Finally flying the 'Nole at Skymates

[embraer07]

Well after months and months of delays I have finally begun my multi addon training at Skymates this past weekend.

I have flown 2 flights already in the Seminole, and tomorow will be my third. So far, I am VERY happy with how things are going. My instructor is David and he is a great guy, easy going and explains things well.

After 3 years worth of flying out of the BUSY airport/airpsace that is Addison, it is kind of nice and strange at the same time to taxi, take off, and be out in the practice area all in under 20 minutes!

The Seminole is a blast to fly. Before my first flight I had logged roughly 30 hours in a Piper Cherokee so I wasn't completly lost in the cockpit, and the flap lever didn't suprise me!

So far I have found the Seminole to be faster and heavier than the Single Engines I have flown thus far, but other than that it is not as big a leap as I thought it would be.

My manuvers are all great. VMC was probably the biggest thing I have had to learn so far. By next week I know my right leg will be 3x the size of the left

Yesterday I did some pattern work out at Spinks including the much hyped single engine approach. It was fun but had me sweating buckets the whole time.

Anyways, I'm having a blast out at Skymates. I should be done with my Multi addon by next weekend or the next at most. Then I will get to work on all 3 CFI ratings before joining the ranks myself! The one thing I don't like is the drive: 40 minutes each way from my house in Addison to Arlington! I just consider it the first commute of my pilot career. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't commute another 40 minutes up to Denton for school Monday-Friday! Oh well....

Skymates is a great place and the instructors are quality. And thats all I have to say about that!

[777forever]

I bet you were sweating in the 'nole. That thing is like a sauna doing touch and goes. Doesn't get cool til like 8,000 feet. Good in the winter, BAD in the summer, especially in Texas

[mattp1803]

HA! I think I saw you over Spinks! I live like one minute literally from Spinks. Congrats on finally getting in the multi. Keep it up!

[kellwolf]

After landing checklist in the Nole --- door open. Everything else can wait.

Then again, the Arrow isn't that much cooler.

[777forever]

BE-76 is da bomb Nice and cool. And I thought the seminole was the kingpin of training twins. Ahh! The ignorance!

[woodreau]

Originally Posted by embraer07

The one thing I don't like is the drive: 40 minutes each way from my house in Addison to Arlington!

Why don't you just fly from Addison to Arlington? transition the B, 180hdg after takeoff - overfly Love, then direct GKY after you're clear of the B?

It's kind of neat seeing that you've avoid the gridlock of the DFW highways.

(That's what I did when I did flight training out of Addison - flew from GKY to ADS - did the flight training and then flew ADS - GKY after the lesson was done - just to avoid the traffic)

[embraer07]

Originally Posted by woodreau

Why don't you just fly from Addison to Arlington? transition the B, 180hdg after takeoff - overfly Love, then direct GKY after you're clear of the B?

It's kind of neat seeing that you've avoid the gridlock of the DFW highways.

(That's what I did when I did flight training out of Addison - flew from GKY to ADS - did the flight training and then flew ADS - GKY after the lesson was done - just to avoid the traffic)

Ha! I would if I could! Actually I have done that quite a few times during my days at Addison; except it was just for fun and not for flight training. Coming back into Addison I was always vectored over DFW if we were landing on 15 at ADS.

But for me to fly out to GKY for flight training then back to ADS would require nothing short of my own plane....

I am looking forward to cooler temps soon. Cooking inside of the seminole while trying to counter a failed engine is not the prettiest sight. But it sure is fun!

[kellwolf]

Heh, open the little storm window in flight. As long as you're below the speed required (180 kts? 200 kts? I forget), it shouldn't go flying off.

[Gulfstream IV]

Originally Posted by embraer07

Well after months and months of delays I have finally begun my multi addon training at Skymates this past weekend.

I have flown 2 flights already in the Seminole, and tomorow will be my third. So far, I am VERY happy with how things are going. My instructor is David and he is a great guy, easy going and explains things well.

After 3 years worth of flying out of the BUSY airport/airpsace that is Addison, it is kind of nice and strange at the same time to taxi, take off, and be out in the practice area all in under 20 minutes!

The Seminole is a blast to fly. Before my first flight I had logged roughly 30 hours in a Piper Cherokee so I wasn't completly lost in the cockpit, and the flap lever didn't suprise me!

So far I have found the Seminole to be faster and heavier than the Single Engines I have flown thus far, but other than that it is not as big a leap as I thought it would be.

My manuvers are all great. VMC was probably the biggest thing I have had to learn so far. By next week I know my right leg will be 3x the size of the left

Yesterday I did some pattern work out at Spinks including the much hyped single engine approach. It was fun but had me sweating buckets the whole time.

Anyways, I'm having a blast out at Skymates. I should be done with my Multi addon by next weekend or the next at most. Then I will get to work on all 3 CFI ratings before joining the ranks myself! The one thing I don't like is the drive: 40 minutes each way from my house in Addison to Arlington! I just consider it the first commute of my pilot career. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't commute another 40 minutes up to Denton for school Monday-Friday! Oh well....

Skymates is a great place and the instructors are quality. And thats all I have to say about that!

glad to hear you're finally there. I am just getting started

[embraer07]

Good luck! I've finished up since first typing that post. I'm finishing up my CFI ratings now; I have my checkride scheduled for the 14th of Dec

After that you can find me up at Skymates pimping the blue polo shirts

And I will be wearing my A-2 jacket while up there...maybe even some Aviator sunglasses to Like none of us have a pair

[Gulfstream IV]

Originally Posted by embraer07

Good luck! I've finished up since first typing that post. I'm finishing up my CFI ratings now; I have my checkride scheduled for the 14th of Dec

After that you can find me up at Skymates pimping the blue polo shirts

And I will be wearing my A-2 jacket while up there...maybe even some Aviator sunglasses to Like none of us have a pair

I am sure I will run into you. I plan to get all of my ratings and training at SkyMates because they are the best in class. I guess I would fall in the category of a career changer, at least soon to be. I am currently in business banking, got my degree, but have always wanted to pursue a career in avaition. I am waiting for Ryan to get back with me, maybe you'll instruct me through my PPL. Who knows?

[embraer07]

Originally Posted by Gulfstream IV

I am sure I will run into you. I plan to get all of my ratings and training at SkyMates because they are the best in class. I guess I would fall in the category of a career changer, at least soon to be. I am currently in business banking, got my degree, but have always wanted to pursue a career in avaition. I am waiting for Ryan to get back with me, maybe you'll instruct me through my PPL. Who knows?

Absolutley...just let me know when you are ready to go.

One bit of advice: Skymates is VERY busy and guys like Ryan tend to be the busiest. As such they may not always return calls promptly; not his fault but like I said Skymates is extremly busy. I suggest followups here and there.

If you want to start on or after the 14th of Dec-thats 2 weeks from now-I'll be ready to take you on. Otherwise I'm sure you will get a great instructor up there.

Just remember that while getting your PPL there will be highs and lows, no pun intended. Don't let the moments of lows get you discouraged. In the end its all worth it. Make sure you study hard and above all have fun!

[kellwolf]

Did you have to go somewhere else to get a complex SE, or did they work something out for ya?

What's up with BLUE polos? They were grey when I was there.

[embraer07]

I had to go to Addison airport and I'm finishing up my CFI with Monarch before heading back over to Skymates. They have a new Arrow now, its purple; but nobody is putting much faith in it to pass the FAA inspections. So I don't know what is going to happen to the other CFI guys who have checkrides coming up in that plane. As for me mine will be in a C172RG.

The polos sure are blue now, they also give you a couple of white shirts to. I see the greys here and there, but honestly...greys in the North Texas summer?? By the end of a flight you have a large part of your back and front that has turned dark grey At least with the Blues(they are dark blue) and Whites those pools of sweat don't show up as much.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by embraer07

The polos sure are blue now, they also give you a couple of white shirts to. I see the greys here and there, but honestly...greys in the North Texas summer?? By the end of a flight you have a large part of your back and front that has turned dark grey At least with the Blues(they are dark blue) and Whites those pools of sweat don't show up as much.

It's a badge of honor. There were days I climbed out of the Seminole and had to go back to the crashpad to take a shower......

[embraer07]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

It's a badge of honor. There were days I climbed out of the Seminole and had to go back to the crashpad to take a shower......

Ha! Just think, there are only one or two other things that you do sitting down that requires a shower afterwards!

And yes, watching Bob Ross on PBS painting happy trees is one of them.....

[cfii2007]

How long does it take to complete the MEI there?

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by cfii2007

How long does it take to complete the MEI there?

If you're getting it as an add-on, not long. I did mine in 3 days. 2 days of ground/flying, one for the checkride. I also did a couple of them as an instructor over long weekends.

[cfii2007]

Sounds good....I might do some time building there and wanted to add on the MEI.