Wednesday, August 22, 2007

My Cherokee Update

Here' a few pics of my Cherokee. It's all in disarray. Seats are out of the cabin, the door is off, and the cabin roof panel is dangling....ALL FOR a panel upgrade. I'm in the middle of converting this VFR aircraft into a certified IFR airplane.
Few Things I'm adding:
DME
Glideslope
VOR
Auto-Pilot
Pitot Heater
IFR GPS
Garmin 396 with XM satellite weather
ADF (NDB)
New Altimeter
New VSI
New Tachometer
New Vemeer Mixture Control Knob


I'm guessing that I'll be flying it sometime this fall. Ready to fly in time for Football!! Flying from the Tulsa area to Norman, OK to watch the OU Sooners, baby!!

Here's a few pics

Sunday, August 19, 2007

General Aviation Tribute

History of Aviation Video

Played to the theme Song of "Top Gun"

Friday, August 17, 2007

IFR Training

I've been a private Pilot since 1999 and after 250+ hours, I've decided to go after my Instrument rating. Just started my Instrument ground school and I can't believe how much information I didn't know! ADF, VOR, LOC, DME training, etc. is definitely a must for all pilots even if you never want to fly near clouds. Even if you're a fair weather pilot and never go near the hanger when there's a slim chance of low visitibility, you really need to learn Instrument Flying.

(1) As power is reduced to change airspeed from high to low cruise in level flight, which instruments are primary for pitch, bank, and power, respectively?
A Attitude indicator, heading indicator, and manifold pressure gauge or tachometer.
B Altimeter, attitude indicator, and airspeed indicator.
C Altimeter, heading indicator, and manifold pressure gauge or tachometer.

The Answer: C

(2) If an airplane is in an unusual flight attitude and the attitude indicator has exceeded its limits, which instruments should be relied on to determine pitch attitude before starting recovery?

A Turn indicator and VSI.

B Airspeed and altimeter.

C VSI and airspeed to detect approaching VSI or VMO.

The Answer: B


I'm using Sporty's Inst. DVD course, books, and some King Schools videos along with Gleim online course. I recommend using videos, books, on the online course at Gleim if you're going to do it yourself at home. I recommend attending a classroom style Instrument ground school if there is a local class going on at a local college, high school, or flying school. Where I'm at, there wasn't any local ground schools going on this time of the year. So, I opted out for home study and other aviators.

If you never intend on becoming an instrument rated pilot, I heavily recommend taking an instrument ground school.....it will only make you a better pilot.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Log Books & Online Stores




Is it hard to find a good log book? I still have my original logbook and still make entries, but I'm running out of columns. I tried to look on Sporty's and other online pilot stores, but cannot find any of these stores showing how many columns each book has, etc.

I need a Rotorcraft columnn, Taildragger Column, Instrument Column, Simultated Inst. Column, Complex Column, and with getting some time in the Cherokee 6 300, I would like another column for 300 horsepower time. Along with Night, Day, Cross Country, PIC, Dual, Actual Inst., Siumul. Inst., and Total Time I would like four more columns.

Now, I may be going overboard here, but I like being organized with each category. I would like to just glance down at the log book and read the total hours in each cateogry. Is there a book out there that has these columns in it?

Monday, August 6, 2007

Lear 45



My Goal is to one day fly this Lear 45. I'm working on my instrument rating. Been htting the books, videos, online test taking, etc. Got a Cherokee lined up, instructor lined up, and get that written test out of the way and get Instrumented rated. Second is my muli-engine sign off and get some right seat time in the Lear.

Since this Lear is owned by a family member, I'm able to catch a ride in it when it's flown. Since it's family who owns it, I can only ride right seat when it'she uses it. When he charter's the plane out the two pilots must be ATP certified part 135, since I'm not I can't right seat it. But, any time helps.

My goal is to one day be able to pilot-in-command one day. Get some time in it, get my type rating and it can happen. One flight and one lessen at a time is the plan.