Earning My Wings: a video blog about learning to fly

License to Learn

Brady Lane — 10/15/2009

It was one year ago today that I took my first flight lesson. WOW, what an incredible year it has been!

I remember vividly what that first takeoff felt like, then a few months later what it felt like to take off with no one else in the plane. It’s been an incredible journey and the best part is it’s just beginning.

I earned my sport pilot certificate a few months ago and this video blog chronicles the entire process—each and every lesson.

If you’re curious what flight lessons are like, I encourage you to watch the videos on this blog. If you’re currently taking lessons, I think you’ll find you’re not the only one who has ever struggled with short-field landings. If you’ve been a pilot for 20 years, I hope you also enjoy these videos and will leave a comment or some advice from your experience to help those who are currently earning their wings.

It’s been said that a pilot’s certificate is a license to learn. I feel I now have much to explore—landing on grass for the first time, flying a real cross-country (you know the across-the-country kind), flying to my first pancake breakfast, tailwheel training, who knows, maybe even floatplane and skiplane training.

As I continue to fly, the cameras will continue to roll and I will be posting the videos in a forum section on Oshkosh365 (more details to come soon). I will also be writing a monthly column in Sport Aviation about my flying experiences as a new pilot. I realize there is much remaining for me to experience and for me to learn and I look forward to sharing it all with you.

Thanks for helping me earn my wings with your advice and encouragement on this blog. Hopefully this video series will continue to inspire people to act on their dreams.

My First Passenger

Brady Lane — 8/23/2009

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.

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.

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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.

Checkride: Passed!

Brady Lane — 7/25/2009

It's hard to describe the incredible feeling of being a certificated pilot! There are few things that compare to such a privilege.

It hasn't been an easy road, in fact my training has been a roller coaster of emotions: fun, challenging, exciting, exhausting—but in the end, extremely rewarding. It's been a journey that has stretched me and grown me more than I ever imagined when I started.

I've heard numerous people say that a pilot certificate is a license to learn. I can't wait to take my first passenger, fly to my first pancake breakfast, land on my first grass strip, and go on my first fly-in camping trip—all the while sharpening my skills and knowledge as a pilot.

Thanks for all your notes of encouragement throughout my training so far. It isn't over. Jason still wants to take me up and do some spin training and who knows, maybe I will start working on my tailwheel endorsement or a floatplane rating soon!

Nonetheless, stay tuned. I can't wait to start enjoying the benefits of having a pilot's certificate and I hope to share some of those experiences with you via this blog.

If you're coming to Oshkosh this week for AirVenture, I invite you to attend one of the forums Jason and I are doing at the Learn to Fly Discovery Center. (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11:30 a.m.) I'd love to meet you and shake your hand for helping me earn my wings.

I'm a Pilot!

Brady Lane — 7/23/2009

I passed my checkride this morning!

(I'll post the video and details soon, but wanted to go ahead and share the good news.)

Flight 31-32: Final Review for Checkride

Brady Lane — 7/22/2009

Jason and I went flying twice today to do some final checkride prep.

The first flight, we stayed in the pattern. I flew one regular landing, four short field landings and two soft field landings. None of them were perfect, but all of them were acceptable and within the PTS guidelines.

The second flight we reviewed ground reference maneuvers, stalls and came back in for a couple crosswind landings.

These flights were mostly about me gaining the confidence that "Yes I can do all these tasks." It's amazing how much of this is mental confidence.

We also spent about 4-5 hours together today reviewing anything and everything I could be asked about during the oral questioning portion of the checkride.

The thought of a checkride is still nerve-racking, but now I know I can do it.

I can't believe I'm about to make a phone call to schedule my checkride! I've been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Tough Decisions

Brady Lane — 7/16/2009

This last week, there were only two times the plane was available for me to fly - and both times I ended up having to make a no-go decision.

In one way, it was a tough decision because I'm so close to finishing my training and really wanted to fly. On the other hand, I knew something wasn't quite right with the oil system, knew what the right decision was and didn't hesitate in making the decision.

The plane has been serviced and is now ready to fly again so I'm planning to get a couple flights in later this week.

I'm sure even after I get my certificate there will be times I'll want to fly as bad as I do now, but first I must make good decisions. It reminds me of a comment left here on the blog a couple weeks ago from bikesandcars: "Flying is easy, it's making good decisions that define a good pilot."

I guess that's been my training lately - working on those good decision making skills.

I also wanted to let everyone know that Jason and I will be doing a few forums during AirVenture at the Learn to Fly Center. Here's more info on times and location.

I would love to meet those of you who are able to make it. It will be a discussion/Q&A format and I welcome everybody from the dreamer to the student pilot to the pilot with 5,000 hrs. I feel like I've gotten to know many of you through this blog and would love the opportunity to meet you at AirVenture. Only 10 more days!

Oshkosh Tower visit

Brady Lane — 7/15/2009

Early in my training, I remember being really nervous before making even the simplest call to the tower. Now I've made a couple hundred calls and really enjoy "tower talk."

In fact, I even sit at home some evenings listening to my handheld radio for fun. (For those not within range, you can listen to a live stream of the Oshkosh tower for free at liveatc.net.)

An EAA friend recently encouraged me to set up a visit to the tower so I could meet some of the people I've been talking to for the last 8 months and see how they do what they do. It was an amazing visit! Not only was the view incredible, but it was great to meet the people behind the voices I am so familiar with.

I was able to watch them collect weather reports, make ATIS recordings, handle ground traffic as well as direct VFR and IFR traffic flying in the Oshkosh airspace.

I learned they enjoy aviation as much as I do. We were all ooooing as we watched two F-16 make a low pass over Runway 36. We talked about all sorts of things—Do they want me to make a "wake-up" call when I'm inbound from the practice area and they're busy? If I'm making right traffic for Runway 4 , do they want me to make my turn before or after the tower?

They welcomed my visit and seemed to appreciate my questions. I now feel I have a much better understanding of their workload and how I can help them help me as a pilot.

If you fly at a towered field, whether you're a student pilot or a pilot with hundreds of hours, I highly encourage you to schedule a visit to the tower and meet some of the controllers. The next time I fly, it's going to be a great feeling to know that voice coming from the tower is a friend.

Flight 30: Solo Review

Brady Lane — 7/9/2009

I went up by myself to review ground reference maneuvers and took special care to keep my altitude within the +/- 100 ft. guidelines of the Practical Test Standards.

It's much easier to focus and concentrate when there's no one in the right seat to talk to. That being said, other areas are harder without a passenger - like spot landings. I tried two short field landings and floated past the numbers both times. I'm just starting to be able to hit the numbers with Jason in the right seat, but it's considerably different without the weight of a passenger.

I've also been reading ASA's Sport Pilot Checkride book by Paul Hamilton. I want to make sure I am mentally ready for the checkride as well. It's been a great resource to know what kind of content I could be questioned on during the oral and practical test — everything from airspace to flight planning to regulations to weather and countless other topics. I love the format too — it lists a question, then what an appropriate answer would be. I'm only about half way through the book, but am already grateful to have this content all in one place.

I still need a little more practice and a few more hardcore study nights, but I hope to be ready soon.

Flight 29: Practicing Short, Soft Field Landings

Brady Lane — 7/2/2009

I am on the homestretch of my training, so now I am focusing on areas where I need a little more practice.

Short field landings have been hard for me to do consistently, but I'm starting to get it. The FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS) say a sport pilot must be able to touch down at or within 200 feet beyond a specified point. Right now I can do it one out of every three tries or so, but I'm getting more consistent with practice.

The Remos G3 loves to fly and I'm still getting used to how much it floats in ground effect. The advice left on this blog is really helping me get it - especially the tip to aim at the beginning of the runway, so once I flare I'll touch down on the numbers (my aiming point). I'm also learning it's OK for these to not be super-smooth landings. I naturally want to make smooth landings, but it's more important on short field landings to put it down on the aiming point.

Over the course of my trianing, Jason and I have become good friends. Which makes me curious—how many of you became friends with your instructor during the process of learning to fly? Have you kept in touch?

Flight 28: Feeling the Heat

Brady Lane — 6/26/2009

It was in the high 90s in Oshkosh today and well over 100 degrees inside the cockpit. Even though I grew up in Texas, I'm not used to those temperatures anymore.

I knew the heat would have an effect on airplane performance, but I underestimated the effect it would have on me as a pilot - both physically and mentally.

Toward the end of the lesson I started making mistakes I don't normally make. I was drenched in sweat, mentally sluggish and physically exhausted, so after an hour I finally admitted to myself it was time to call it quits for the day.

It was a good lesson for me to learn my personal tolerances.

This was the first time I've flown in these temperatures and I wasn't used to it. I'm sure those of you who fly in warmer climates are a little more acclimated to it, but it was a tough flight for me.

I'd be interested to hear some of your experiences flying in temperatures different than what you normally fly in. How was the flying different? Did it affect you physically/mentally? I will definitely drink more water before trying to fly in those temperatures again.