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.