Handstands Across America » Flying

The End of an Era

Sam E. — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Well, This past Thursday I arrived at Kristen’s place in Greenville, SC and was officially back on Eastern Standard Time. I had a package when I arrived that contained my away ballot, and my official Private Pilot Certificate.

I’m mailing off my ballot today and my Pilots “License” is pretty sweeet.

NOTE: This is not MY license. It is a picture from someone else’s website of theirs.

It’s nice to be “home”, but I am so very thankful that I was able to do this trip and so many people that were nice to this kid living out of his car :-p

Woo hoo!

Checkride, Check.

Sam E. — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:25:00 +0000

I am DONE! Finally, I am a Private Pilot. So relieved! w00t!

Airwork from Thursday

Sam E. — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:48:00 +0000

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Definitions, and a picture

Sam E. — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:40:00 +0000

100LL is 100 octane, low lead fuel, generally referred to as “aviation grade” fuel. In comparison “Regular” at the car gas pump is 87 octane and is “unleaded”.

Under the hood refers to simulating flying an aircraft under “instrument” conditions. This would mean that there is low visibility and you must rely on your instruments, rather than what you see (or don’t see) out the window. The hood blocks your vision of the outside while allowing you to focus on the instruments. My “hood” was actually a pair of safety glasses with scotch tape, but hey, it has the same effect!

And… Buffalo Mountain

It’s soo close I can smell the 100LL

Sam E. — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:53:00 +0000

Finished my “Requirements” today for my Private Pilots license by getting in my last hour of “hood” (instrument work). Now all that is left is preparing for my grueling “Practical” exam by the FAA Examiner, after a spot check with my other instructor.

Studying, here I come!

Second Solo XC to Mount Airy & Mountain Empire

Sam E. — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:33:00 +0000

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2 New Handstands!

Mountain Empire

Mount Airy

More Photos Here

Lewisburg (KLWB) Cross Country

Sam E. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:45:00 +0000

Bewow is my dual cross country to Lewisburg that we flew this morning.

The GREEN and RED (My GPS probably lost signal for a few seconds? a minute?) are where we flew.

The BLUE was where we were “supposed” to go. Well, we had Blacksburg->Lewisburg planned real well, but that was about it…

3 Solo Tower Controlled Landings to a full stop at Lewisburg.

After that, the next leg to Bluefield came out of the “blue” (ha!) and was different from where we planned (Beckely, WV) because we had to get the plane back for the next guy. We then diverted off “course” from Bluefield back to Blacksburg and I learned how to triangulate using the VOR.
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Left to do for my Private Pilot Certificate

Sam E. — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Remaining Requirements:

More Dual Cross Country – (Lewisburg Cross Country, Will get tower controlled TO&Ls as well as hopefully be ready for solo cross country)
A little over an hour of instrument work
Night dual cross country and TO&Ls (This can all be done in one night by going to Mountain Empire, Hillsville and back, 108.4nm total)
Solo Cross Countries (5 hours minimum, at least one that is 150nm with a straight leg between airports of 50nm)
Practical Preparation (Lots of studying, oral review and in flight review)
Practical Exam

Tonight I am going up with my instructor for my first stab at night flying, and that will prepare us for our dual night cross country of 100nm+.

Thursday it is off to Lewisburg, WV for more dual cross country practice and 3 Take offs and Landings at a Tower controlled airport.

If I finish, I can do this…

See this…

And this…