Windy Flight

All I did today was finish my flight from yesterday, which consisted of pattern work. It was really sporty though, because the winds were 22 gusting 35 knots. Thankfully, they were almost straight down the runway. That said, they would still knock the plane around in the flare, and that made landing interesting every time. When we switched back to my wingman flying, we had to wait an extra 30 minutes just leave the pattern because of how congested the air traffic was. Overall it was just a tiring day to fly. You need a few days like that to appreciate the good days.

Checkride Prep

Flew just ok today. Not stellar. I had a solid sortie overall, including an ILS to a low approach and ASR to a touch and go, but my two ELPs were trashy and I was struggling with the crosswind controls.

After flying today, we got a tour of RAPCON, radar approach control, all the people we talk to everyday, but never see.

Another Solo

Flew another solo today. Still feels a little weird to just go fly myself around, but definitely awesome. Clear skies and mostly calm winds made it a really good flight. I spent almost a full hour practicing all the aerobatics, trying to work on the more difficult ones. On the recovery, my pattern was decent, with a slight overshoot and a serious crosswind. My instrument sim went well, so I'm planning for tomorrow's. Looks like our cross country will be to Houston. Cool, haven't been there yet.

Instruments

No solo today. I flew another instrument sortie today, since the crosswinds were out of limits. The flight went pretty well, I was able to accomplish almost everything I was supposed to, with my IP helping out with a few nonstandard frequencies and radio calls. I flew 'glorious' instrument maneuvers in the area too. The back seat is still weird and even weirder when you're wearing the little hood that restricts your vision to simulate instrument conditions. I flew with an IP I hadn't flown with yet, and found out he's a really good IP and a good dude. Almost a day off tomorrow - no flying, just an instrument sim.

Sidenote: The flight leadership took me off CAP today - a good sign.

Much better week

So this week was much improved over last. I had my first instrument sortie yesterday, and the unpredictable North Texas weather provided actual instrument conditions. It's a great feeling driving through the clouds and breaking out on a final approach with the runway in sight, positioned for a landing. Flying from the back cockpit was really weird though. I don't like it, but the visibility is better everywhere except toward the front.

Today's instrument sim did not go very well, but it showed me exactly what I need to work on.

I had another advanced contact ride today. I improved my aerobatics and landed in a nasty crosswind. Mongolian grill tonight with the dudes before a weekend of relaxing/studying. I made it another week!

Weather

Today we were instrument status for most of the day, so we didn't get to solo. I got another instrument sim out of the way though. Not a total loss. I'm scheduled to solo tomorrow. We'll see if the weather lets us. The crosswinds will be tough, but we're gonna be pretty good landing in crosswinds after 5 months of this.

Whether there will be Weather

It's getting hot down here. It's not quite April and it already reached the high 80s today. Hello, Texas! Good thing I'm in an air-conditioned building or airplane most of the day. I started off the day with an instrument sim again. This one went well I thought. It's good to start the day off with something successful.

My pattern-only flight today was ok. The crosswinds did nothing to help me out, but I improved enough that my IP was happy. I just get frustrated when I don't know how to fix a problem. Improving your landings is not something you can solve by reading more or chairflying more. You just have to do it.

Weather class was more about whether I was going to fall asleep or not. I stayed awake, but I should probably read the chapters the instructor covered, because I was not at my peak mental state to say the least. I got put on the schedule for tomorrow, so maybe soloing Friday if the weather holds.

Long day

Maybe tomorrow will be our dollar rides. We got cancelled for crosswinds out of limits today. Can't go fly if the winds will blow your plane all over the sky.

We briefed the rides and did a walk around so it wasn't a total loss. We started instrument academics too. Boring.

One of the IPs was talking about chairflying today and mentioned how practice DOES NOT make perfect. PERFECT PRACTICE makes perfect. I will forever testify that basketball was the best preparation I've ever had for my profession. I had a couple coaches who used to always say that.

I'm FDO tomorrow. Have to give the morning brief. Should be interesting.

Got some practice time in the sims today and a little chairflying back in the dorms about an hour ago too. Off to bed.