Report on 3,000 mile X-C in Saratoga

[DrBenny]

All of the planning, all of the work on the logs, and all of the mental flying really paid off.

We took the Saratoga, and it was great for the trip. (Mode S, Garmin 430, HSI, etc.)

The first day it was two hours up to Vermont, and then another 4.5 to Lancaster, OH. Mostly VMC, but I got to practice a VOR-A, ILS, and then LOC approach. The next day it was off to McKinney, Texas, with stops in Evansville, and Hot Springs. Got some good IMC on that day, with moderate rain and turbulence. Did three ILSs at each airport.

Then, we rested.

The next day, we did a trip around lake Lavon for family (and I did another ILS).

Yesterday, we mad it home in 7.5 flying hours (headwinds!). First, we flew the Hubbard Three Departure to get us over to PRX. We had a stop at Hazard, Kentucky, using a VOR approach. Then it got real interesting about 100 miles from Baltimore, with energetic cumulus, rain, mist, low vis, gusts, etc, as I flew the Westminister Four Arrival and the ILS 15L approach. Oh, and this was at night! I've done approaches with gusty crosswinds; I've done them at night; and I've done them in IMC, but this was great for me to have ALL 3 at once. The nice part was that we broke out at about 1,500 MSL (1,100 AGL), and got out of the mist soon after.

My CFII is great!

I learned a lot!

I am still tired!