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Written by Eddie
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Monday, 13 October 2008 |
 AVX - Just 26 miles off the coast of California from San Pedro is the Island of Santa Catalina (Catalina to the locals). Known as the "Airport in the Sky", this made my first official $100 burger run. The airport is a challenge...even more so when it’s your first time in a new model of plane. Today was my first time in and in command of a Piper Warrior II and it’s much different from the Cessna 172s I am use too. True, about a month or so ago I flew a Piper Archer III when it was suppose to be my first flight to Catalina, but bad weather that day at the airport prevented me from approaching the island. But today good weather and clear skies were on my side. I missed the first approach (there was a good updraft and the threshold to Runway 4) but after circling around I got us on the ground. We parked next to the tower (Rock Star parking as Cody called it) and went and paid our $20 for landing. After we got some lunch...Lid had a buffalo burger. I was not as adventures...only a regular burger for me. Cody had a chicken quesadilla...which a wasp stole a piece of then came back and pooped on him. Then we did a couple of patterns...which was good cause my second landing I barely touched down before I realized I was too far down the runway to stop safely. The next time around though I got the hang of it. Third time was just sweet. Then we headed back and completed our burger run. Thanks to Cody once again and brave Lidiette for being in the back seat. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 13 October 2008 )
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Written by Eddie
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Saturday, 21 June 2008 |
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So I finally my first official passenger and I could not be happier and prouder for it to be my father. A week late, we went up Saturday together for a quick ride "around the block." As always, he had questions and watched what I was doing and I could tell he was very proud of me and my accomplishment of becoming a pilot. He wanted to keep it short so we just went for a ride out to the practice area long the coast between Pt. Fermin and Pt. Vicente. Just a nice slow cruise along the shoreline and the back to the airport.
In traditional "Eddie" fashion, this uneventful trip had to have something go wrong and a good strong crosswind on landing that "just stopped" had me doing a little skid to the side when my compensation for it was no longer needed. But he knew what happened and was very impressed at my recovery. Sometimes I just can't get a break! |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 June 2008 )
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Private Pilot - Airplane Single Engine Land |
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Written by Eddie
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Friday, 13 June 2008 |
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Fifty and a half hours. Over the last 10 months I have flown 50.5 hours. In that time, I have become to my instructor "that one student" who had all the bad luck. I had nose gear just let go sitting on the ramp. High engine temperatures 2nd time up. Winds that no sane pilot should be in. Fronts move in so fast I can barely outrun them back home. And all of that came back to haunt me today. For the past week, today was forecasted to be just beautiful. June gloom was suppose to be over with. My first plane, 272WC was available and booked. But of course, none of this happened. IFR conditions forecasted to at least noon. 2WC is down for its 100-hour inspection. Anyways, meet with the FAA gentleman to at least get the ground portion out of the way. As we sat going over that stuff, the skies cleared a bit. By 9:30, it looked like we could knock out the landing portion of the test. So we went up...and I bounced hard. What can I say, I was nervous. The rest of my landings were okay. I know I could do better, but he said they were fine and more then just "passing". By this time there were enough holes in the overcast to get through and I was off to actually complete my test. And I did! It came down to making my last landing make up for that first one. And I nailed it. Smooth, on the numbers and on the center line. I could not have been prouder. The magic words were said, and I became a private pilot. Woot! I remember in the 7th grade as a writing assignment writing to the FAA asking for the requirements...and now almost 20 years later I have completed them. Thanks to everyone that supported me on this with words of encouragement. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 June 2008 )
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