Instrument ride

[GSMPilot]

So I got my instrument done, this is how it went:

Fortunately for me, the president was in town and the TFR over P-49 was active this weekend, as a result I had to go pick up the DE and bring him into the Austin area for the exam, now for those that fly around Austin, all of my approaches and instrument training was really focused in the Austin and greater metro area (Georgetown, Taylor) so I was considering myself lucky. But he also let me pick the approaches since he was unfamiliar with Austin. Soooo... Sat rolls around and get to GTU at 9am, go up with my instructor and do the ILS 17L at AUS, and GPS 18 into GTU for review (these were 2 of the approaches I had picked) we were going to do my 3rd approach, the VOR/DME 17 into Taylor but, I decided to just relax for a little bit. After the review I hung around till 1:30 then fired up the SP and headed to PWG to get the DE.
Going into the TFR was a HUGE learning experience for me since I always avoid that area like the plague when the president is in town...anyway back to the check-ride. I pick up the DE (oral was done the week before) and we head back to Austin. 25 miles out the exam starts and when Gray approach sends me to Austin, I call up for the approaches... First the ILS 17L.... was sure to tune in the Nav 2 radio for the FAF from CWK since the ADF was "Inop" and was vectored for a straight in approach; cross the FAF start my time and followed the rail all the way down, winds were 170@10 so no real wind correction needed. Down to DH, called the runway and “touch and go", so did the hop and climbed out, next up the VOR/DME full approach at Taylor, crossed CWK to begin the outbound course, never got cleared for the approach so I wasn't sure if I could start my descent so called up Austin and doubled checked, sure enough I’m cleared just call on the inbound, so I start to make my descent and begin to turn procedure turn outbound. Whoops, there goes the vacuum pump, partial panel time, still watching my time, turn inbound... i was supposed to do something here...oh yeah call approach...did that, tracked the vor for inbound leg, crossed the FAF, descend to MDA, runway in sight! "Circle to land"...okay enter the downwind midfield and circle. "Go missed and hold" okay enter the hold as published at ESDEF, teardrop entry turn inbound, 10 degrees of correction for wind, perfect (my best yet I think) cross ESDEF and turn outbound, "okay let's do the GPS” So I turn west toward GTU, I’m thinking, "okay Keith last one buddy don't mess it up", start the approach, looking good, MDA got the runway, "touch and go" do the hop one more time and......"Let’s head back and do unusual attitudes" okay no prob. those done "let's go home, and as long as you land safely your instrument rated", needless to say I made sure the mains stuck on that landing and was done!!! Altogether from picking him up going back to AUS and then taking him back and heading back home...4.2. Glad to have that done though. Whew!!! Now onto commercial!

[Swen]

Woot! Good deal man! Thanks for the write-up.

[Windchill]

Thanks for sharing ... I hope to begin instrument training in a few months and eventually have a checkride experience of my own.