My Flight Journal

Saturday, June 14, 2003 10:51am

And another 1.2 this morning.

Did 0.5 simulated IFR with the hood on. Unusual attitudes and recoveries too - both fun and easy!

Got 3 more landings logged. Starting to get the hang of it, even though I was in a heavier and more powerful airplane today than yesterday AND we were using a different runway (Sanford has 4... or 8 depending on how you wanna count em). Someone in a kitplane either ground looped or landed gear up so they had the big runway closed. He was on the arrival end and there was fuel everywhere. He's lucky it didn't catch on fire. Meanwhile, a Pan Am Clipper was doing circles waiting for them to clear the runway.

My first landing I ended up coming in too high and aborting. We were on a right downwind for the center runway, when the controller told us to switch to a left pattern. That runway is a published right pattern and my instructor said he's never heard of them using a left pattern for it. Anyway, I ended up crossing over the runway which screwed up my downwind, put my final in too close, and of course I ended up high. The next ones were good and in a pretty decent crosswind to boot.

The airport was super-busy, and pretty hectic with the main runway closed, so I only got to do a few radio calls. Did get to correct the controller once when he read back my location wrong.

Up to 5.5 hrs dual now.