Way Cool!!
Retrieving Daughter from Art Camp
C-150, N60614

PTS > K33 and back

Time: 4.1 hours
Landings: 2

Remarks, Procedures, Manuevers:
Cross-Country, GPS, Pilotage, VOR
1 passenger return trip

Comments:
This trip was a milestone for me.
I make a personal record altitude and dodged the clouds.
With scattered at 5500, I proceeded to 9500.

Way Cool!! Dodging the clouds and seeing them from above, knowing that I was piloting the plane. What a thrill! Just to top it off, the OAT (outside air tempterature) was cool as well, 45-50 F.

This trip was otherwise uneventful. I was much more relaxed and able to enjoy the trip more.

K33, 1241 asl, 2900' long 17/35
I remembered why my landings on 8/03/08 were a little rough (I forgot to look down the runway as I leveled off), and this one went better. Pretty smooth.

Upon landing at K33, I called in and closed my flight plan, punched the code into door lock like Jim told me and headed to the little aviators room. Exiting I found the my passenger arrived early, which was okay with me, though I had hoped to be refuelled before she arrived.

Refueling was uneventful, put in a 1/2 quart of oil, made my phone calls (my wife Sharri, Tom Richards and FSS) and headed skyward again.

On the return trip we leveled off at 8500 ASL, again above the clouds. We talked about our respective week's experience, and I enjoyed the flight, flying above the clouds and continually tracking our position.

Over Lamar, I radioed Tom to let him know our position, as he had a student wanting to get the air when I touched down.

These two trips have been very helpful in building my confidence.
I am looking forward to the next trip, which is yet to be planned, though I am playing with some ideas.

Things to work on:
I need to remember the details on call FSS on VORs. I have FSS procedures down for around PTS, but I wasn't comfortable doing it at K33. So I flew the plane and called in on the cell phone.

Total Hours: 68.8

FLASH from FAA OK City.

I grandfathered in on the new medical regulations. :-)
That means I am a 'young pilot' and my medical is good for 5 years from 2005.
Next Medical 2010.

Back in the air, not tied to the ground by regs.

God is good.

C-150, N60614
KPTS > K33 > PTS Hobbs: 3.8 hours

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers:
Cross country, GPS, Pilotage, VOR
1 passsenger (daughter) to Visual Manna Art Camp, Salem Missouri

Comments:
PTS > PYLER > MAP > K33
Density Altitude was very high (about 4000), performance was sluggish
Opened flight plan with Wichita Radio on 122.15

The trip went well.
Climbed to 5500 ASL, though as Jesse (owner) suggested, we were nearly to Springfield, MO before we leveled off. It was definitely more comfortable up there (~80 F) than on the ground (~100 F).

We came down to 3500 ASL as we encountered clouds closer to K33
I become a little disoriented as we approached MAP VOR, though I was mostly second guessing myself, and I was overly concerned about busting a restricted air space to the north. I finally dialed in the MAP VOR and followed the airway, and discarded the idea of cross checking location with the VOR.

We flew through Cannon A MOA, being Sunday it was inactive.
Closed flight plan on the ground via phone.

Delivered my passenger to ride waiting to pick her up.

Refuelled at K33, with the assistance of an aviator based there (Jim).
Aviators have their own fraternity, so to speak, and I am glad to be among them. They are a friendly lot. Thanks, Jim.

K33 > MAP > PYLER > PTS
Opened flight plan for return trip on the ground just before taxiing to runway 17.
I was going to climb to 6500 ASL, however, at 5000 ASL haze prevented me from adequately seeing the ground. I settled for 4500 ASL on the westward leg of my journey.

I was rather uptight going to K33, being the first solo 'long' x-ctry since 9/07/06.
I finally relaxed on the return trip.
I realized that constant pressure on both rudder pedals in cruise was not necessary. Yes, they needed to be in place, but I had been unconsciously putting pressure on both pedals before and it was exhausting me.

I closed the return flight plan with Wichita Radio (122.15) on approach to PTS.

In all, I would say the trip was a success.

If the weather holds out, I will repeat the trip in reverse, retrieving my daughter Friday.

Things to work on:
I got fixated on the numbers when landing, which made landings a little bumpy. I need to look down the runway as I level off.

Total Hours: 6 hours back to Lamar