get the low down...

in

*update* Tech RANTS

When I titled this blog, I was technically referring to the cloud bases. It has been so bad lately, that the only flight I've done in the last 8 days was today and that was just staying in the pattern for some short field take offs and landings. Yeah, we also got to work on the single engine takeoffs and stuff, but nothing like a true flight. Manoj got to finish today, so he just needs to complete some paperwork and off he goes to the DE. I have yet to finish the actual end of course (EOC) ride with the inhouse instructor. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be more cooperative. The prog charts say no.

Compassion

in

I have to admit that there are few with it, but those who have it are usually the ones in the right place making the fair decision. Not to say that everyone doesn't have it or chooses a wrong decision, but attitude and maturity always comes in to play. I highly admire this individual and I have to say that I will be owing quite a bit of my future to his sole belief in me. Thanks again for everything.

Now, on to the checkride!!!

Pass and Edited!!!

in

Well, I passed my oral exam ( I even used my left hand to draw on the white board) and was written off as ready for the next step: the actual flight portion with the instructor. I know that all I will be doing this weekend is reviewing my flight in my head and doing all the maneuvers one by one, line item by line item.

I was going to go up for my ride today, but weather started coming in and it just clouded all over and around us. I didn't feel that great about going up while there were IMC conditions at Daytona Beach as well as Flagler. I needed to demonstrate an engine out and secure as well an emergency descent so those maneuvers cannot be done with a deck below. There is also in no chance that I could have completed my approached single engine because of the instrument conditions. Oh well, I'm hoping that Monday will prove to be okay.

jokes are off

in

Well, I woke up without the confidence to pass my oral exam today and that's what I got. I froze like I've never frozen before. I stalled like no other. My glasses fogged up, I was full of anger at myself and I just couldn't come up with the answer. I looked like a fool just sitting there moving my leg. It was almost as if, I never studied...at all! I'm the one who went over the answers yesterday. I knew them just the day before. I thought that I could perform and I didn't. I didn't deliver. Don't look for that much updates until I get my sh*t straight. I'm seriously disappointed in myself. I mean, I should have passed. Stupid anxiety bullsh*t. I'm pissed!!!

Its a go...

in

Read the title! So far, its a go for the first part out of 4 final exams regarding my private multi exam and checkride. We always have one oral and checkride exam in house before they sign us out for the Designated Examiner (DE) Oral and Checkride. I'm going to make this one short.

I woke up today and saw that we had the storm just off of our coast named Tammy. It's good stuff. Also, basically no one flew today but it was good for Manoj and I because we had some good time reviewing the aircrafts systems, etc. I still have quite a bit to go over before I feel fully confident, but I'll get right to it as soon as I finish updating this. I'm addicted now. I can't stop. I mean 7 full entries yesterday alone! This is my second one today and I still have yet to updated the other fulltime blog. I'm trying to make the trelijah one fulltime, but sometimes the Sprint Photo library connection isn't available. Whatever that may mean.

The storm is moving upward parallel to our coast, but it isn't really dropping that much rain here just yet. Most of the weather is to the northeast and north of the eye, which we kind of got to see. It was kind of neat. Calm and stuff. The trees aren't blowing that crazy anymore. If you look at radar constantly, you can see that there is another little bugger brewing just south of the Florida peninsula, just a little south of Cuba. If you are too lazy, head over to http://www.nhc.noaa.gov and check out all they have. The satellite images are awesome. Here's what I'm currently looking at:

FCI Maneuver: Lomcovak

in

Click here to see me in a Lomcovak

Here's a definition: A Lomcovak is NOT an inverted spin. It is NOT a non-precision maneuver. The pilot is NOT "just along for the ride". Recovery does NOT just occur at random without any control by the pilot. It is NOT a single maneuver, but rather an entire family of maneuvers, all of which are very precise and controlled from beginning to end IF they are properly done.

The key element in a Lomcovak is that the airplane's attitude and motion is controlled by four primary flight controls rather than the usual three. The fourth attitude control in this case is gyroscopic precession from the prop, controlled via the throttle. This is why it's extremely difficult (that's spelled i-m-p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e) to do a true Lomcovak with a model; in most cases our props simply aren't heavy enough to provide sufficent precession forces.

There are five main types of Lomcovaks. There are also variations within each type. All are performed under negative "G".

DE on Friday?

in

*Check out TECH Rants* or click there -->

With the schedule that I'm on now for the rest of the week, if weather permits, I could have a good chance of becoming a multi-engine rated private pilot by the end of the week. My flight have become so much better and the fact that my instructor likes the "commanding / authoritative" presence that I have in the airplane, this gives me the confidence that I need to believe that I'm ready. Its good to know that he feels that from me. I'm excited.

My upcoming week:

10/5: Pre-Oral exam with my instructor
10/6: In house End of course oral and checkride
10/7: DE ride

This schedule could totally change with the fact that there are four of us on this same schedule. I wouldn't mind finishing on the weekend either. I just want to start Commercial Multi and get done! It's been a good day!

Christmas

in

This just in! Looks like we will be having our Christmas Vacation this year! Mom...I'm buying a ticket home today. Look out for me in San Diego from Dec. 23rd until Jan. 2nd. I haven't been this excited for the holiday break since...elementary school! In case you didn't know, there was a good chance that I was not going to go home until next April! That being said, we almost had Christmas cancelled this year! No turkey day, but that's okay. I'm stoked!