1st solo cross country

dmcummins · 04-02-2012, 09:33 AM

Just got back from my 1st solo cross country. It was only a little over 50nm away and had a VOR at the airport, so it wasn't to hard to find. I'm taking my written tomorrow and I have my long cross country set up for Wed. After that I still have my 3 hours of night and then practice for the check ride.

I'm at 38 hours in my logbook so its going to take me more than the minimum required, I should have done this 35 years ago.

yay for me!!!

It would be a lot easier if I could use a GPS.

Seahawk · 04-02-2012, 09:53 AM

Flying alone sharpens the senses...

Well done!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Congrats!!!

dmcummins · 04-02-2012, 10:02 AM

I'll be glad when I get this done and can use a gps. Except for rivers and lakes all those little towns and roads look the same to me on the sectionals. My base airport is next to the Mississippi river, so if all else fails I look for the river and follow it home.

onewhippedpuppy · 04-02-2012, 10:04 AM

Congrats! I hope to start in April or May depending on my MBA workload.

FLYGEEZER · 04-02-2012, 10:12 AM

Don't worry about having 38 hours. Time can mean nothing. A flight examiner I overheard on a check ride responded to a statement made by the pilot getting the check That "He" had 700 hours in type. The examiner said "No.... you fly like you have 70 hours 10 times"

dmcummins · 04-03-2012, 10:10 AM

I passed the written today, got a 95%. Hopefully not much longer till the checkride.

romad · romad's Garage

Its just like crack...... happy trails. Oh and GPS is for ....... never mind.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmcummins

I'll be glad when I get this done and can use a gps. Except for rivers and lakes all those little towns and roads look the same to me on the sectionals. My base airport is next to the Mississippi river, so if all else fails I look for the river and follow it home.

Gosh that sounds exactly like me when I first learned to fly. Got the adrenalin going when I was doing the same shortly after I had gone solo. Ceiling went down to 500 feet but landed safely. The owner/instructor had his hands on his hips when I arrived. He was madder than a hornet. GPS is no substitute for good map reading but is a great tool in case you are lost. Worst case scenario is low flying, low ceiling,low vis, map on your knee and towers, hills in the vicinity. If the weather looks bad, better off staying on the ground.

flipper35 · flipper35's Garage

Congrats, and hey, time in an aircraft is time in an aircraft. 40 hours, 50 hours doesn't matter much if you plan to keep flying anyway.

Joeaksa · 04-04-2012, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Flying alone sharpens the senses...

Well done!

Sure is true! Know you realized lots on this flight that you had never seen.

Congrats!

944Larry · 944Larry's Garage

Congrats! I remember my first one. It was easier in those days. Every little town had a garbage dump where they burned garbage. 5 minutes out of Greenville you could see Vicksburg on a clear day. Plus Mississippi River on the right, couldn't go wrong. You still need to keep track of your position with a GPS. Had one go out a few years ago and was not paying the least bit of attention where I was at. Got on the ball and figured it out in a few minutes but learned to still keep track on a map from then on. Another plus on flying. You have now found something that will make your Porsche habit look cheap!

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Congrats.