IR Training

Well, my Instrument training has commenced! I am really enjoying the training. It's tough compared to the PPL rating, but when you're caught flying in the clouds with no visual reference to the horizon, tough training doesn't sound so bad. My instructor says that I'm progressing very well, and that my ILS approaches are very good. I just got back from my training flight, and we worked on VOR Tracking / Radial Intercepts / DME Arcs / DME Holds. I really enjoyed it, but I have to refresh on VOR's. There were a few times where my situational awarness was poor, but at other times, I was doing well. So, basically I just need a little more time to catch up with VOR's and this lesson should be completed to standards.

So far, I'm up to lesson 9 which introduces NDB's. This will not be possible in the Archer, because we don't have an ADF. We will still cover the material, but as far as putting the material to use in the air...not going to happen.

I had my first experience flying in Actual IFR conditions the other day. Where most people would have been scared, I had the biggest smile on my face. My instructor probably thought I was crazy, but I love flying, and I love the challenges. We took off and there was some haze, then we entered right into overcast conditions. At about 5,000 we came out on top of the overcast and we were between layers of broken clouds. About 20 NM into the flight, we were in some more clouds with rain. We ended up getting vectors for the ILS at N. Wilksboro and made a low level ILS approach to go missed. We then headed back to Concord, and basically did the same thing, only this time we were cleared for the ILS with a full-stop landing. It was a great learning experience, and one that foggles can't teach you.

Well, I have to get going. I got work tonight from 2200-0600. Not looking forward to it, but I don't have a choice. Thanks for reading!!