Hello,

I ran across this forum yesterday and have been reading all of everyone's adventures. They all sound fantastic! I don't have a trip that compares to any of yours, but here is where I went last weekend.

On Sunday I was signed off to take my first solo cross-country flight. I planned a trip out to Llano Municipal Airport in Llano, TX, via Georgetown.

I took off a little after 9:30 AM from Temple, TX and headed south toward Georgetown. I leveled off at 4500 and sat back and enjoyed the solitude an scenery. I overflew Georgetown Airport and turned west toward Llano. The air was very smooth and clear on the way over. The sun hadn't had a chance to heat the rocky ground up enough to make any significant thermals yet. Once I reached my first checkpoint after Georgetown, I could already see Lake Buchanan off in the distance, so I headed for the southern portion of it. Llano lies just on the other side of the lake. I called the FBO up on the radio and made sure that they had the courtesy van available, which they did. After landing and tying the plane down, I went inside and got the van and headed into town to Cooper's BBQ to cool off and grab some lunch. I had some of the best barbecued brisket you'll ever find, potato salad, pinto beans, and a cold glass of iced tea.

After lunch and a short break, I headed back to the plane and did the preflight. It was getting HOT by then, so getting in the plane felt like climbing into a furnace.

I took off and headed Northeast toward the dam at Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, which would take me well South of Ft. Hood's restricted airspace. Thanks to the mid-day Central Texas sun, the ride back was not nearly as smooth. It was a pretty rough ride, but not too bad. I could see a few Chinooks and Blackhawks way off to the North over the training areas, which was a neat sight. Once I reached the dam, I turned North toward the Temple Airport. I entered the pattern and made a pretty decent landing to conclude an enjoyable flight.

I had a GREAT time and can't wait until this weekend for my next flight!

Welcome to the forum, and welcome to the fantastic world of aviation! My first longer solo cross country is a great memory, too. Thanks for sharing yours. Keep up the posts.

tom

Tom,

Thanks for the warm welcome! I am sure I'll remember this one for a long time. I am scheduled for my long cross-country this weekend, and I am really looking forward to it.

My first cross country was fun, got it all planned out and launched off, opened my flight plan only to have an exhaust gasket blow while I was on a downwind departure. Landed and had the school call the mechanic over. Called the FSS to tell them what happened and I would get back to them. Got it fixed and an hour later I was off. Re-opened the flight plan and headed from the coast over the hills to the San Joaquin valley, it was a bit hazy but not bad. Checkpoints rolled by right on cue, reservoir, road, Interstate 5, railroad etc. Due to the haze I decided to stay at altitude until I could see my destination airport of Porterville. I crossed Hwy 99 just north of Bakersfield right on time, my log sheet said I had about 10 minutes or so left. 5 minutes later I started looking over the nose, nothing but farms and off in the distance the Sierra foothills. At least I had a "don't go beyond here" point! 4 minutes to go, nothing. 3,2,1 and no airport. Hmmm. I was sure I was right on course after all there is beautiful downtown Porterville. Look to the left, look to the right, nothing. Then the light went off, rolled into a 45 degree bank and there it was, right where it was supposed to be. After landing I was told that the FSS had called wondering where I was at. Had to call them anyway so I explained what happened and that it looked like the delay message never made it. No problem but I'm sure the TSA knows what a bonehead I was in 1970. or was it 71?

Sounds like fun...and I can remember my first solo cross country...the plane making sounds I SWORE never made before etc.. You will have many more fun adventures and learn much from every flight you take! Enjoy and welcome

Heheh, I do recall thinking to myself, "I don't remember ever hearing that noise before."

I am looking forward to getting licensed and going on a few weekend flights. We don't have any mountains or back country here in this part of Texas, but I can fly down to our deer lease in South Texas.

Well, I was supposed to do a long (150 nm) cross-country flight this morning, but it was not to be.

I accelerated down the runway on my takeoff roll waiting for my speed to come up to rotate. As I noticed that it was taking longer than usual for the indicated air speed to come up, the plane became airborne at an indicated air speed of about 35 kts. I knew that I was going a lot faster than that, so the air speed indicator must have malfunctioned. I made a trip around the pattern and did my first landing without an ASI. It stinks that I didn't get to make my flight, but I think it was a very good experience for me.

did the plane sit out in a rain storm??? Sometimes I get water in my static line after a heavy rain. Causes the ASI to come up slow, indicate a slower speed and "hover" when I slowdown.

Whee,

It sat out last night, tied down on the line, but there was no rain or anything. I helped the owner of the flight school and the airplane clean the pitot tube out and there were some bugs in it. We made some temporary pitot covers out of tennis balls to try and remedy the situation.