22 November 2011

Thanksgiving

Flying has been a source of joy in a year otherwise marked by professional upheaval and disappointment. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn to fly and experience so much in one year. Never have I met so many wonderful people (you know who you are). The quality of humanity in this aviation community continues to amaze me.

Here are a few things that I was fortunate enough to do this year:
  • Earned my Private Pilot certificate (ASEL)
  • Flew my first airplane passenger as a private pilot
  • Went upside down and spun an aircraft
  • Joined a soaring club, learned to fly gliders, and added my glider rating. I've sure got a lot to learn, but soaring has gotten into my blood. 
  • Flew in mountainous terrain and in high density altitude conditions in Colorado. The instructor also taught me a whole lot about the art of flying and life in general.
and in the last three days:
  • Took my first passenger up in the ASK-21 who had never been in a glider before.
  • Flew a Cessna 182 Skylane (incredible airplane)
  • Got my first 0.6 hrs of actual IMC 
  • Shot my first ILS approach (with lots of help), breaking out of the clag at about 800ft.