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Earning My Wings:

a video blog about learning to fly


Hours flown: 34.7
Days since I started: 413
Cost to date: 5,157.60


*price includes ground instruction, flight instruction, books and supplies
About
This video blog is an ongoing, live journal of my experience learning to fly. As I earn my sport pilot certificate, I will share the entire training experience with you—the ups and downs and everything in between. I will be posting videos from each flight and invite you to ask questions and write comments. read more…
Recent Posts
License to Learn
My First Passenger
Checkride: Passed!
I'm a Pilot!
Flight 31-32: Final Review for Checkride
Tough Decisions
Oshkosh Tower visit
Flight 30: Solo Review
Flight 29: Practicing Short, Soft Field Landings
Flight 28: Feeling the Heat
Flight 27: Solo Landings & Heavy Traffic
Flight 26: 1st Solo Cross-Country
Flight 25: 2nd Solo
Flight 24: On the Numbers
Flight 23: Class C Airspace
Schedules and Spring Showers
Flight 22: Short, Soft Field Landings
At the End of Taxiway Alpha
Flight 21: First Cross-Country
Flight 20: Practice, Practice, Practice
Flight 19: Crosswind Workout
Flight 18: Stalls, Slow Flight and Landings
Flight 17: Back in the Air
Just For Fun
A Thorough Look-Over
Good News!
Recording in-flight video
Under the wing of the B-17
Written Test: PASSED!
Read, Study, Sleep
Flight 16: Making Good Decisions
Flight 15: 1st SOLO
Flight 14: Gaining Confidence
A different point of view
Flight 13: Landings
Flight 12: Back in the air
What's it like to solo?
Studying
Flight 11: The Learning Plateau
Flight 10: Stalls & Crosswind Landings
Flight 09: More Landings
I'm Official!
Flight 08: Landings
Flight 07: Practicing Emergencies
The Wonders of Weather Watching
Flight 06: Talking to the Tower
Flight 05: Ground Reference Maneuvers
Flight 04: Stalls, stalls & more stalls
Flight 03: Stalls, steep turns, slow flight
Safety Seminar
Flight 02: steep turns, slow flight
It's not a do-list, it's a checklist
Flight 01: First flight!
In the Remos G3-600
First day of school
Waiting...actively waiting
I have an instructor!
Selecting an instructor
Getting started
About this video blog
I'm going to learn to fly!!

Thursday, August 13
By Brady Lane at 6:00 PM     
Flight log to date  Hours flown: 34.7  |  Days since I started: 303  | Cost: $5,157.60  

I've been waiting a long time for this day.   The day I could finally take a passenger flying, but not just any passenger — my wife.

There's an interesting balance of emotions the first time you fly as a certificated pilot with a passenger.  It's a balance of extreme responsibility and enjoyment.

As we flew last night I was watching all my numbers carefully, scanning for traffic, monitoring engine performance, while at the same time peaking over to see the big smile on her face.  I even convinced her to take the stick and fly for a few minutes.  She reminded me of what it was like the first time I felt the control of an airplane.

It was a strange but enjoyable feeling to just fly last night — just for the fun of it. For the last nine months, everytime I've flown I was going up to practice a maneuver or to learn a new skill, but last night we just flew. 

I probably learned just as much in this "joy" flight as I did during my normal flight lessons, because this was real-life flying.  I flew into an airport I've never been to and as you'll see in the video, despite my planning I had to make on-the-go decisions to ensure we arrived home before dark.

osh sunset


There's an undescribable feeling of competency when you're able to take a friend or family member flying.   This one flight made all my training worth it.

==========

I've also picked up a new camera setup from Datatoys.com that seems to be far better than the cameras we've been using.  As soon as I get it installed and test it out, I'll write a review and let you know what I think.  Having video in the cockpit has been a fun way for me to share my experiences with you as well as a valuable learning tool.

I'm also starting to plan my first real across-the-country cross-country.  In a couple weeks I'll be flying from Oshkosh to Arkansas to return the Remos we've been using for training.  While I've flown several cross-countries, I've never flown one of this magnitude.  I welcome any advice you have as I begin to plan.


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