Across the Country, By Myself

"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth". Bonnie Friedman

On Monday last, Nov. 23, my instructor and I did our dual cross-country to Chico, CA, Oroville, CA and back to Truckee, CA. We flew 68F into Chico's calss D airspace just in time for me to hit the head. This was my first full stop at a tower controlled aerodrome so a clearence to taxi to take off was necessary. This is way different from my home base uncontrolled airport, where you simply announce where you are going to taxi to and then do it. 


Apart from some light chop the flights went smooth. Flying over that part of the Sierra is a little unnerving as there are few, if any, places to bring her down in an emergency. But the scenery is beautiful. For any flight around here I wear solid shoes and clothes; and carry with me water, gators and some food. As well as a good knife, flash light and a jacket. Just in case.

When I woke up this morning, knowing the forecast was for a stable high pressure domination over the area, I called my CFI and asked if she'd meet me at the airport, review my plan and endorse my log book for my first solo cross-country. She agreed! It was just excellent, not even any light turbulence, just a nice steady 12-15KTS wind from the SSE.

My flight plan was similar to our dual night cross-country at the beginning of this month (see previous post) but in reverse and 1 different aiport, one I'm more familiar with. I started in Truckee, to Derby airport in Lovelock, NV, then to Nervino in Beckworth, CA, and back home to Truckee. KTRK-KLOL-O02-KTRK, total round trip of 3 hours hobbs time and 201NM. I had a great landing in KLOL, a good one at O02, and then blew it back home in Truckee. Too high and too fast, ending in a moderate bounce and a light side load. Sorry 68F. Enjoy the photos below!

68F on the ground at Derby (LOL).

Pryamid Lake a good 40+NM away.

Upgraded avionics in 68F, the rivets are still warm. On Monday we were the first to fly her with the upgrade, how cool is that?

A dry lakebed East of Pryamid Lake. If it has to happen, engine out here please.

Pryamid Lake, engine on here please! Pryamid Lake is the end point for the Truckee River, which is the only outlet from Lake Tahoe. So this is where the water from Lake Tahoe ends up, only to evaporate into the Nevada air. Yes, that means the Truckee River doesn't flow into an ocean, one of the few that doesn't.

My destination O02 lies just beyond these two ridge lines, which I approached at a 45 degree angle like the Mountain Flying Bible suggests. Thanks Sparky.

I like the contrast in textures and colors in this photo. Do you? This is the other side of the ridge in the previous photo.

Ski season is almost here and that means less time to flight train. And I'm getting close to finishing my training requirements. It's going to be tight down the stretch. Hang in there with me.

Lesson learned

"If you don't like the question that's asked, answer some other question." Howard Baker


I hear you. Why haven't you posted in a while? Where are more photos? In getting ready for the knowledge test I haven't had time to post and I keep forgetting to take the camera with me. Both of these transgressions are forgivable, so forgive me, OK? So here is what has been happening since my last post.

Reno Solo

I went to Reno on my own. Solo into class C airspace. Be sure I said "student pilot" on my initial contact to Reno approach, and then once more with Reno tower. Saying this alerts the controllers to slow down and "hold my hand" through the process.

I was much better with the radio calls; both making and listening. I found it easier to listen to ATC calls by myself. I also feel my calls were easier without my instructor in the seat next to me, judging me, correcting me and generally making me nervous. I don't seem to have the same self consciousness by myself, and since the voices of ATC are disembodied their personal approval or disapproval is not so important as understanding and complying with their instructions.

One of the reasons why children within a certain age range can learn multiple languages better than adults is that they are not afraid to make mistakes. They inherently know they are expected to make mistakes and will be corrected when they do. They take no shame when committing a mistake and being corrected, so the lessons sink in better. This is the idea I am taking into learning to work with ATC. So far it is working as I am making mistakes and learning from them.

After I made 2 good touch and go's I received permission to depart the area to the West. So I asked the controller "How'd I do?". He came back a told me I did fine except for not reporting my position midfield on the downwind. "Then again," he said, "I forgot to tell you to report there." Lesson learned.

Fly by Night

On Monday Nov. 1st the weather was clear and calm, and a full moon was floating over the Carson Range. It is one of the most beautiful sites in the Tahoe area and one of my favorites. So I called my instructor and arranged to use the opportunity to do my first night training.

So after a thurough preflight using my headlamp and topping off the tanks we headed off into the crisp Sierra night.

Our first stop, Reno Stead (RTS) where the Air Races are held (see previous posts). As we climbed over the ridge and looked down to Stead we could see lights everywhere, including Stead's beacon but no runway lights. I keyed the mike 7 times and lit up the runway lights. They popped into existence in succession down each runway, it was the coolest thing to see and control! I made a decent landing considering it was my first at night and a right traffic pattern (which is my weakest pattern to land in).

A quick taxi back to the beginning of the opposite runway (did I say the winds were calm?) and back into the air heading to Lovelock Derby Field (LOL). We had a 40 minute flight and for the most of it I had on the foggles. What are foggles? They are a training device like sunglasses, except they limit your vision to the flight instruments only and "fog out" outside references. Basic instrument flying at night and I nailed it. I feel this is an aspect of my training that was enhanced by my years of flying MS Flight Simulator. Score one for me and all you other flight simmers out there.

Derby Field was desolate, especially at night. So after a quick potty break and snack we were "back taxiing" on 19 to head home to TRK. Another 30+ minutes under the hood (that is with the foggles on) and we were approaching Reno. You could see the glow over the mountains surrounding Reno from miles out. Then we soon passed over Reno at 9500'. How cool is that, I thought.

Followed by an uneventful but excellent landing at TRK. I'm getting better at landing smoothly every time. It is a pleasure to do this and it is my favorite challenge of flying. But still room for improvement, lesson learned.

Test Time

Yesterday I drove down to Minden, NV and Hutt Aviation to take the FAA Written Knowledge Test for Private Pilots. It is ironic that I took the "written" test on a computer, huh?

So I've been preparing hard for this test the last two weeks. Once I set the test date appointment I bared down hard on the Gliem practice test book. I also used many of the on-line prep test sites, but only the free ones.

Taking the test was easier than using the Gleim book as there were fewer questions and the figures were in a separate book, instead of in the middle of the book like with the Gleim. I was sequestered in a small room with the proctor and placed in front of a computer, no surprise there. The CATS system was easy to use and I had no troubles. If you use a CATS testing center for your exams make sure you get a $10 off coupon from AOPA, it's worth it.

Results? I scored a 92%. Score another one for me. My prep paid off and now I can look forward to finishing my training and taking the practical exam. This is going to happen, no doubt.