 First XC Solo!
I am now one step closer to my PPL. I took my first XC solo yesterday. My flight was in an Evektor SportStar. A fun little plane that only burns 5 gph.
KVDF - KBCT - KAPF - KVDF (4.3 hours)
I can say one thing for sure. Florida has many different looks. My flight took me over swamps, lakes and even some lush tropical areas in Boca Raton. I even flew 30 miles along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
I only used the "I'm a student pilot" card once in Boca. I stumbled a few times reading back instructions. After departing I apologized and he said, "Don't worry, we'll take care of you".
The Naples controller had me turning all over the place trying to put me behind some traffic. I was straight in and he had me turn north to follow I-75 because someone said they were to the north. Well, they weren't. So, he had me turn south to follow a plane in. We were spaced pretty close and the other plane had barely got off the runway when I touched down. He had pleanty of notice I was coming in. I called him 10 miles out, he told me to call him back when I was 3 miles out.
It was a little bumpier and windy than I expected, but the landings were good and the clouds were high.
9 more hours to go... 2 instrument and 3 night are my only instructor requirements left. I'm trying to talk him into some night/instrument combo flying. |