REAL - X-Countries Finished PICS

[Jeff S KDTW]

As many of the midwesterners here know, the weather the last two days here in the midwest/Michigan has been incredible, especially after the less-than-stellar days we had leading up to it.

This past week my instructor and I have been trying to schedule a night x-country, but unfortunately every night had low ceilings and short visibility that kept us on the ground. Didn't the weather Gods know that I had my flight plan all laid out nicely and neatly, just waiting to plug in the wind data? ;-) The route of choice for the night x-country was KPTK-PSI-KLAN-KBTL-KJXN-KARB-SVM-KPTK, with 2 full-stop landings at each airport. The grand total for the distance was 190NM.

Well, after that "Blizzard of '03" passed off the coast and took the remaining snow in our area with it, we were good to go on Wednesday night. Much to my dismay, my instructor had to land in Columbus, OH the night before due to weather and was stuck there all Wednesday. We were in contact, but it looked like the night x-country was off for Wednesday night, despite beautiful conditions.

We were also waiting on good weather for my solo x-country, which, similar to the night x-country, was already planned out but just needed the wind data plugged in. I had a few solo routes chosen just in case of weather limits--although my primary route was KPTK-FNT-MOP-KHTL (landing at Houghton Lake), then Houghton Lake to Traverse City, then backtrack along the same route.

In light of the PERFECT conditions with the high pressure system of OHIO, Michigan weather was fabulous yesterday, so I decided to take the day off from work and fly and fly and fly. :-) I know this description is a bit long ;-), but I'll shorten it up. :-)

After going over my fp and confirming my calculation, I filed my VFR fp and took off from KPTK. I turned on course northbound and requested flight following. The trip up to KHTL was uneventful, which was reassuring. ;-) Although the winds were a bit gusty, I landed and topped the tanks. After checking weather for Traverse City (which is on the west side of the state, just inland from Lake Michigan), I departed for TVC. However, when I was about 20 NM out and got ATIS, they were reporting gusting winds 60 degrees off runway heading and low level wind shear. I monitored tower and after hearing reports of 10 knot fluctuations on approach, I decided it wasn't safe to proceed--I did not want to deal with wind shear at this stage. :-)

I executed a 180 and set up the plane for the return trip. Since I did not land at TVC, I still needed one more landing at another airport to full-fill the solo x-country requirements. I ended up landing at KMOP. However, now I was going to a familiar uncontrolled airport (Bad Axe), called my instructor again to let him know what I was doing, and was off. With flight following most of the way, I finally returned to KPTK with the requisite landings at 3 airports (edit - KHTL, KMOP, KPTK), much more than 50 NM straight line distance, and 5.1 hours. Solo x-country complete. You may ask why I did it all at one time--well, this time of year it is difficult to get such greater weather that is not forecasted to turn crumby anytime soon, so it was the safest way to knock it out without waiting for a couple months.

Then last night, my instructor and I did the dual night x-country. That one was also uneventful except for the winds and pilot controlled lighting. ;-) He had me divert to two different airports, one of which I was setting up on short final and the runway lights turned off. We had just turned them up a couple minutes earlier, but we could not get them on again, so we executed a missed approach.

Anyway, with 10 full stop landings and 3.6 hours night, we were finally able to wrap up the night x-country also.

So, needless to say, with 8.7 hours in one day, the x-countries are done. :-)

Now, its just polishing the ol' maneuvers--especially steep turns. :-)

Regards,

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/sigs/name.jpg

Enroute
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/solo1.jpg

Houghton Lake
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/solo2.jpg

Enroute
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/solo3.jpg

Mount Pleasant
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/solo4.jpg

My house (somewhere) ;-), that's Pine Knob ski "hill"
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/solo5.jpg

[CX110]

Great review Jeff! Congratulations!

Hope you enjoy doing step turns, stall recoveries and all that stuff as I did. Always had lot's of fun doing these things, feeling gravity is just great ;-)

Looks like you will soon have your checkride, good luck with it :-)

Samuel

[argueman99]

I'm supposed to start my x-country's soon, but its' been snowing here for days. grrr...

Congrats, Jeff, glad to see you're enjoying it!!!!

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Add 580-odd posts to the current tally...
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[Sonar5]

[font color="#3910DA"]
Great progress Jeff,

Keep up the good work and the stories. Each one has the potential to create another pilot. :-)


Regards,
Joe :-wave
GIIA (Guy Involved In Aviation)

[/font]

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Particularly, the World & Current Events Message Boards (Same User name), Discuss Politics, Religion, Whatever you want. :-)

A GIIA in case you are wondering is a Guy/Girl involved in Aviation. Just list how you are involved, and you can use the designation. It's that simple.

Me, I am a PP-ASEL and an AOPA member, and now I am a GIIA. :-)

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NO MORE SIG, as it had nothing to do with MSFS2002. It was a FLYII Sig.

[Jeff S KDTW]

Thanks guys for the encouragement!

Joe, have you been flying lately?

Regards,

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/sigs/name.jpg

[jcmissionary]

Congrats, Jeff! It's great, isn't it?

I have to ask, did you use that GPS at all? :-)

On my solo x-country, for the first leg, I used the method's of navigation my instructor told me to use; pilotage and dead reckoning. For the second, VOR's, and for that last leg (by this time I had already flown 3 hours) I just hit the direct button, then dialed in my home airport, and turned on the AP. I certainly monitered the AP and my plane's situation, but it was nice to just sit back and be able to enjoy the view. (Although I tell my friends that I slept for that portion. :-lol

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...9756c8d5f7.jpg

[Jeff S KDTW]

To answer your question, YES. :-)

Although there is always the concerns of relying too much on any one instrument, my instructor stressed that I should feel free to use ALL available resources on my solo x-country. When we are flying dual, he often "fails" many of my instruments. In fact, last night during the night x-country, he diverted me to my first surprise destination which required a bit of work on my part to determine my exact location and plot a course to the new destination. Following a landing there, we were on our way to the next planned waypoint/airport when he diverted me to yet another surprise airport. After I found the airport on my sectional, I immediately started dialing in an NDB frequency on the ADF so I could simply fly the needle there, when he leaned over to look at my sectional with surprise. Once he realized that the new location actually had an NDB on the field he said, "hey, good thinking" but then simply "failed" my ADF. :-) Anyway, the point being that he forces me to use all the instruments to avoid relying on any one particularly.

In any respect, on the solo x-country, it was more important to maintain the proper course. It (GPS) turned out to be helpful, because I was battling a very strong crosswind aloft that was stronger than forecasted.

Also, like you, I used the AP during portions of the flight. It is, however, simply a single-axis AP coupled to the heading bug, so it helps to maintain a "constant push against the crosswind". ;-)

Regards,

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jsnyder99/sigs/name.jpg

[KenG01]

Jeff, you're gonna pass me before too long. :-) Congrats on getting that first foray into the unknown done. I remember my first solo x/c and the trepidation as I realized it was all on me to find my way out "there" and back. And those night x/c are a lot of fun. It's a whole different world out there without the sun lighting everything up.

Almost 9 hours of flying. Wow. That's a lot more than I've accumulated in one day. I bet you were worn out. One of the most satisfying worn out feelings you can have though.

-----
Ken G:-wave

[lonewulph]

Jeff,
Sorry I've been so busy. Besides terrorists training (at the other job), and trying to get a new jet off the ground for our brother simmers...I've been swamped.
You are doing absolutely terrific! I can see you are loving every minute.
Be safe, have fun....and by the looks of things...stay warm! 83 degrees here Friday! You missed it, I've got an idea for your cross country! ;)

Best Regards,
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...9a64a3665a.jpg

[N400QW]

Congratulations Jeff! Looks like your having a blast! Please email me when you get time...eaglesoftdg@consolidated.net

Best,

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...54721b22c0.jpg