Johnny Ginley's Flight Training Blog

6-24-08

Wow..I have completely forgotten about this blog!

Well a lot has happened since my last post. I am up to 35.4 hours. Just about enough hours, I just need a couple more years on me before I can get the license! Ive just been going up here and there as time, weather, and money permits it. Most flights done in N19972 and a couple in N4802G, both C172's. Rick and I have been going around to nearby airports, doing what we feel like. Just a way to build and spend the time. Ive now been in many Class C and Class D controlled airspaces..(Boy, VATSIM really pays off when you get 2 compliments from the tower controller in one day!) Rick is jaw-dropped at how good I can fly and talk at the same time. Most of his students I guess cant do that..haha.

I now have about ~2 hours under the hood..Oh boy that isnt fun on a humid and bumpy day! Shot some ILS approached into KCAK. FS practice with the needles also helps a lot too. Weve also done the basics as well: turns around a point, S-turns, stalls, pilotage & dead reckoning, shortfield/softfield takeoffs and landings., etc.

That is basically it! The weather is nice now and Im out of school for summer so I will definately get some more time in..Rick just landed a job with SportsJet LLC flying the Brasillia and later moving up to jets so he has been in FL. for the past 3 weeks in training.. lucky dog..Maybe I can catch some jump seat time?  bill today and scheduled..(Oh how it adds up! Rental just jumped up $10.)

Will definately keep ya updated as I keep goin up! Blue skies

6-14-07

Got to go up today. Rick said it was supposed to be bumpy, but it got nicer. We stayed in the pattern (Big surprise!) and did 5 landings. He said I have officially mastered landings. Next time we go up were gonna go down to Wayne Co. and learn the GPS and do some TnGs there then head home and simulate some emergencies! He said if I were 16, my next lesson I'd be soloing. No big story...Just a day in the pattern!

5-22-07

Well Rick had a cancellation today so I got to go up...I did the usual preeflight, taxi, takeoff, no problems...Rick said that today we were going to finish landings once and for all today...So of course we were in the pattern for 8 landings...Had to switch to rwy 19...Winds were variable all day....Last three approaches and landings were perfect, had to go around once b/c we were too high...once we sunk and got the ground effect, flared slowly and wheels kissed the concrete.....We didnt want to ruin a 3 perfect streak, so we taxiied back up to the pumps and went to debrief...

Not much excitement today..Got to hear FOX 8's SkyFox on Unicom up by Cedar Point..

Hopefully will have some new stories on Thursday...We are going to either KMFD or Wayne Co.

Ralph,

1G5- Medina Municipal- The airport I fly out of

KMFD- Mansfield

Those are the main airports

5-19-07

Today was supposed to be a good day...Was scheduled from 10-12am this morn. Preflight was all good in      N19972, the C172 I fly. Rick came out and double checked the fuel. We had 1/2 tanks, enough to stay in the pattern.

"Medina Unicom, 972, radio check." I called and was responded by the "972 loud n clear."

Checklists all complete and ready to taxi to runway 27. The airport was busy today and had a couple of other guys in the pattern as well as a guy ahead of me. Spun into the wind and did the routine run-up....All good opposed to last weeks magneto failure.

"Medina Traffic, 972 departing runway 27, stayin in the pattern."

Taake off was good, rotated at about 55-60kts. Straight out ahead was a big storm commin to us...Went around and did one landing and then taxiied back to 27 for another...This is the normal process..Tookoff again, and was climbin to 1700MSL to then turn crosswind for 27.

Just as we turned downwind I hear, "Oh ***, give me the flight controls for a minute." Rick said so I complied. He told me to look at the Airspeed Indicator and said that it wasnt moving. We were a little nose up pitch and it still said 110-120IAS....Might have been a bug stuck or somethin....As we descended, it worked and I got the flight controls back as we were on final. Landed very nice, a little flat though. Took-off again, but this time as we rotated, it literally lifted us straight up like an elevator...It was really weird....Rick looked at me and said, "That is not supposed to happen. Its not like this plane has a jet stuck up its ass." But we concluded that it was probably some weird updraft from the upcoming storm....We went around the pattern again and I landed exactly perfect! We taxiied back up to the fuel pump and shut her down...Went in and had a quick debrief. It was really windy out and really bumpy, so thats why we called it a day.

Rick said next time I fly we'll probably go down to KMFD or do somethin fun....Instead of doin circles around the airport...And if you havent caught on by now, Rick is my instructor....

Will post more hopefully Thursday!