First X-Countrty Flight

cignaguy · May 28th, 2007, 13:46

Hi all-

Well, just did my first cross country flight on Saturday, and it was a great time. However, it was also frustrating because it seemed like a ton of stuff coming at me at once and I didn't feel very prepared. I felt very prepared when I was doing the flight plan though.

My instructor said that it is normal to get flustered on the first one because it is the first time that you get away from your "local" area and you go to unfamiliar areas. It was extremely hard to spot my checkpoints, ugh. I think part of that is because I haven't done it before and part of it is because the terrain in southern Colorado all looks the same!

Anyhoo, just wanted to see if my first experience was natural and if others experienced the same feelings, etc. I kinda compare it to when I first started flying 30 hours ago....never thought I'd be able to fly the plane by myself. Now I can't imagine doing one of those cross coutries by myself!! Ha.

Thanks for any input!

Sidious · May 28th, 2007, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by cignaguy

I kinda compare it to when I first started flying 30 hours ago....never thought I'd be able to fly the plane by myself. Now I can't imagine doing one of those cross coutries by myself!! Ha.

Yep you're normal lol

And your quote above will sum up all your training. The next step always seems harder and far off. At least thats how it has been for me.

Good luck and keep us posted!

ASpilot2be · May 28th, 2007, 19:46

Congrats

On my cross country, I got thrown into a very busy airport. I was slightly flustered also. I even had to use S-turns for spacing for the first time in my life.

mojo6911 · May 28th, 2007, 19:57

Just got back from an X-C with a student. He did the exact thing you described. He was behind the airplane, had trouble with checkpoints, etc...

On the way back, he did fine.

FiveO · May 28th, 2007, 20:00

Congrats man. Keep in mind that this was a very busy weekend both in the air and on the ground. If you can get it done in a weekend like this, you can get it done anytime. Congrats again.

cignaguy · May 28th, 2007, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojo6911

Just got back from an X-C with a student. He did the exact thing you described. He was behind the airplane, had trouble with checkpoints, etc...

On the way back, he did fine.

Our flight was APA-LHX-PUB-APA. From PUB-APA, I did much better also, hehe. I think I would do much better next time.

I guess getting out of the "comfort zone" of the home base airport just disoriented me a bit. My landings sucked!

I got a bit frustrated. I'm the type that gets

if I screw up even slightly, but once I don't screw up and get better, I am

SierraPilot123 · May 28th, 2007, 22:11

Completely normal for your first time. There is a lot of paper work involved while trying to fly at the same time. Just make sure you are holding your plotted heading the entire route and don't loose it just because you are looking at your flight plan.

I took one of my students on his first XC last week. He was at least 8nm off course on the way there and back. Some how he found the airport. I think he had looked it up on google earth and got lucky because it is very hard to find.

Much better to use large landmarks like rivers, lakes, and Nav aids. Power lines and small towns can be tough.

MrLeisure757 · May 28th, 2007, 23:10

It sounds like you're doing everything "normal." I wouldn't worry. Just remember to have fun!

PGT · May 28th, 2007, 23:12

How long after your solo did you do your x/c. I can't wait until I start flying x/c. I'm at 16hrs right now, soloed last week, and fly about 4 times a week.

Flyboy 4 · May 28th, 2007, 23:26

Did my first X last Wednesday, felt the same way, I did hit all my points but a little confused on Airport frequencies found my self searching through map then paperwork, head up a down, frustration, got a little sick.

It passed quickly made some great touch and goes(nice to see another airport) and flight back went much better. Doing a night X this Wednesday.

Today I made my first cross wind landing, It was very gusty and my Instructor offerred to demo one first, but I had been over it a dozen times and was anxious to try, NAILED it. My instructor was impressed and I Havent quit smilling yetl. I LOVE FLYING.

cignaguy · May 28th, 2007, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraPilot123

Completely normal for your first time. There is a lot of paper work involved while trying to fly at the same time. Just make sure you are holding your plotted heading the entire route and don't loose it just because you are looking at your flight plan.

I took one of my students on his first XC last week. He was at least 8nm off course on the way there and back. Some how he found the airport. I think he had looked it up on google earth and got lucky because it is very hard to find.

Much better to use large landmarks like rivers, lakes, and Nav aids. Power lines and small towns can be tough.

Unfortunately, there aren't too many rivers and lakes here in CO to use. We did use a couple of resovoirs though. I used a VOR also, but instructor didn't like that I had chosen it to use because he didn't want me to use any Navaids right now he said. Oops.

cignaguy · May 28th, 2007, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGT

How long after your solo did you do your x/c. I can't wait until I start flying x/c. I'm at 16hrs right now, soloed last week, and fly about 4 times a week.

I soloed right around 18 hours. I did my area solo at 22 hours. The X-country was at 24.5 hours it looks like. We are scheduled to do the night X-country next weekend. I have only been flying on the weekends pretty much. I wish I could fly 4 times per week; that is awesome! As soon as my house rents/sells.....will be doing it full-time!

I can totally see how the more often you fly, the better you retain stuff, etc.

cignaguy · May 28th, 2007, 23:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyboy 4

Did my first X last Wednesday, felt the same way, I did hit all my points but a little confused on Airport frequencies found my self searching through map then paperwork, head up a down, frustration, got a little sick.

It passed quickly made some great touch and goes(nice to see another airport) and flight back went much better. Doing a night X this Wednesday.

Today I made my first cross wind landing, It was very gusty and my Instructor offerred to demo one first, but I had been over it a dozen times and was anxious to try, NAILED it. My instructor was impressed and I Havent quit smilling yetl. I LOVE FLYING.

Awesome! For some reason, my instructor felt it necesary to start crosswind landings from day 1. Haha. I was miserable doing them at first, but now that I have them down a bit better, they are fun! Just gotta remember to keep the crosswind correction in even after landing or you get blown off the runway!! I did one on my X-country and completely forgot to hold the correction after landing and we were getting blown everywhere.

Flyboy 4 · May 28th, 2007, 23:53

[quote=cignaguy;608635]Awesome! For some reason, my instructor felt it necesary to start crosswind landings from day 1.

My airport U77 in Utah is at the mouth of a canyon, most mornings a canyon wind shoots right down the runway and being close to mountains prevents most cross winds. I have studied the techniques alot just havent had a chance until today. My favorite thing to do is practice forward slips - it is like drifting in a car.

cignaguy · May 28th, 2007, 23:58

My favorite thing to do is practice forward slips - it is like drifting in a car.

[/quote]

Yeah, they are fun. It took me a bit to get use to the "unnatural" feeling of them....

I bet it looks awesome training in the canyons!

I like flying right beside the Rockies....the mountains give me a great sense of direction at all times! I guess if I went anywhere else, I'd have to use those things called...ummm, errrrr....uhhhhh Heading Indicator and Compass??

CameronF · May 29th, 2007, 00:35

Congrats Dude! It'll get easier with repitition.

May 28th, 2007, 13:46	#1
cignaguy Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 177	First X-Countrty Flight Hi all- Well, just did my first cross country flight on Saturday, and it was a great time. However, it was also frustrating because it seemed like a ton of stuff coming at me at once and I didn't feel very prepared. I felt very prepared when I was doing the flight plan though. My instructor said that it is normal to get flustered on the first one because it is the first time that you get away from your "local" area and you go to unfamiliar areas. It was extremely hard to spot my checkpoints, ugh. I think part of that is because I haven't done it before and part of it is because the terrain in southern Colorado all looks the same! Anyhoo, just wanted to see if my first experience was natural and if others experienced the same feelings, etc. I kinda compare it to when I first started flying 30 hours ago....never thought I'd be able to fly the plane by myself. Now I can't imagine doing one of those cross coutries by myself!! Ha. Thanks for any input!

May 28th, 2007, 19:46	#3
ASpilot2be Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: Paradise:) Posts: 4,610	Re: First X-Countrty Flight Congrats On my cross country, I got thrown into a very busy airport. I was slightly flustered also. I even had to use S-turns for spacing for the first time in my life. __________________

May 28th, 2007, 19:57	#4
mojo6911 Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: GKY Posts: 1,725	Re: First X-Countrty Flight Just got back from an X-C with a student. He did the exact thing you described. He was behind the airplane, had trouble with checkpoints, etc... On the way back, he did fine.

May 28th, 2007, 20:00	#5
FiveO Old Skool Join Date: May 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,115	Re: First X-Countrty Flight Congrats man. Keep in mind that this was a very busy weekend both in the air and on the ground. If you can get it done in a weekend like this, you can get it done anytime. Congrats again.

May 28th, 2007, 22:11	#7
SierraPilot123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 386	Re: First X-Countrty Flight Completely normal for your first time. There is a lot of paper work involved while trying to fly at the same time. Just make sure you are holding your plotted heading the entire route and don't loose it just because you are looking at your flight plan. I took one of my students on his first XC last week. He was at least 8nm off course on the way there and back. Some how he found the airport. I think he had looked it up on google earth and got lucky because it is very hard to find. Much better to use large landmarks like rivers, lakes, and Nav aids. Power lines and small towns can be tough.

May 28th, 2007, 23:10	#8
MrLeisure757 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: . Posts: 752	Re: First X-Countrty Flight It sounds like you're doing everything "normal." I wouldn't worry. Just remember to have fun!

May 28th, 2007, 23:12	#9
PGT Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: IA & MN Posts: 3,112	Re: First X-Countrty Flight How long after your solo did you do your x/c. I can't wait until I start flying x/c. I'm at 16hrs right now, soloed last week, and fly about 4 times a week. __________________ College student.PPL.Working on IR

May 28th, 2007, 23:26	#10
Flyboy 4 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 120	Re: First X-Countrty Flight Did my first X last Wednesday, felt the same way, I did hit all my points but a little confused on Airport frequencies found my self searching through map then paperwork, head up a down, frustration, got a little sick. It passed quickly made some great touch and goes(nice to see another airport) and flight back went much better. Doing a night X this Wednesday. Today I made my first cross wind landing, It was very gusty and my Instructor offerred to demo one first, but I had been over it a dozen times and was anxious to try, NAILED it. My instructor was impressed and I Havent quit smilling yetl. I LOVE FLYING.

May 28th, 2007, 23:53	#14
Flyboy 4 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 120	Re: First X-Countrty Flight [quote=cignaguy;608635]Awesome! For some reason, my instructor felt it necesary to start crosswind landings from day 1. My airport U77 in Utah is at the mouth of a canyon, most mornings a canyon wind shoots right down the runway and being close to mountains prevents most cross winds. I have studied the techniques alot just havent had a chance until today. My favorite thing to do is practice forward slips - it is like drifting in a car.

May 28th, 2007, 23:58	#15
cignaguy Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 177	Re: First X-Countrty Flight My favorite thing to do is practice forward slips - it is like drifting in a car.[/quote] Yeah, they are fun. It took me a bit to get use to the "unnatural" feeling of them.... I bet it looks awesome training in the canyons! I like flying right beside the Rockies....the mountains give me a great sense of direction at all times! I guess if I went anywhere else, I'd have to use those things called...ummm, errrrr....uhhhhh Heading Indicator and Compass??

May 29th, 2007, 00:35	#16
CameronF Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Moses Lake, Washington Posts: 116	Re: First X-Countrty Flight Congrats Dude! It'll get easier with repitition. __________________ Commercial SEL/MEL Instrument

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