First Passengers!

Like a dream come true...last weekend I took up my first passengers: Sue and Teddy! Teddy has been talking about this all year. Last year on his birthday--Nov 3, we went up in Hotel Alpha with my instructor...Teddy loved it...but he wanted to go "with just us". Last year at this time, I wasn't even actively taking lessons...but it was Teddy's persistence in asking me about it (like everyday) that, in part, got me going again...so last year on my birthday--Dec 28, I started back again and this time I finished. I finished by his birthday, which was a goal in my head this whole time. Teddy totally loved the flight as you can see from the pic...we flew north along the Mississippi, saw the Winfield damn and circled Athy Farm. He wants to go up on his birthday again next week...this time he wants to a fly-by of the Arch! So, I have been busy studying the airspace and procedures so that I get it just right.

The Summit!

I made it! I'm at the top of my Everest. It still hasn't sunk in yet....things moved with amazing speed over the last few weeks. I passed my oral interview and my checkride. I met the examiner at 7:00 this morning and a few hours later I was a fully licensed as a private pilot!! It was all difficult and stressful beyond words....this was truly my Everest. Luckily, all of the pressure of speaking in the Toastmaster contests had really prepared me well for the oral exam and even memorizing the manuevers on the flight itself. A lot to say, but it has been a long, but glorious day and I am completely exhausted. I can say it was worth it...all of the trouble, the worries, the expense, the brickwalls that were overcome...I buried a lot of demons and I really feel a difference in myself for the better. Of course, I didn't do this alone, "Team Everest" was behind me all the way!! Pictured is my young, bold instructor and behind us is "my" Piper Cherokee! It looks really sharp in the morning sun!

Gonna Fly Now!

Gonna Fly Now! Engine is repaired, all systems are go. For sure there are tough times and changes ahead, but I am steeling myself for the final sprint to the finish. Won't be making another entry until I have my certificate...stay tuned!!

Not cleared for takeoff

I figured that something would come up...and now it is the engine on the Cherokee...low compression in one of the cylinders. This was discovered on his (he seems to be male) 100 hr inspection. So my well laid and intricate plans to take my checkride on Tuesday have been bumped...so training is now scheduled for Thurs and Friday with the checkride on Saturday afternoon. Of course, when something like this happens you have to re-group and make the best of it...making the best of it in this case means studying more, preparing more and organizing all of my materials. Might head to the spirit pilot shop and get a new pilot bag and maybe a kneeboard for the XC portion. This is going to be a struggle until the bitter end...but I am exorcising a lot of demons here and they don't go down easy! Worried about weather now too...supposed to be really windy on Thur and Fri...little less windy on Saturday...oh well...I've flown in a LOT of wind during my training.

Carry on my wayward son!

Two songs have been with me this week for my final ascent up my "Everest". One that is particularly fitting is Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas. I heard it on my way to the airport earlier this week...not only am I from Kansas originally, but the words really fit too. The second song I heard was on the new series Pan Am...a really cool song from the 60's sung by Steve Lawrence: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

Crunch time!!!

On final aproach....Checkride in 4 days...memorizing, fighting demons, fighting doubt, memorizing, practicing, drilling, flying, memorizing, studying....not to mention teaching..which is my full time job and family time...a crazy time...but all systems are go and everything is coming together...I've turned from base to final...winds are calm....just hold the course....

FAA Checkride

Don't have time for a nice picture or to write much...but this is an exciting and crazy time!! I am scheduled for my checkride on Tuesday!!! Flying and studying every night after school....crazy...but exciting.

Back to the Cherokee?

It has been a few years....23 to be exact, since I flew a Cherokee, but tomorrow it is back to the Cherokee! I have been struggling (my wife would say struggling is a comical understatement) to finish my license lately and having trouble seeing over the instrument panel on the 172 while reaching rudder pedals...my friend Lynn (who happens to own a Cherokee) suggested I find a "short student pilot friendly Cherokee"...so that is exactly what I am doing. My "new instructor" made a bold decision...which has me hooked..."lets just go ahead and go crazy and get this done in 2 weeks...I have a new job starting and need to move on the 16th...so if you really have 46 hours and have really passed the written as you say...let's just get it done!" I was sold on this idea, no time to think...just do! So the final push up my Everest begins.........NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
In other news, one of my fellow climbers and Everest team member, "Marathon Kim", through a stroke of good luck and energy is running the NYC marathon on Nov. 6th!!! So with any luck we will both soon be on top of our Everests!!