phyregod
!!YTINASNI
Texas’s newest student pilot!
Well, I went to flight school today and got a "crash course".
It turns out that the local flight school is very cheap! But, you have to pay per hour to use the airplane. Its a C-152, a two seat plane that is incredibly basic. It has a set of insturments, fuel management, and a radio system. Other than that, it is the airplane version of an old volkswagon beetle. Very purpose built. No frills whatsoever.
I told him the instructor that I was interested in becoming a career pilot, and we talked about this and that.. The larger transporters are trying to get away from gigantic cargo planes and they are going with many smaller planes instead, so pilots are in high demand right now, and will be for the next several years. Eventually he said "Well, lets go fuel up the plane."
So, I figured he was going to show me how to put gas in it.. Boy was I wrong. I sat in the pilot's seat and he showed me what controls to use to taxi over to the gas pump, and how to start the plane up. What a first day of school! Got to taxi an airplane!. I taxied over to the gas pumps and we filled it up. Went over a very long pre-flight check list.. and hopped in. We taxied to the runway, learning what various signs and colors meant on the way down the runway. We lined up with the wind, did pre-takeoff checks, and took off! He controlled the plane during take off, got us to altitude and handed me the controls, explaining this and that, how to work all the flaps in unison, how to bank and turn properly, then he did a touch and go landing.. We went around again, and he did another touch and go landing. Then he said "Your turn!" Now I'm sweating bullets. First day in school and I'm not only flying, but he wants me to land?!?! Turns out, even though its terrifying as heck, its not that hard. I was able to land and take off by myself twice! I'd call that a good day of training! I also learned how to fly a "landing pattern" and how and when to radio the tower while performing said manuver.
I officially logged 1.1 hours of flight in my book today. 19 more hours and I can drop the instructor and fly solo for 20 more hours. After that, I'll have my private pilot's license. When I hit 250 hours and pass numerous tests, I'll recieve my commercial license, and can start a career flying cargo, etc. What an amazing thing. No manual labor, no heavy lifting, no boss breathing down your neck, just soaring across the sky for a living. I think I can handle that.
Well, I went to flight school today and got a "crash course".
It turns out that the local flight school is very cheap! But, you have to pay per hour to use the airplane. Its a C-152, a two seat plane that is incredibly basic. It has a set of insturments, fuel management, and a radio system. Other than that, it is the airplane version of an old volkswagon beetle. Very purpose built. No frills whatsoever.
I told him the instructor that I was interested in becoming a career pilot, and we talked about this and that.. The larger transporters are trying to get away from gigantic cargo planes and they are going with many smaller planes instead, so pilots are in high demand right now, and will be for the next several years. Eventually he said "Well, lets go fuel up the plane."
So, I figured he was going to show me how to put gas in it.. Boy was I wrong. I sat in the pilot's seat and he showed me what controls to use to taxi over to the gas pump, and how to start the plane up. What a first day of school! Got to taxi an airplane!. I taxied over to the gas pumps and we filled it up. Went over a very long pre-flight check list.. and hopped in. We taxied to the runway, learning what various signs and colors meant on the way down the runway. We lined up with the wind, did pre-takeoff checks, and took off! He controlled the plane during take off, got us to altitude and handed me the controls, explaining this and that, how to work all the flaps in unison, how to bank and turn properly, then he did a touch and go landing.. We went around again, and he did another touch and go landing. Then he said "Your turn!" Now I'm sweating bullets. First day in school and I'm not only flying, but he wants me to land?!?! Turns out, even though its terrifying as heck, its not that hard. I was able to land and take off by myself twice! I'd call that a good day of training! I also learned how to fly a "landing pattern" and how and when to radio the tower while performing said manuver.
I officially logged 1.1 hours of flight in my book today. 19 more hours and I can drop the instructor and fly solo for 20 more hours. After that, I'll have my private pilot's license. When I hit 250 hours and pass numerous tests, I'll recieve my commercial license, and can start a career flying cargo, etc. What an amazing thing. No manual labor, no heavy lifting, no boss breathing down your neck, just soaring across the sky for a living. I think I can handle that.