Flight School: Day 1
I got here at 8 in the morning in the rain, so I pretty much expected not to fly today. I got my training materials set up on my laptop, almost all the book materials I need, and a nice, laid back area to study and do my flight lessons in. My flight instructor, Paul, is a pretty cool guy, so I look forward to more lessons and not hating him. In addition to crappy weather, President Bush is in Orlando today and tomorrow for some reason, so the FAA put a TRF (I think that means Temporary Flight Restriction, but I'm not sure) up on a 10 mile radius from Orlando International Airport (MCO), and since Kissimmee is about 6.1 nautical miles from MCO, we're grounded. Luckily, the weather cleared up and the start time for the TFR got pushed back so I was able to squeeze in my first flight.
The lesson I completed on the computer was a joke except for some of the control techniques used for increasing and decreasing power. I also learned how to do a preflight inspection of the aircraft, which is easier than it sounds but tedious nonetheless. After fueling up and taxiing, we were up and away. I've always been scared I'd end up stalling, but there's a heck up a lot of pickup when you have full power (sure, a car accelerates faster, but cars don't have to worry about airspeed and stalling). We cruised up to 1500 feet, did some turns, went up to 4000 and experimented with bank angles and keeping level flight. The plane handled a lot better than the one I flew on Saturday with Young Eagles, and I didn't have any trouble keeping it level. I got to talk to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for the first time ever too. I didn't actually land the plane, but I did fly it around the flight pattern and bring it down to its approach. For some reason I always feel a little queasy after landing, possibly because of dehydration but it could also be a delayed reaction to the G's we were pulling over Haines City.
It's time for lunch. I'm flying at noon tomorrow after the TFR gets lifted.
The lesson I completed on the computer was a joke except for some of the control techniques used for increasing and decreasing power. I also learned how to do a preflight inspection of the aircraft, which is easier than it sounds but tedious nonetheless. After fueling up and taxiing, we were up and away. I've always been scared I'd end up stalling, but there's a heck up a lot of pickup when you have full power (sure, a car accelerates faster, but cars don't have to worry about airspeed and stalling). We cruised up to 1500 feet, did some turns, went up to 4000 and experimented with bank angles and keeping level flight. The plane handled a lot better than the one I flew on Saturday with Young Eagles, and I didn't have any trouble keeping it level. I got to talk to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for the first time ever too. I didn't actually land the plane, but I did fly it around the flight pattern and bring it down to its approach. For some reason I always feel a little queasy after landing, possibly because of dehydration but it could also be a delayed reaction to the G's we were pulling over Haines City.
It's time for lunch. I'm flying at noon tomorrow after the TFR gets lifted.
posted by Benacor at 3:21 PM
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