Bumpy Gusty Winds And More Fun

Needless to say it was a gusty and bumpy wind day on Thursday. Although, everything went really well and my skills are improving greatly. What even impressed me more was that It had been 2 weeks since I had an actual flight lesson last due to the weather. So, I was a bit concerned thinking that I was going to have an off day and make a few mistakes. BUT, there really weren't any problems. It was like once I took off and re-established my feel for the flight controls, it felt good again, it felt REAL good to get up there and fly again. We went out to the practice area to the Southwest again and practiced my skills since it had been 2 weeks. I was a little rusty on the procedures, but that just shows that I need to stay brushed up on those so that I can perform them without even thinking about them. We did slow flight - straight and level, climbing and descending slow flight, and turning slow flight, then we also did power-on (take off) stalls, power-off (landing) stalls, and emergency landing procedures. And we did another 20 mins of flying by instruments where they make you wear these fogged up goggles, aka foggles that only allow you to see the instruments.

Oh yea, I almost forgot about the new story that I have to tell. We were on our way out to the practice area, and we had a fairly close encounter with converging traffic. This was a perfect example of the other pilot not doing what he or she was supposed to.....basically converging traffic is just like being in a car on the ground when two cars meet at an intersection travelling on instersecting paths. Well just like when you drive, the car to the right has the right of way, the same is for in the air with airplanes - go figure. There was this multi-engine plane that was crossing us from our left to our right, right in front of us but probably 700-1000 feet above us. Even though we had that type of clearance space the pilot of that plane should have made a turn to the right to pass behind us, but they didn't and crossed literally right in front of us just slightly higher. That was absolutely crazy how close they actually were. But of course, no incursion occurred and we continued with the lesson.

I was making most of the radio calls, and we headed back to the airport to do a few laps around the pattern so I could practice my landings. I was still having a little difficulties with it, but found ways to improve. I took my heels off the floor to put my direct input on the rudder pedals instead of resting my heels on the floor. I kept using them more like foot rests.......which is not a good idea. But, by the last time around I made some good control improvements.

Oh yeah, I also passed my first stage exam with a score of 49 out of 50. One wrong....I was aiming for perfect...but hey, what can you do? I'll take it.