Couple of weeks ago I did my first solo! It was awesome to say the least. I have since logged 3.5 hours of solo and also tackled day & night cross country's.. I think I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! I put together a quick video of that first weekend!

http://youtu.be/xcY8kq_S84Y

http://youtu.be/xcY8kq_S84Y

Awesome! Just got home from a night flight. Planned for touch and go's at PAWS, but the runway lights were inop. Stopped by Birchwood for a few laps before heading back to Merrill.

Here's a shot from a XC earlier today.

Great photo! It really brings out the combination of scenic terrain and and a dramatic sky. That's always been my favorite part about flying Alaska. Congratulations on your progress and I look forward to your reports as you punch this out.

Brett

Heading out for solo X country this morning! Looks like a great day to be flying in AK

Don't think I'd had the nerve to film my 1st solo.

Nice, congrats! I did my first solo on Dec 31st 2012 and got my license 12 Apr 13. Now I have over 200 hours and loads of adventures later! Maybe I will see you around Birchwood or out and about!

Chip,

You are looking over the center of the cowl, under the prop. This is very common. You are looking well down the runway, so it is causing little tire squeak. You can cure this left of center in five minutes and never have any problems again. Make sure you are looking between your legs for the alignment of the longitudinal axis of the airplane. Look closer to the aircraft to be sure the center line is between your legs. Keep the yellow taxi line between your legs. Get out and be sure the nose wheel is on the taxi line. You are sitting a good bit left of the center of the airplane. This make the sight angle across the center of the cowl, under the prop, a considerable angle. By making the prop appear to be over the center line, you are landing left of center.

This common problem seldom gets cured because it causes only a squeak and jink on landing a nose wheel airplane. Imagine autorotating a Chinook helicopter while having the center line appear to be under the very short nose. The pilot on the left side (actually co-pilot) is about six feet left of the center of the cockpit. The angle to the nose, six feet forward, is 45 degrees. That much crab on touchdown would definitely cause a roll-over.

This common problem causes real grief in side by side tail wheel airplanes. Just a slight crab angle on touchdown causes one main wheel to touchdown first and the tail will try to come around. A ground loop at stall speed, or higher, will catch the wing, wipe out the gear, and catch the prop every time.

Go out to the end of the runway and look at the black marks left of center line. That is where most nose wheel pilots land. You are not the only one. Keep the center line between your legs. You will never land on the left side of the runway again, unless you want to.

Congratulations! Nothing quite as exhilarating as that first solo, except maybe passing your checkride!

Do you mind me asking who you are training with? I just moved to Eagle River in February and I want to find a place where I can get a BFR and then rent from once in a while. If any locals have suggestions, I'd appreciate it!

I am using Matt Hansen for instruction. Very knowledgable and easy to learn from. I'll PM you his contact info. Matt is my second instructor. My first was not a good choice.

ContactFlying - Thanks for advice, my instructor has given the same as well but I must be stubborn. Yesterday's flight was better but not perfect. Always learning and I appreciate the advice!

Awesome photo's! Great looking plane. I can't wait for my PPL and tail wheel endorsement.

AKGCBC wrote:Nice, congrats! I did my first solo on Dec 31st 2012 and got my license 12 Apr 13. Now I have over 200 hours and loads of adventures later! Maybe I will see you around Birchwood or out and about!

Total of 34.4 hours as of today... Long X-Country is now complete. PABV to PAHO and a great day to fly!

Anchorage AK


Turnagain Arm


Homer Spit AK


Kenai Peninsula AK

Nice pics!

My wife and I did a tent camping tour of the Kenai last summer and spent a couple days at that campground at the end of the spit you can see in your picture!

Looks like you are doing a great job working towards your PPL Snopro!

With the Alaskan weather, how many days a week can you usually fly?

MAU MAU wrote:With the Alaskan weather, how many days a week can you usually fly?

The weather has been great the last few weeks so I have been flying twice a week. Haven't missed many scheduled days yet.

Thanks for the encouragement. I feel like I'm ready to take my check ride.

What examiner are you using?

Still looking at options & opinions on DPE's.

Should I wait for the endorsement in my book before I contact a dpe?

Most examiners seem to be available at reasonably short notice. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

I initially chose Steve Williams, but my school wouldn't let me use him. I ended up with Michael Buckland, who I highly recommend.

Bottom line is if you know what you're doing you won't have issues with any examiner. YMMV...

Just scheduled Michael Buckland for this weekend

My long cross country was in a PA 12. I flew over to the other side of illiamna and went caribou hunting. The Instructor kind of started scratching his head when I was loading up the rifle and hunting gear. That was when same day fly and hunt caribou was legal after january 1. If I remember correctly, it was 178 miles and probably the only trip I ever put on paper and fully "planned and plotted". But it was a great flight and a good hunt.