Training Started!

UPDATE:

Weather was crap today. Figures that the ONE day you really need clear weather. Here it is usually pretty much 90-95 degrees and sunny and hot all day every day during the summer.

We took advantage of our time by doing som hood time. First the instructors' son flew for an hour. We did some ILS approaches with the understanding that this was really IFR stuff. It was really neat to see an ILS approach though. After that, we landed and I flew. Climbed to 4000 and put the hood on. Did turns, and then descent/Climbs, ending up with turns in them. I don't know if it is all the MSFS time, but I really nailed my first time under the hood. Next time we will do stalls and steep turna under ther hood and practice some short field stuff.

The weather was really MVFR, but there was a heavy squall line stalled to our south that started coming through at the end; we outran and got home before it hit. Clouds were very scattered at 1200 feet, but clear to 10,000. Still, good hood work.

If the weather is good, we will attempt the X-country again tomorrow evening.
 
Congrats on getting your flight training started, man I can't wait!.., it's been 15 yrs. Just a few more months I hope to be in Florida! Hey probably a dumb question as I've read your progress, but I'm guessing you don't have the Montgomery GI Bill. Thats the ONLY way I can even think of doing this thing plus all the equity in my home LOL! Well best of luck and I looking foward to your updates.., keep us posted.
 
Thank You for your input on killeen aero. Allan was recommended to me by CTC. But he said he would be out of town for about a week and mentioned a different instructor which is probably who you have.

I also use MSFS and it does help. I used it when I was working on my instrument and been using it more now since I need to get current.
 
Yeah Bob is the other instructor but I doubt you will get any time with him. He is busy with his son and I, and getting ready to leave at the end of the month. However, I will mention it to him to see if he is interested.
 
Quick Update:
Flown twice since the last time I posted.
The first time was Thursday 7/6. Went up to practice crosswind landings and short and soft field work. Uneventful.

Tonight I flew a new airplane; A 1983 180HP Skyhawk with moving map GPS! Wow what a difference from the jalopy I was flying. The seats arent ripped, the outside paint looks new, with no dings, cracks, and epoxy all over it The parking brake even worked! It climbed with 3 people in it better than the jalopy did with just me.

We flew from Temple to Austin, then Austin to San Antonio. The instructors son flew those legs. I flew home. He wanted us to get some experience at busy controlled airports. I planned all the legs for experience, but his son flew GPS down, having completed his XC work already. I flew back GPS San Antonio to Austin, then pilotage to Temple. Controlled airports are BUSY! And don't EVER screw up the transponder code three times (Doh!). That coupled with the fact we were doing a Touch and Go at a busy time ticked of the controller. He had me "dive" at the runway practically over it and "expedite". I kept looking back at the Southwest 737 barreling down on me, dove in, landed smoothly my first time in the new ride(Yayyy), and left.

I think it was a great experience playing around at a busy controlled field for the first time. Besides the Transponder hiccup (Which my instructor actually miseread the second time, and we argued about it. hehe), I was happy with my radio work.

For the pilotage navigation on the way home to Temple, I basically followed I-35 Straight north, checking the map for landmarks. That went well too!

We are planning a long cross country for this weekend. That will probably be the last time I fly with this instructor, and possibly the school. As mentioned before, he leaves at the end of the month, and I am outta here for a business trip and vacation back to upstate NY. When I come back, there will be one instructor left at this school, and he seems to be pretty unavailable (Semi-retired. No Weekends). I will probably make my move to the Georgetown(Austin Suburb) flight school to finish up. It is only 25 minutes away and has a significant amount more planes, that are also newer. They also have a Diamond DA-40 I am itching to take my wife on a road trip, err flight trip, with once I get my PPL.
 
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