Looking for Low Wing Flight options
Joplin, MO. JLN

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:
This was a day out with my son, which we both enjoyed. After watching planes take-off, I visited with Mizzou Aviation about plane rentals.

...

To complete the day, we visited 'Chuck E. Cheese' and saw that my son had opportunity to spend his X-mas money.

* * * CHECK-RIDE * * *
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Check-ride Preparation
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Check-ride Preparation
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

FAA Safety Seminar: Runway Incursions
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Ground School: Check-ride Preparation
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Dual: Night X-Country
KPTS > LLU > CFV > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Take-Offs and Landings
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Pattern Work
KPTS > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:

Dual: Night X-Country
KPTS > KLLU > SGF > KSGF > KPTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers: None

Comments:
This was to be a required night flight towards my PPL. I planned to take my son with as this was dual instruction and he had been wanting to flight at night for some time.

After planning, I checked for a standard briefing, and was informed that KLLU, only two miles from where I was calling, was closed. Further VOR SGF was down. Talking through the flight with my instructor at KPTS, I preflighted the plane and found that neither the beacon nor the strobe worked. Therefore the flight was scrubbed. We have rescheduled.

I am hoping flying next week.

Solo: Staying Current

Date: 10/07/2006
Location: PTS > LcL

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers:
TO/Landing, Crosswind, Turns about a Point, Slow flight, Runway 16 & 22

Comments:
First time in the air after Mom’s funeral. Something of a bitter sweet time, yet enjoyable all the same.

Once again a 7 am flight… well 7:30 flight.
Pre-flighted without incident, thought initially the stall horn didn’t work, marked it in the paperwork. Then checked it again and it cleared. Turned and marked it out of the book.

Initially, no other traffic was present.
Wind was 130 @ 5 upon take off. I taxied to Runway 16 and did run up there.
Takeoff was without incident. Proceeded to fly pattern for 16 and land.
First was rusty but adequate.
Second was right on the money.
…
About Pattern 4 a Skyhawk announce its presence 10 mi East inbound for landing. Unicom announced my presence doing touch and goes.
On Pattern/Landing 5 I spotted the Skyhawk entering the down wind as I flew a long take-off. Once I entered the down wind, I configured for slow flight, also Turned about a Point outside the pattern twice to allow time for the Skyhawk to land and clear Runway 16.

I landed twice more on Runway 16, the last time to a full stop and taxi back to for take off.

Finally, I flew pattern for Runway 22 as I wanted to end with a little more crosswind, and I wanted to try the runway as it had been out of service for the last year. Landing went well though not as smooth as I wanted.

Knowing this was my last landing, I forgot to clean up the plane (carb heat in, flaps up, which I had done with all the other landings). I need to remember to keep flying the plane until it is hangered. More practice.

All in all, I thought things went well after a two week break.

Solo: Long X-Country
PTS > JLN > PTS

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers:
3 Full Stop Landings @ KJLN, Solo

Comments:
7 am flight, well I opened the hanger just after 7am. (Which I found the hanger unlocked, though the lock was closed and curiously tied to the door. The lock also looked more beat up than I remembered).

Preflight and take off went well.
Wind was calm, Unicom was unattended. No other known traffic.
I did a touch and go at PTS before departing, was rather smooth for being away for a week.
Opened flight plan :40 minutes after the hour.

At this point I noted that my GPS was not working. I quickly decided that I didn’t have time to change batteries before I needed to communicate with JLN Tower, so I immediately moved to full dependence on VOR. The VOR did the trick quite nicely, though I was frustrated with the batteries on the GPS unit. The rechargeable are just not holding the charge they need to.

I announced intentions with JLN without incidence.
Tower cleared me for Right Pattern turn on base, reporting at two miles.

However, upon approaching airport I confused Runway 13 with Runway 18.
Tower inquired as to my intentions, as I was making course corrections.

My initial approach was too high and close to Runway 18, though I managed to touch down with out incident though I did bounce a time or two. I also missed the taxi way ramp and was cleared to taxi 18 to ramp G. Communication went well, while initially awkward, it become more comfortable.

My second landing and approach was left hand traffic and I turned onto base too quickly and too high. Again landing was bumpy, yet good. Managed to get ramp G for taxi way.

Third landing was left hand pattern. I set up better for landing, yet this one was bumpy as well. It was a third good landing, but definitely not as smooth as I wanted, in fact was well below my expectations. Again I made Ramp G, and requested NW departure from the Tower, who cleared me for take-off with Right Hand Pattern for departure.

Flight back to KPTS was uneventful, though quite enjoyable. Traffic and Unicom were silent as I approached, and I encountered no traffic. As I made a long final for Runway 34 (winds were still calm), I didn’t close my flight plan in the air, but instead called it in on the ground.

Solo: Long X-Country
PTS>JLN>EOS>GMJ>IDPIDP>CNU>FSK>NVD>PTS

Logbook Comments:
Solo Long X-Cntry, VOR, ADF, deadreconing, pilotage,GPS, TO/Landing, taxiing, Full Stop at IDP, FSK, NVD, PTS

This was my Long Solo Cross Country. This trip also went well.
PTS Departed without incident. Opened Flight Plan w/o problem.
JLN Communications w/o incident. Was cleared for the option with departure request.GMJ Arrived w/o incident, enjoyable trip. Aborted first landing attempt, too high, too fast. Second attempt went better, good landing.IDP Long trip but enjoyable. Juggling the frequencies was interesting. Closed Flight Plan without incident on approach to IDP. Had tanks topped off. Traffic was light. Two taxied in as I taxied out. Opened Flight Plan for completion of the trip.
CNU Arrived without incident. Landed on first attempt.
FSK Arrived without incident. Landed on first attempt.NVD Arrived without incident. Landed on first attempt.
PTS Arrived without incident. Closed Flight Plan w/o problem. Landed on first attempt.

Solo X-Country
PTS->BUM->NVD->PTS

Logbook comments:
1st Solo X-Cntry, VOR, ADF, deadreconing, pilotage,GPS, TO/Landing, taxiing, Full Stop at BUM, NVD, PTS

This was my first Solo cross country. Went well.
BUM There were a number of planes (older Cessna’s taking off and landing at Butler. I actually had to line up behind a plane or two on the taxiway. One got off to the side to let me through.)

Otherwise this trip went find. Started smooth, however the flight became bumpy, especially after departing from NVD.

Dual Instruction: X-Country
PTS->BUM->NVD->PTS

This was a cross country with Tom before he endorsed my logbook for my first solo cross country.

Solo Work @ PTS
Dual Instruction / Nite Flying @ PTS -> LLU

Excellent experience.
Arrived at PTS to fly N12189 before lesson with Tom. He was out with another student, but left plane out for our lesson. I pre-flighted the plane and taxied to ramp for run up. A Cherokee (N???87N) announced presence 10 miles out. I waited to long, as I had adequate time for take off. Had it been a jet, the wait would have been very short.

Landings went well.
1st Go around
2nd Good but bumpy
3rd Smoother
4th Go around
5th Smoother
6th Good but bumpy

Enjoyed time with Tom before lesson. Also visited with John (FBO employee)

Lesson was night flying. Spend much of it behind foggles. Flew to LLU and practiced landings. A quite difference experience. This was the first time I experienced vertigo of this level, though it went well as I tried to depend on the instruments.

Landing with the lights at night is very different. It will require more practice.

Landings at PTS went well though on the final landing the lights went out and I should have gone around while I adjusted to the situation.

On two or three landings with Tom, I didn’t remove all the power on landing and found that the plane will not land if all the power is not pulled out.

NOTE: 12189 had problems with brakes on left side, especially noticeable (and diagnosed) after we landed at PTS for final time.

Solo Aborted

PIC (Pilot-In-Command) decision made; though there seemed to be breaks between cells, the scattered thunderstorms convinced me I should stay on the ground today.

I may try to get solo time in Monday, but with the evening lesson, this is uncertain.

Next lesson: Monday, Night work.

Dual instruction with Tom Richards
X-Country to PTS to JLN

Before taking off, I shared with Tom my reflections on my previous landings and he thought I was right on target regarding my assessments.

Practiced landings and tower work.
The trip went really well. Still much practice to do, but I thought things went well.
Apparently, Tom did too, as he signed off on in my log book that I can solo at PTS and JLN.

My landings improved, as a result of evaluating that last lesson on my own and with Tom, in addition to the practice done today.

Next solo: Friday
Next lesson: Monday, Nite work

Dual Instruction with Tom Richards
X-Country PTS to LLU
Practiced landings at LLU.
• It seemed as though I continued to struggle to watch outside the cockpit down the runway. Very frustrating.
• I repeatedly tried to lift the nose and flare before the plane had settled down on the runway.
• I had trouble remembering whether to trim up or down in prep for landing.

I must remember to:
• Trim down for landing
• Wait for the plane to settle over the runway before flaring.

Next lesson: plan X-country for Joplin and Tower work.

Back in the Air

Restarted lessons with Tom Richards.
Good to be back in the cockpit, though rustier than I thought I would be.
Tom seemed to think I was in good shape and would bounce back quickly.

A Birthday Message for Tom
Happy Birthday, Tom Richards

My flight instructor is turning an age which he should be proud of reaching. With it comes much wisdom.

His wife asked some of the people in his life to share their thoughts about Tom.

Below are those that I sent to him. I only wish I had a photo of him to attach with it.

Bill

-----Birthday Message-----

Good Morning Tom,

A Happy Birthday to a man who has been a blessing to me in so many ways.

First, you enabled me to begin the journey of achieving a life-long dream, to soar among the clouds and eagles, to see the world from a new perspective and anticipate in a small way what my Savior's arrival, return, might seem like.

Secondly, you (and Diana) recognized my need to pursue a challenge, an adventure, to find some release, and success, away from the struggles of my marriage and Sharri's condition. Learning to fly has been that for me. When I needed a listening ear, you were there and then you led me in learning a new skill in my quest for flight and the freedom of the sky. In some ways, it was the best 'therapy' available.

Thirdly, you were willing to share from your own experiences as I received news of the advancement of my mother's cancer. Given some of the similarities to your first wife's condition, I expect this was not easy. While my mother's journey is not yet completed, your encouragement and willingness to share from your own life has blessed me.

Tom, I have only touched the surface of how you touched my life. You have also been very accepting of my children, encouraging them to come and engaging them in the experience. You touched the lives of Margaret, Fleeter, and Jerry in ways that continue to give us a point of common contact and interest. Even my wife Sharri remembers her times in your classroom with fondness.

You have even been willing to go out of your way when I needed assistance with a vehicle, on more than one occasion.

And I have seen you do such things with others through ground school and lessons.

You have don so much more than teach me to fly, or insights to flight, the aviation industry/community, teaching (in general) and just welcoming me into the fraternity of aviators.

You have been used by God to lift my spirit, to fly even while my unfortunate feet might be planted on the ground.

I hope, someday, that I might become a CFII who invests in and touches lives as you do. I thank God for you and ask that He bless you in the years ahead.

Happy Birthday Tom,

Bill Emmerling