Stopovers and ERO

Yesterday's sim was at midnight, so my sleep schedule is a little wonky for the week. I have another one tonight. Yesterday's sim was 4 hours long. It was a multi-leg mission involving four different airports, which is fairly realistic as far as I've been told. Our sim didn't involve any emergencies, so that was nice. The ceiling was so low at our third stop that we had to divert to the fourth location, so we didn't land where we had planned. The lessons are scripted though, so we knew it would happen. The whole thing was really an exercise in crew coordination. We had a Nav, and when you fly with a Nav, you're expected to make full use of his/her abilities and tools, so I tend to delegate the details of navigation to them. Our Nav did most of the preflight planning as far as the route of flight was concerned. Pilots decide which approaches to fly. I flew an ARA (airborne radar approach), which is like a PAR in that the Nav is using the aircraft radar to guide the pilot to the runway. It's pretty cool stuff. At one of the intermediate stops, we ran through the Engine Running Offload checklist, which was fairly straightforward, but good, because I hadn't seen it yet.

Off to sim again. Tonight is more instrument flying and checkride practice.

Check and Solo

I had my final instrument checkride on Monday. It was fairly straightforward and everything went well. We flew down to the Valley for some McAlister's. I flew a circling approach, vectors to an ILS, and a VOR procedure turn. We finished up with vectors to an ILS back at the homefield. That's a weight off the shoulders!

Yesterday's airnav solo went alright as well. I didn't get to go out and back, because my CP wasn't flying the same sortie. He was already syllabus complete, so I just flew a big circle up to San Antonio, over to Houston and back down the coast for vectors to an ILS final for a full stop. Still, it was a solo with 2.2 hours of PIC (Pilot-in-command) time!

I'm flying an airnav solo today as CP. Should be fun.

Boom!

I had a great flight today. Yes, I said it. It was great. We flew down to the valley. I got in the seat at Port Isabel and flew a GPS approach with a turn in holding followed by a circling approach. Both approaches were single engine. All went well and my IP even said I flew one of the best point-to-points he's ever seen. The winds were only about 25 knots at altitude, but it was still pretty good. I had to put on the mask on the way back for simulated smoke and fumes in the cockpit, but I got to take it off after the fumes "dissipated." We went through that checklist and then shot another approach - this time a needle-only TACAN. The catch was he failed my attitude indicator, so I did a partial panel, needle-only TACAN. I'd never even heard of that until today. On the climbout we couldn't get the visual recovery, so we shot the ILS. He failed my glideslope, so we had to transition to the localizer. Then, he gave me a fire, so we went single engine. I got halfway through the checklist and decided to just land and deal with it on the ground. No major fumbles with a pretty tough profile, so I was really happy with my flying this morning. One more, then check Friday.

The View from the Right Seat

Yesterday I flew my right seat rides. All the Air Force students get two extra right seat rides in preparation for years of flying copilot in the C-130. The rides are low threat, but it really felt weird sitting on the opposite side of the cockpit. I flew two of the cross country flights from the right seat, but yesterday still felt weird. It may take more time for me to really get used to it. I've become much more comfortable in the left seat. My landings were a little rusty, but other than that both events went ok. I couldn't wait to get back though, because my wonderful fiancee had made dinner for me - lemon pepper chicken with potatoes and squash.

No flight today, but I start review stage tomorrow. Review stage is pretty much what it sounds like - a comprehensive review of instrument flying complete with multiple malfunctions and ambiguous scenarios. So close!

My final instrument checkride should be next week.

Checkride and XC

Thursday I had my mid-stage checkride. The brief went ok but my ground ops, of all things, were less than stellar. The flying part went fine with a couple hiccups here and there but pretty decent considering my checkride history. It was a checkride I feel like I can say went well. I flew a VOR approach at International, a TACAN circling approach at Rockport, and a no-heading PAR back at NGP. It was a typical checkride day in that the winds were such that we were on a runway from which I'd actually never taken off, the VOR was completely turned off in the aircraft, which I've never seen before, and my IP made me hold over a VOR, my least favorite type of holding. Despite these annoyances, I passed, and the IP even complemented my flying. I can live with that.

I spent a few hours Friday night planning my last-minute cross-country to Jacksonville FL. My IP and I are flying in a sort of mini airshow event on Monday, and I'll get some extra flying time.

We ended up flying up to Tuscaloosa for some Dreamland BBQ (highly recommended). You know you're at a quiet airfield when tower asks you about the paint scheme on your plane while your on the roll out. I shot the visual followed by the ILS. At NAS Jacksonville I shot the HI-TACAN from FL200, which was fun for a change and moves much quicker than low altitude approaches. I had a bit of a hiccup on that one. Fly and learn.

On base in the Navy Lodge for the next couple days. I'm exploring Jacksonville today.

Out and Back to Amarillo + Double Turn

Yesterday I got a call around noon saying that my flight we'd be flying my event in an aircraft we had to pick up in Amarillo, so we had to leave early to pick it up. We sat in the back all the way up to Amarillo with a gas stop in Ft Worth at AFW. My buddy flew his event, but we were running short on time when I got in the seat and we'd had an issue with the pressurization system, so the IP just called me incomplete, but still had me shoot a GPS approach so I could knock that out.

Today I double turned the last two flights of the block. I flew down to the valley after a couple of GCA approaches (ASR, PAR) and then flew back.

Check ride tomorrow.

Contact Check Passed

I passed my contact stage checkride today even though I flew terribly. After waking up to low ceilings and IFR forecasts, our IP decided to press. We had to wait an hour past our takeoff time to get an aircraft...that was broken. Typical checkride day. It wouldn't start because the battery was so low. Maintenance hooked us up to a power cart and we made it happen. THe highwork wasn't terrible, but my stall of all things went badly the first time, so the IP had me fly it again. The pattern work was decent, including the no-flap landing until I got a simulated fire and had to go around because I forgot to lower the gear until the turn to final. I just planted the last one on the runway before we switched seats and the other guy flew his patterns. I was working myself into a hole, but evidently I was safe enough that we both got to solo. Always fun without an IP in the cockpit. It was just 3 landings, but a solo's a solo. Good to have the checkride out of the way no matter how I feel about it.

Sports Drink?

Tuesday's flight was much the same as Monday's. We did the same things. I wasn't quite as sharp or maybe the IP was just more demanding, but I still felt improvement. I kept angling in on final, but eventually figured out the significant undershooting winds. Only have to clean up 2 more items for the end of block. I got terrible sleep last night after drinking what I thought was a sports drink but in fact was an energy drink. Should have checked the ingredients. So I called my IP this morning and we canceled. End of block tomorrow, sim on Friday, maybe check on Saturday.

SSE and a C-17

After the crazy Texas snow and the monstrous storm that swept through the country canceled us last Thursday and a weekend of leave back up in Washington to attend my grandma's memorial service, I was back up in the air today. We did the standard high work, stalls, ditching practice, and a dynamic engine cut. Then we beat up the pattern at the aux field with full flap, normal, and no-flap landings. The IP introduced the SSE (simulated single engine) procedures today. On the downwind leg of the pattern the IP took the throttle of the left engine and brought it back to idle. I had to fly the rest of the pattern and land the aircraft with only one engine providing useful thrust. It's good training for emergency situations, and it builds confidence to know you can still handle the plane if one engine quits for any reason. That said, it's still not comfortable. The aircrafts performance suffers, lots of rudder input is required, and the workload is higher. This upcoming block of training is devoted to practicing malfunctions and dealing with emergencies in the air, so we should be fairly proficient when checkride time rolls around.

When we returned for the full stop, we saw two C-17s parked on the ramp getting refueled. After the debrief we just walked over to see if the pilots would let us check out the inside. They were just waiting for the fuel trucks to finish their job, so they gave us a brief rundown of the cockpit and let us sit in the copilot seat and look through the HUD. It's really a nice aircraft! It's a strategic transport aircraft with a stick and auto-trim! I new it was nice, but seeing it up close was impressive. It was nice to just be able to walk over and be welcomed into the cockpit. This job definitely has benefits.

T-6 Checkride Complete

I passed my Final Contact check today with only 3 downgrades - the best checkride I've ever had. It was a lot of fun too. The weather was great, and I knew a ton of people were praying for me and thinking about me. So thanks again! The flight was generally uneventful and my patterns were fine, but some of my area maneuvers and aerobatics weren't very pretty. Being finished with checkrides for now is a great feeling.

We had our official T-6 pictures taken this afternoon. The photographer was willing to take all the pictures we wanted, but had to get a couple official ones without sunglasses, etc. Never satisfied to be at the mercy of another organization, we setup our own camera and my neighbor "developed" these himself.

Bookends

I flew my last instructional sortie today. It went really well. I flew my aerobatics in the high area which gave me a few issues, but I flew all the maneuvers pretty well and came back for some decent patterns. I happened to fly with the same IP who gave me my dollar ride, which lends itself to the narrative. Tomorrow's my final T-6 checkride. I feel good about it. Thanks for all the prayers and support! I'm certainly not doing this on my own strength - and that applies to my entire life.

Form check PASSED!

Feelin' good in the neighborhood...My formation buddy and I both passed our form check today. We had our share of downgrades, but as they say, "A kill's a kill." Let me detail all the typical checkride day events that occurred:
- We were on the opposite runway that we're usually on, especially for this time of year, which changes the departure/arrival procedures and just messes with your typical flow.
- I went to step and found out my G-suit had been condemned and had to get fitted for a new one right then. The life support dudes took care of me though.
- We chairflew the whole profile twice through with me winging out and leading back, but when we briefed it up, the IPs decided to have me lead out and wing back.

Despite all this, we flew a solid sortie, and managed to avoid doing anything hookable. Thank you, God.

To Check

Today we flew our to-check, the final ride before our checkride tomorrow. It felt like we had been sitting for two days, but we didn't do anything too terrible. We chairflew tonight to iron out the wrinkles, so we should be good to go tomorrow. I expect good things. Must relax.

No airplane, no fly

I was on the schedule for the final flight before form check today, but the other guy's aircraft broke on the taxi out, and when they stepped to a spare we realized they were breaking one of the regs that dealt with temperature restrictions and how long they could be outside given the previous sorties the IP had already flown that day, so we had to ground abort. Bummer. Dinner at B-Dub's. Check Friday.

Rusty Mondays

Flew form again today with some fluid maneuvering. My formation buddy and I were both a little rusty, but we hammered out a few details that should help us on the last two rides. Probably the worst thing I did today was change direction in the middle of leading a barrel roll - so much for wingman consideration. None of that anymore. Fluid maneuvering is pretty cool, since it's the precursor to BFM, but it adds just a bit too much to the profile, so I'm glad to be rid of it for now. I want to focus on the checkride profile.

We're not scheduled to fly tomorrow, which will give us even more time to chairfly our profile and talk it out. Checkride scheduled for Thursday. I really appreciate the prayers.

It's been really hot lately, we're getting the real Wichita Falls weather. I don't appreciate it.

Check out this documentary if you have time:
Speed and Angels

It's about the Navy, but still pretty cool. It's way past what we're doing, but some of it is a little like what I get to do everyday. (Consider yourself warned that it includes language which some may find offensive.)

Good way to end a week

Yesterday I flew my last solo in T-6's. A little bittersweet, but definitely a lot of fun, despite the haze in the morning. I flew a decent formation sortie in the afternoon. Only two more form flights before the check - probably Wednesday.

On to Form

I finally wrapped up low-level today with another FPC. This one was requested special, because I spent both of my progress checks on the mid-phase contact block. Thankfully I passed, and I get to move on to formation. I actually had to fly it twice, since the first one was cut short due to weather. My check IP flew the recovery. The weather later in the day cooperated and allowed me to finish the sortie without too much trouble. I had to weave my way through a few clouds, but it worked out.

It seems you learn good things from going to the edge and back. Seeing as how I've been there twice now, I should know quite a few good things, but I'd like to put an end to these shennanigans. I'm getting too old for this.

Passed my I-Check!

I passed my instrument check today! It should be illegal to be this happy. I had 9 downgrades all stemming from trim and crosscheck issues, but I flew a great penetration, and my area work was solid. Movin on to Low-Level...yeah! It was beautiful out, so it was kind of a bummer I had to wear the hood the whole flight, but hey.

I studied for and passed the Formation test later in the afternoon. Tomorrow I'm just scheduled for a sim and spotter upgrade in the RSU. Should be a semi-relaxed day.

Check tomorrow

So I flew my end of block ride over again today. It was much better this time, so tomorrow should go well. The weather was great, but under the hood flying instruments you don't really get to look outside the airplane. Winds were pretty calm, which made things a little easier. Hopefully I'll roll a good profile tomorrow.

I spent most of the afternoon prepping my lineup cards, so tonight I'm going to read up on the GK and EPs my check pilot tends to give. Pizza night!

The past week

I like to keep it mostly positive on this blog, but the past week has not been cooperative. My gradebook looks like a bloody mess. It has a line of 5 red boxes filled with U's along the top. Today however, I got a G. I passed my elimination checkride. It came down to one ride. I was reminded of a quote, "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail." Though not entirely accurate, since my fate is in God's hands, I felt myself in quite the precarious position. After failing my Initial Progress Check on Thursday, a weekend of soul searching left me better prepared to take on the challenges ahead and not let them ruin my life on a daily basis. I realized that's what was happening. I was unable to enjoy the fact that I was living the dream. The pressure was getting to me. I'm done with that. All I have is the next flight. I'll make it better than the one before. For any number of reasons my next flight could always be my last. An elimination checkride does not change that. Thankfully I passed today. I'll have some good rides, I'll have some bad rides. I'll have more setbacks, but that won't be the end.