UPT Week 13 (Nov 30- December 4, 2009)

Why instrument flying hurts my brain (look above)!

Monday November 30, 2009 ( Day 56)
I flew today! YAY! Its been 10 days since due to "instructor vacation and holidays" so I got a free ride - called an "86 ride" "spin up" ride to get back into the groove of things. (More officially it was the 4186 BIT "Break In Training" ride. Regardless, there was a big cold front over SW Texas, bringing the temp down to the 40s, and being so cloudy that I had to stay in the proximity of the base and do traffic patterns only. It was good to jump in the jet again and get the kinks out. I'm now to returned to regular flying status, BUT, the cold front hasn't passed and we're expecting rain all day tomorrow. So I'll continue to just stand-by.......

1.2 hour flight (15.5 hours total T-6 flying time)
39 Total landings

Tuesday December 1, 2009 (Day57)
No fly - a HUGE storm arrived over XL and weather canceled the entire day! =0 Wish I woulda got a radar map image of it - DOH!

Wednesday December 2, 2009 (Day 58)
Instrument Sim (I2002) where you fly an entire profile from takeoff to precision radar landing. We fly this sims with "Sim Guys" -they being the contracted company that employs about 50 ex-flyers to do ALL of the sims.

The catch is this: Most of these guys are OK, some are GREAT instructors/teachers, and some just like to bark and yell into the microphone for 1.3 hours. Today was some a day with the last kind of guy.....ugh. Its funny when I describe to people, because he'd give me 2-5 things to do while flying, then continually go back and forth yelling about them. Similar to: "Get back to your heading" then "Dont lose altitude!" then "You're off course again" then "Your airspeed is too fast" then "Get your nose up" then "Make the radio call" then "Get back to heading" then "You forgot to put your gear down" then "Get your nose up" then "Get back to your heading" then "Reduce your power" then "I just told you never to lower your nose below the horizon!!!" then "Add more power" then "Get back on glide slope" etc....... This was about in a 60 second period.

I thought to get a failing grade, but ended up with an "Excellent" grade overall, hmmmmmm. I honestly think that this is more of a secret way to Wash Out (eliminate) pilot trainees from the program, because if you don't really want to be here, then there's no way anyone can bear 1.3 hours of that! Lets hope tomorrow I get that rare GREAT teacher instructor! =0

Thursday December 3, 2009 (Day 59)
Had another sim today (I2003) and THANKFULLY I had a really great instructor that was super helpful and NOT a yeller! Today's instrument sim was a typical flying profile out the areas to do some "instrument maneuvers" and then shot a new type of instrument approach: GPS!

Friday December 4, 2009 (Day 60)
Ended up flying this morning!! (C4105) This was my "pattern only" flight, which means I would literally stay at XL and do non-stop touch & go landings. However, we were expecting snow and we (being the first to go up that morning) flew out the auxiliary airfield to check the weather (cloud layers/base), then out to the area, then back to begin the landing patterns. Even after that side-trip, I still accomplish 16 of 18 touch & go landings! WOW! Im ready to SOLO!!!

1.3 hour flight (16.8 hours total T-6 flying time)
55 Total landings