Yesterday

Yesterday I stepped to 2 different airplanes, but both of them were broken. Both had canopy malfunctions, but we caught the discrepancies in the course of our preflight checks. As I closed the canopy on the first aircraft, my IP couldn't see the mechanical indicator that verifies the canopy is closed, so we didn't take the plane. We stepped to a spare, but as I was closing the canopy on that one, the canopy annunciator extinguished before the canopy was actually closed. Huge red flag! We knew we weren't taking the aircraft right then. We got maintenance up on the wing to take a look. We closed the canopy and reopened it, and the canopy annunciator and master warning didn't even come on. Wow! That's a big deal. Too bad, because it was a beautiful day. Since my IP and I didn't end up flying I got some good experience doing the preflight walkaround and exterior inspection. Getting in the books this weekend...

Blues, Preflights, Running, and a Videochat

Our first day of academics in blues.

We started off with an intro to T-6 Systems. One of the blue suit instructors (contractor) gave us a Powerpoint listing all the various systems of the T-6, hydraulics, oil, the engine, environmental control, etc. Then they took us outside to get an up-close look at the aircraft. It felt like I was actually getting ready to do something. A thought I had: They're not just taking me on a walkaround as a complimentary tour. They're showing me, because I'm going to fly it. More CAIs followed.

Ate lunch at the Hibiscus.
More CAIs.
Went for a 5k run in my Fivefingers.
Skyped w/ Dave and Jarrod. Just like the old times. They're ready to graduate yesterday.

Our class patch was approved (as seen on right).