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Pre-Phase I
Phase I
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WOOOOO HOOOOO...that about sums up the days activities. So finally the day has come and I got my first flight in the mighty T-6 Texan. The first ride is known as a dollar ride, a traditional first flight in which you don't receive a grade and the whole point of it is just to get a feel for the airplane. At the end of the ride you present your IP with a dollar to celebrate the occasion. I was really surprised with how much power it had and how very quick it is. I was lucky that I've never really had any problems with motion sickness because there were a lot of people getting sick and not being able to enjoy their dollar rides. It was really windy and trying to land it for the first time was a bit tricky, but if this ride is supposed to motivate you about being at pilot training, it definitely worked.
The first "real" week of pilot training comes to a close and we're definitely feeling the firehose effect with there being a lot of information to take in. I was able to do pretty good on the first EPQ test and can hopefully do the same next week, although there is A LOT of material covered in the next test. The flying is going pretty good although my landings are still a bit sketchy, I don't have any worries about getting it down in the next couple of flights. I can feel my overall aircraft control getting better with each flight and my biggest headache which is the radio calls are getting much better. On my last flight I got to fly with the flight commander, a hog driver, who definitely knows his stuff and pushes you to make sure you know yours. This weekend is going to be heavy on studying, since we have a n instruments test monday along with an EPQ tuesday...although there will certainly be some March Madness breaks in there.
So the long days of pilot training are certainly here...there is ALWAYS something to read, study, memorize or chairfly and there never seems to be quite enough time to get everything done. Today I had my fourth flight and I can see improvement in all areas.......except landing. Now I've never had any problem landing a plane...until now and I can't express how frustrating it is, but I think I finally solved my problem (I'll find out on tomorrow's flight). I'm doing pretty good when we go out to the area to practice different maneuvers and today my instructor told me I did an excellent job on the route home (always good to be able to make it back) Today we had our second EPQ test that wasn't too bad, but most importantly we finally finished the notes, warnings, and cautions section of our 30-day program. It is somewhat similar to memorizing (verbatim) random entries in the encyclopedia and then reciting them while standing at attention; if you're thinking that doesn't sound very fun you're right on the money. Well time for a little studying to get ready for the hump day flight, then off to bed.
This week we started our instruments 2 academics. Apparently, this test is one of the hardest in the program and judging from the first sections I wouldn't argue that statement. As if the actual material isn't hard enough, we now have to cram in these CAI lessons between all the activities we do dealing with flying. In the air I'm starting to get really comfortable in the airplane in all phases, especially the landings. Thursday we were flying with a 14 knot crosswind and at first it was kind of frustrating to have to go around a couple times, but soon I noticed a lot of other people having to do the same because of the wind. However, once I figured out how the wind was affecting the aircraft it wasn't too difficult. Friday, there was barely any wind and so I had to change again to landing without wind...always something. Friday afternoon I found out that due to some personnel changes in our flight I am now the flight leader. I suppose being in charge of 12 type A, hard-charging pilot trainees will be a little different than supervising airmen, but I'm looking forward to the challenge of keeping our flight together and doing well to graduate in 9 months.
So the updates will be coming a little slower as there are barely enough hours in the day now to do everything I need to do. I got a little break last weekend when I got to go back to Las Vegas for my sister's wedding. I didn't have much time to do anything, but it was good to see my familiy again and I'm happy for my sister. The travel going to and from was pretty terrible though and I ended up have to by another ticket to get back to TX in time for class. We are getting a heavier into the flying now and the rides are starting to have some teeth to them. Gone are the days that we could make "little mistakes" and get a slap on the hand, those types of mistakes can make you hook a ride now. The weather was kind of bad today so I had an area only sortie which means I only had one landing, but got to take care of all the maneuvers I need to in this block. I have one more flight in this block tomorrow and then I will have my solo on Friday...can't wait!
So today that milestone in pilot training finally arrived...finally I can fly with the king. After getting bumped back 3 times due to weather I finally got to solo. It was kinda cool because my flight commander and the IP that solo'd me was begging, borrowing, and dealing to get me a plane at the times I needed to get my first go flight in the morning and then solo that afternoon. My morning flight went really well, after I got the last piece of advice I needed about my landings and now I've got them down to being pretty sweet. The weather was just barely good enough for me to meet all the requirements for the first flight. Then when we landing I found out they were able to get me a jet for later in the day so I could pogo. My pogo flight was pretty uneventful, but it felt good to take up $4 million of uncle sam's property all by myself. When I landed it was time for my dunk in the pogo tank. I hope that the distance and height you get tossed into the pogo tank represents the love the flight has for their flight leader because they gave me a really good toss into the quite nasty pogo tank. But a couple hours and a change of flight suit later I had my patch...now I'm a real pilot trainee.
Did you ever have one of those days when it seems that nothing was going quite right, but then by the end of the day things sort of work out...that was me today. Today was my mid-phase checkride, the first "flying test" here at UPT. I was more concerned about hooking for something stupid like pubs or GK than I was for flying. I had been chair flying my profile for hours so I got up this morning feeling pretty confident. Then I checked the weather...and Murphy's Law in effect, it the wind was scheduled to change about the time of my flight meaning we would be on a different runway, with a different patter, different procedures, different everything. Now granted I had chair flown this scenario too, but it wasn't actually supposed to happen! After what I thought was pretty rough ride getting to and from the area, with the area being the spot where I know I can usually pick up some points, I thought I had a pretty good chance of hooking the ride. Now most people that know me think of me as a pretty laid back person and I don't really get worried about too much. When I say that I think I'm gonna hook, it's because I think I really did pretty bad. As we I got called for the debrief I was back in my hakuna matata mode because no matter what happened I achieved one of my goals having fun on the flight, especially during my aerobatics. Needless to say I was pretty excited to know that I got a pretty decent grade overall. So to make a long story short, I passed my mid-phase and now I cleared to go solo in the area...that's right, take a $4 million dollar airplane and do whatever I want (within the rules of course) out in the area...fun times ahead.
Finally, the end of one of the most hectic weeks in recent memory. First the mid-phase check on runway 31, then it was double turning instrument sims, and finally everything was wrapped up today with the weather test. Probably the hardest test in pilot training and everybody managed to pass. I didn't do all that great on it...but I did pass and I guess that's all that matters in the end. Finally a weekend that I can just chill a little bit, since all I have to study for is the EPQ. Also next week we get to have some fun as I start the advanced aerobatics block
Nothing to terribly cosmic happened in the past week. The weather was pretty crappy so I only was able to fly twice, and now I'm on yet another 5+day break of training. My flight Monday was cancelled because of a TCO inspection that had to be done. Basically, some engineer somewhere discovers that there is a possiblity that something bad could happen to the airplane in a certain situation, so all the maintenance personnel have to inspect all the potentially effected planes before they can fly again. So I was grounded until tuesday, when I had my first advanced aerobatics flight. The manuevers are a lot tougher than I thought they be, especially considering that we were above the clouds and had absolutely no ground references. My next flight was supposed to be my first instrument ride but that was cancelled at the plane due to a storm moving in and a weather recall being issued. Finally, in the middle of the week I was able to get a pattern solo. It's always fun when you get a chance to fly the plane alone, and this was my first time going out to Wizard by myself so it was fun, plus I get to keep polishing up my landings. Saturday I rode into San Antonio with a friend of mine so he could look for a camera for his pops and pick up some stuff for the flight snack room from Sams Club. Next, week I really need to get in to the books about instruments as I don't think this will be one of my strong points.
So the weeks continue to fly by and we starting to get our final contact checkrides done. This past weekend I had planned to stay home and have a low key weekend. However, I ended up heading down to San Antonio with a friend and his wife to meet up with another friend to check out the horse racing track. Now I don't know too much about horse racing, but I do know odds and I ended up winning about $225 on five races so that was pretty cool. That night I had a ridiculous number of tequilla shots and slept the whole ride back to Laughlin. This week I'm hoping to finally get my area solo in if the weather holds up. I should be doing my final contact checkride early next week. Check out the pics section as I've finally updated it again.
Yesterday we had our navigation test and I did alright missing two on it. Now that its out of the way we only have one more test for T-6 academics. I also did the first navigation sim after the test and did pretty good...only eight more sims to go in phase one. Today I have an area solo with one more ride in the block after that and then I'll have my final contact checkride tuesday. Next weekend we go on our cross-country flights, I'm not sure where I'm going yet, but I'm going with the flight commander so it should be fun. About 2 months to go in phase one and time is still flying by.
Another ride bites the dust...Had my final contact checkride yesterday and except for me doing a couple stupid things it went pretty good. I got downgraded on my area work simply because I forgot to do one of the items in my profile and didn't think about it until I had left the area and was on the way back to base...oh well. Now we are hot and heavy into intruments...not really my favorite stuff, but I'm starting to get the hang of it now so it's not too bad. The block I'm looking forward to the most, formation, is next and then WE'RE T-6 COMPLETE! This weekend we're doing our cross country trips which should be a lot of fun. There are a couple people that are going to the same places so we'll be able to meet up and have some fun at night.
How sweet it is to be finished with phase II academics. Today we took our formation test thus ending our classroom activities for the rest of our time in T-6s. Last weekend we did our cross country flight and it was a blast. We ended up going to Shreveport and Ft Worth for a night each. I made about $40 playing poker in Shreveport, one buddy made out with about $250, and then the other made a lot and then lost a good deal too, but still came out on top. It was cool to get out of the canned environment that we have here at Laughlin and here all the different radio calls and procedures that you must take care of when flying anyplace else. Now that academics are over I can focus on my instrument GK which is definitely a weak point right now.
Another checkride is done...the instrument checkride, one that I was not at all looking forward to has come and gone and I passed. I had really been worried about the GK portion of the checkride, but it turned out to not be all that bad. Next week we start what I've been looking forward to the most...formation. Tomorrow I'm heading to San Antonio to try and find a GSX-750, I'll also be able to visit a buddy of mine over there. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a decent trade in on my honda and be able to pick up tomorrow morning and get back in time for our little promotion party
And so my "quick" weekend trip to San Antonio ended up being one of the worst trips of my life. A couple miles outside of San Antonio, my trailer tire exploded. When I went to try and change the tire I discovered that my trailer lugnuts were actually larger than the trailers and thus the wrench would not fit. So I had to take my bike off the trailer ride all over town trying to find a wrench that would fit, and then changed the tire in the middle of a really hot day...it was not fun. And to top it all off I ended up missing my own promotion party.
Finally, the part of T-6 training I've really been looking forward to...formation. Just when you think you might be getting the hang of this whole T-6 flying business, you get thrown into formation and realize how much you still need to learn. Formation is fun, scary, and hard as hell all at the same time. It is sometimes a little frustrating because you know what position you need to be in but just can't get there. It feels like learning in the contact phase did all over again. Also this past weekend I finally found the motorcycle I've been wanting for a while in the color I wanted, an 06 Suzuki GSX-R 750. I picked her up last week and now I'm just trying to break her in. I'll probably take a ride down to San Antonio this weekend to get some more miles on her.
So our formation flights are moving along pretty good. Next week our flight should have the first form checkride and my form partner and I are not too far behind. I'm probably going to do my form solo next week provided the weather cooperates. There haven't been any storms or anything, but lately the training areas have been full of clouds making our area work a little tough. The anxiety level continues to rise in our flight as we get closer to track selection. The class in front of us tracks Wed, then the countdown is officially on for us.
T-6 COMPLETE!!! woo hoo...now that I got that out...I had my formation checkride yesterday which didn't go as great as I would of liked (i guess they never do though), but I still got a decent grade and now I am officially done in flying the T-6. I finished about a week and a half before the official end of our phase so our flight commander is letting us take leave. I guess the only thing that sucks about getting finished early is that there's that much more time to wait now to see what we're getting at the track select. I wanted to go home and visit my folks a bit, but they're working on the days that I can travel, so instead I'm heading back to Vegas for a little R&R...CHECK OUT PHASE III