Today's Lesson Topic: Everything.

[DrBenny]

It is hard for me to think of what we did NOT do today. First of all, since we took the Zlin, we made good use of that highly capable aircraft and did some unusual attitude recovery. If you know the Z242, you know what I'm talking about. [Note to Ron: Hey, this is the one aircraft I fly that isn't so staid!]

Next came a LOC approach with a missed on an NDB, GPS navigation, ILS, etc.--all partial panel. Everything was well above PTS standards, except for the last ILS where I had the needles NAILED, but in the last 100 feet, just kept the localizer from straying beyond half deflection. I don't know why this happened--my CFII said I was overfocusing on the altimeter. And I think the reason for this is that I didn't have the aircraft trimmed well (not being used to the Zlin so much), and was fixating on trying to stabilize the glideslope without chasing. Doesn't matter if I actually have an excuse; it should always be NO EXCUSES, SIR!

So, even though I probably don't "need" it, next lesson will be another sim, featuring some PP ILSs. All in all, I'm feeling very good, and am preparing for the long X-C. (If you can believe it, that trip to Dallas doesn't count for the long X-C, though it was logged, of course.)

I hope I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses by hoping for early February, but we shall see. I'd like to do the commercial over the summer.