This evening I flew the Cessna 172 (5146R) back to M33. This time I wore the IFR hood for everything but landing and take offs.
Once there, we fueled the aircraft and I soloed it for a while in the traffic pattern. Another great flight and not I have completed all of my simulated instrument time required by the FAA for a private pilot. I’m one step closer to my goal.
Total Flight time: 1.50 hours
Simulated Instrument (IFR hood) time: 1.0 hours
Pilot in Command time: 0.2 hours
Cost: Plane rental - $175.50, Instructor Fee - $60.00
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Night Flight
Today was my 2nd night flight in the Cessna 172 (434EP). The winds aloft were pretty strong at about 30 knots, but near the ground they were minimal.
This time we went to Sumner County Regional Airport (M33) just north of Nashville. I performed four landings (plus one returning to Nashville) at M33, the final one without the lights on. Landing at night is really the same as landing during the day, but the line of sight is much shorter. One major concern at landing at these small airports is wildlife on the runway. It is not uncommon to see deer and other animals searching for food in what appears to them as a quiet field. Everyone has seen what can happen to a car if it hits a dear, one can only imagine what would happen to a small plane?
Flight Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: Plane rental – 172.50, Instructor Fee - $60.00
This time we went to Sumner County Regional Airport (M33) just north of Nashville. I performed four landings (plus one returning to Nashville) at M33, the final one without the lights on. Landing at night is really the same as landing during the day, but the line of sight is much shorter. One major concern at landing at these small airports is wildlife on the runway. It is not uncommon to see deer and other animals searching for food in what appears to them as a quiet field. Everyone has seen what can happen to a car if it hits a dear, one can only imagine what would happen to a small plane?
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| Sumner County Regional Airport |
I have now completed my required 3 hours of night flight, but I’m a little sad. It is very beautiful flying at night and I really enjoyed it. I guess the next time I fly at night I will be a licensed pilot.Flight Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: Plane rental – 172.50, Instructor Fee - $60.00
Monday, October 10, 2011
Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk
This week I made one of the biggest purchases of supplies. It has long been my plan to upgrade my headphones as I advanced in my training. Then I would transition my current headset for passenger use.
I did a lot of research prior to making my decision. There are several different brands and features to choose from, but the feature the feature that was most desirable was to get a ANR headset.
The active noise reduction (ANR) headset is a relatively new technology that is especially effective at reducing low frequency noise, such as the engine and propeller noise in a light aircraft.
ANR was first conceived in the 1930s and had started showing up in science fiction stories by the 1950s, but it was the 1970s before mainstream scientists began to investigate the possibility seriously. ANR technology didn't become a reality in general aviation until the 1990s.
Here's how it works: A tiny microphone, typically placed in the earcup of a headset, picks up noise inside the earcup. That information is transmitted to the headset's electronics, which drive a speaker, also inside the earcup, to produce a noise that is the exact mirror image of the original noise. In other words the "trough" of one sound wave (the noise caused by the propeller) corresponds to the "crest" of another (the "antinoise" created by the headset). When the sound waves collide, they cancel each other out; so what you hear is the sweet sound of silence.
That's not to say that an ANR headset will leave you unable to hear the important things going on around you like air traffic controller instructions and the hum of the engine that lets you know everything is as it should be. ANR works most effectively on low-frequency noise. (This is the kind of noise that causes permanent hearing loss across all frequencies, if experienced over a long period of time.) ANR does very little to affect the relatively higher frequencies of, for example, voices. In addition, it really only works well for tonal noises those sounds containing a very limited number of frequencies, such as propeller noise; so you still hear broadband, mixed frequency sounds, such as the wind flowing over the airframe. You can also tell when a sound changes. So, if the rhythmic pulse of the propeller is altered by the addition or loss of power, your ears will tell you about it.
My current David Clark H10-30 Headset has passive noise control. It works by muffling noise, as when you put your hands over your ears. Passive headsets use thick earpads, often of gel (mine are gel, which is better) or foam, to create a seal around each ear. Clamping action keeps the seal tight against your head, but sunglasses and even hair can get between the ear seals and the side of your face, significantly reducing the effectiveness of passive noise reduction.
The problem is that ANR headset can run up to $1,200, which was far outside of my price range. That is when I found the Rugged Air RA950 ANR Headset. At a more reasonable $383.95, it was just what I was looking for. Also the reviews were great.
Most likely, I’ll be keeping this headset for decades (my current one is for the mid-eighties) so I am hopeful it will be a good investment.
I did a lot of research prior to making my decision. There are several different brands and features to choose from, but the feature the feature that was most desirable was to get a ANR headset.
The active noise reduction (ANR) headset is a relatively new technology that is especially effective at reducing low frequency noise, such as the engine and propeller noise in a light aircraft.
ANR was first conceived in the 1930s and had started showing up in science fiction stories by the 1950s, but it was the 1970s before mainstream scientists began to investigate the possibility seriously. ANR technology didn't become a reality in general aviation until the 1990s.
Here's how it works: A tiny microphone, typically placed in the earcup of a headset, picks up noise inside the earcup. That information is transmitted to the headset's electronics, which drive a speaker, also inside the earcup, to produce a noise that is the exact mirror image of the original noise. In other words the "trough" of one sound wave (the noise caused by the propeller) corresponds to the "crest" of another (the "antinoise" created by the headset). When the sound waves collide, they cancel each other out; so what you hear is the sweet sound of silence.
That's not to say that an ANR headset will leave you unable to hear the important things going on around you like air traffic controller instructions and the hum of the engine that lets you know everything is as it should be. ANR works most effectively on low-frequency noise. (This is the kind of noise that causes permanent hearing loss across all frequencies, if experienced over a long period of time.) ANR does very little to affect the relatively higher frequencies of, for example, voices. In addition, it really only works well for tonal noises those sounds containing a very limited number of frequencies, such as propeller noise; so you still hear broadband, mixed frequency sounds, such as the wind flowing over the airframe. You can also tell when a sound changes. So, if the rhythmic pulse of the propeller is altered by the addition or loss of power, your ears will tell you about it.
My current David Clark H10-30 Headset has passive noise control. It works by muffling noise, as when you put your hands over your ears. Passive headsets use thick earpads, often of gel (mine are gel, which is better) or foam, to create a seal around each ear. Clamping action keeps the seal tight against your head, but sunglasses and even hair can get between the ear seals and the side of your face, significantly reducing the effectiveness of passive noise reduction.
The problem is that ANR headset can run up to $1,200, which was far outside of my price range. That is when I found the Rugged Air RA950 ANR Headset. At a more reasonable $383.95, it was just what I was looking for. Also the reviews were great.
Most likely, I’ll be keeping this headset for decades (my current one is for the mid-eighties) so I am hopeful it will be a good investment.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Speed
Today was a nice calm morning for a flight, so we took out the DA40 (385DC) for a cross country flight to Crossville Memorial-Whitson Field (CSV).
The flight went fine, but the highlight of this trip was flying on the way back at 6,500 MSL. Since we were running a few minutes late, I took the plane to the limit and did a power-on descend. This means at full speed we started to descend. This of course made the plane fly very fast, at about 185 knots/hr (my personal record). The speed limit for that airspace is 250 knots. One of the advantages of an adjustable pitch propeller is you can increase speed without exceeding the max RPMs for the engine.
Once again, it was very awkward flying this plane and I have come to the conclusion that I want to wait until after I get my license to spend time on learning the glass cockpit of this aircraft. The G1000 is great, but it is just adding more time, cost and frustration and isn’t really getting me closer to my goal.
Flight Time: 1.8 hours
Cost: Plane rental – 268.20, Instructor Fee - $84.00
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| Crossville Memorial-Whitson Field Airport |
Once again, it was very awkward flying this plane and I have come to the conclusion that I want to wait until after I get my license to spend time on learning the glass cockpit of this aircraft. The G1000 is great, but it is just adding more time, cost and frustration and isn’t really getting me closer to my goal.
Flight Time: 1.8 hours
Cost: Plane rental – 268.20, Instructor Fee - $84.00
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Co-Pilot For Life
To obtain my license, I need a total of 3 hours of night flight (no solo night is required), including a cross country flight with at least ten landings. Currently I have about a half hour of night time with 1 night landing. During my last flight with Von (CFI at Nashville Flight School), we discussed working on this during my next lesson. He also suggested I bring a guest as it can be very pretty at night.
Of course, Kate was my first pick. Throughout this process Kate has been worried, although supportive. She has had to pick up the slack around the house and with Rome, as I have been absent during my training. She is very much appreciated.
When I asked her to become my first passenger (well, her and baby girl) she quickly, yet reluctantly, agreed. I was very excited, but nervous to provide her with a good first impression of general aviation flying.
My appointment was at 7pm, which in October is dark enough. We discussed the plan, which was to fly west to Humphreys County Airport (0M5), make a few landings and then fly back to Nashville International Airport (BNA) in the C172 (N434EP). This means we’ll be able to enjoy the view as we fly right over downtown Nashville at night. Winds were calm and the visibility was greater than 10 miles (I’m sure visibility was much greater, but they do not specify visibility beyond 10 miles).
We took off of runway 2C and headed west at 4,500 feet. Nashville was beautiful, like looking at Christmas lights for miles. With the weather so cool and mild, the flight was smooth and calm.
Once we flew past the city, everything went black. Most of middle Tennessee is pretty rural once you get a few minutes outside of the city, so we could distinguish very little between the sky and the ground. This flight required a lot of trust in technology, skills, and proper aviation techniques. Once our eyes adjusted, we could follow I40 and locate the rotating beacons at Dickson Airport and Humphreys County Airport. The GPS was also helpful.
We did three landings on runway 3 at 0M5, each time taxiing back on the runway because Humphreys County Airport does not have any taxiways. I was very careful to not make any steep turns or quick changes in altitude so Kate could have a pleasant experience. Overall I was pleased with the flight and Kate said she had a good time.
Landing back at BNA was really fun. As I looked at the airport, I felt like I was in command of a Boeing 747. The landing at BNA was my 5th night flight landing.
Since I have started my aviation adventure, I have had several wonderful experiences that will last a lifetime. Tonight was one of them, and I was glad I could share it with my co-pilot for life.
Flight Time: 1.7 hours
Cost: Plane rental – 195.50, Instructor Fee - $68.00
Of course, Kate was my first pick. Throughout this process Kate has been worried, although supportive. She has had to pick up the slack around the house and with Rome, as I have been absent during my training. She is very much appreciated.
When I asked her to become my first passenger (well, her and baby girl) she quickly, yet reluctantly, agreed. I was very excited, but nervous to provide her with a good first impression of general aviation flying.
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Does she looks worried or excited? |
 |
Looks like a natural in those headphones! |
My appointment was at 7pm, which in October is dark enough. We discussed the plan, which was to fly west to Humphreys County Airport (0M5), make a few landings and then fly back to Nashville International Airport (BNA) in the C172 (N434EP). This means we’ll be able to enjoy the view as we fly right over downtown Nashville at night. Winds were calm and the visibility was greater than 10 miles (I’m sure visibility was much greater, but they do not specify visibility beyond 10 miles).
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| Pre-Flight Check - Fuel |
We took off of runway 2C and headed west at 4,500 feet. Nashville was beautiful, like looking at Christmas lights for miles. With the weather so cool and mild, the flight was smooth and calm.
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| Downtown Nashville at 4,500 feet |
Once we flew past the city, everything went black. Most of middle Tennessee is pretty rural once you get a few minutes outside of the city, so we could distinguish very little between the sky and the ground. This flight required a lot of trust in technology, skills, and proper aviation techniques. Once our eyes adjusted, we could follow I40 and locate the rotating beacons at Dickson Airport and Humphreys County Airport. The GPS was also helpful.
 |
| Humphreys County Airport |
We did three landings on runway 3 at 0M5, each time taxiing back on the runway because Humphreys County Airport does not have any taxiways. I was very careful to not make any steep turns or quick changes in altitude so Kate could have a pleasant experience. Overall I was pleased with the flight and Kate said she had a good time.
Landing back at BNA was really fun. As I looked at the airport, I felt like I was in command of a Boeing 747. The landing at BNA was my 5th night flight landing.
Since I have started my aviation adventure, I have had several wonderful experiences that will last a lifetime. Tonight was one of them, and I was glad I could share it with my co-pilot for life.
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| Pilot and Co-Pilot |
Flight Time: 1.7 hours
Cost: Plane rental – 195.50, Instructor Fee - $68.00
Monday, October 3, 2011
Garmin 1000
Tonight, I was back at Smyrna reviewing the Garmin 1000 on the DA40. We never not off the ground, but spent a lot of time reviewing all of the features. It is absolutely amazing why this system can do and I don’t want to be hunting for different screens why in the air traveling 120 mph.
The goal is to fly a cross country next time.
Ground instruction: 2.75 hours
Cost: Plane rental – N/A, Instructor Fee - $110.00
The goal is to fly a cross country next time.
Ground instruction: 2.75 hours
Cost: Plane rental – N/A, Instructor Fee - $110.00
Sunday, October 2, 2011
1st Solo - Cessna 172
Today was a beautiful, clear, sunny days, and we took out the Cessna 172 (N434EP) to a busy John C. Tune Airport. Spend the day flying the traffic pattern.
My endorsement to solo an aircraft expired on 9/30/11 since it has been 90 days since I was first endorsed to fly solo. On the last landing, I taxied to the ramp, Von Gains (my CFI at Nashville Flight School) endorsed me to fly the C172 solo. I took another trip around the traffic pattern and had a smooth landing.
I picked Von back up and we flew back to Nashville International Airport. This time I handled all of the communications with ATC.
Another successful flight. So I spent about one and a half days without the ability to fly solo. Feels good to have it back.
Flight Time: 2.2 hours
Cost: Plane rental - $253.00, Instructor Fee - $88.00
My endorsement to solo an aircraft expired on 9/30/11 since it has been 90 days since I was first endorsed to fly solo. On the last landing, I taxied to the ramp, Von Gains (my CFI at Nashville Flight School) endorsed me to fly the C172 solo. I took another trip around the traffic pattern and had a smooth landing.
I picked Von back up and we flew back to Nashville International Airport. This time I handled all of the communications with ATC.
Another successful flight. So I spent about one and a half days without the ability to fly solo. Feels good to have it back.
Flight Time: 2.2 hours
Cost: Plane rental - $253.00, Instructor Fee - $88.00
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