few times in a 172, but I'd never been up in one with a G1000 before. I can say with all certainty that it would be incredibly easy for me to get spoiled on that thing, so when I do primary training, it will NOT be on a G1000-equipped plane. Having TCAS, XM, WX and everything else is sure sweet though.
Erika had never been up in a GA plane before. She was nervous as hell, but she handled it pretty decently and I think she had more fun than she let on. She actually liked the landing best, but she was ready to get out. Every time the wings banked she thought we were going to fall out of the sky, but got very excited when she identified her building downtown from 2000 feet!
It was kinda bumpy today with gusting winds, but not too bad - more annoying than anything. We took off to the north, swung left and got clearance from KDAL to overfly at 2000 feet. That's always interesting. We turned a bit to make a nice loop around downtown Dallas. At that point, Jacob lets me take the controls.
I have to say that I am proud of the way I handled the plane today. I was able to maintain altitude and heading as directed. After the first 10 minutes in the air I was able to relax, and got into a nice scan routine and was really enjoying the flight...
...until the yellow letters TRAFFIC pop up on the G1000. At our 1 o'clock and same altitude is a SWA 737. Jacob has me adjust a few degrees left. KDAL then has us do a turn to come around behind the 737 and then we proceed out east over Lake Ray Hubbard. That traffic warning was a little unnerving, though...
I flew it around Hubbard, climbed up to 2500 and turned back west to return to KADS. They called in traffic to us - a D-Jet paralleling on our right - that we never saw. He was on TCAS but we just never got a visual on him. Weird.
A few miles out I handed the plane back to Jacob - I had no desire to attempt a landing. He brought it in a little steep but greased it perfectly. He explained later that he likes to clear the buildings south of KADS as much as he can and then confessed that he also pulled up the glideslope on the G1000 and flew it in to be sure.
Aside from some very early jitters I had, everything was very comfortable and familiar to me. I had no problems with control inputs, deciphering radio calls and Jacob said that I did great with the flying - he said he was impressed with the fact that I could keep it straight and level and turn without altitude loss/gain. Then again, he might've been blowing a little smoke - he was handling the trim, too.
Man, if I had any doubts about getting the PPL before they're gone now. Still don't know where I'll do it, although they (Monarch) have an excellent fleet - N1109V had only 191 hours on it. It's just a little expensive to fly there compared to some others.
Had a blast. Best Christmas present I've ever had.
Just gotta get the house sold.
PS - I've learned a hell of a lot here on JC, and the knowledge that I've picked up here, I think, went a long way toward my comfort/confidence level in the air. Thanks, all.
