Paging Dr. Iron Gut

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark." Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I just got back from the dentist, so If it seems like I'm mumbling that's because the rightba sida od my moubth is numba.

So as not to damage expensive equipment, this is my trainer. I'm told to use my imagination. Just Kidding!

Yesterday was my second training flight. I was able to get some sleep the night before, unlike the night before my introductory flight.

I read my assignment twice, wing tip vortexes in the AIM. I don't have my FAR/AIM yet (it's in the mail) but thanks to the excellent people at AOPA's flighttraining.aopa.org I am able to read the FAR/AIM online, now that's a cool use of the Internet. As I've said before AOPA is the best resource for information on learning to fly.

So I've ordered all my texts and gear suggested by my instructor. I didn't need the whole kit as no single student pilot kit has all the different texts my instructor wants to work from, and I don't need a "flight bag" yet as we have too many unused bags around the house. Maybe in the future I'll get a nice flight bag, when I'm the BMOC at the airport.

This is what my flight bag will include when it all arrives...

-Jeppeson Guided Flight Discovery 2007 edition

-Gliem Written Test Prep

-ASA Flight Maneuvers for High Wing Aircraft

-FAR/AIM

-Aluminium E6B computer

-Plotter

-Headset

-Computer bag found in the closet

And I did it all for under $340. The least expensive "kit" was $299 and didn't include the headset. I bought a used David Clark H10-60 headset on Ebay for $165, I'll let you know next week if it works.

This is where it all begins. The ground school/briefing room. Actually, my instructor's private hanger where she keeps her Taylorcraft.

We started out with a discussion of lift generation that seamlessly led into a discussion about my homework assignment on wing tip vortexes. Bottom line, avoid them. Then we briefed our flight plan, whcih included: Slow flight, power on and off stalls and steep turns/unusual attitudes. And off we went.

During pre-flight we determined that more fuel would be necessary for our flight. So after our inspection we hopped in, started her up (of course following the checklist) and taxied over to the fuel pumps. Now as I've stated before, when I was 15 I worked at my local airport fueling, washing and begging for rides; so I had a good idea how to fuel a plane. But I listened very carefully and followed instructions, which is hard for me as "I already know everything", that's a whole other story.

Once fueled up we did our run up, everything checked. So off to the active runway.

If you go to www.truckeetahoeairport.com or listen to AWOS 118.0, you'll learn that Truckee Tahoe Airport is reconstructing the landing zone for runway 28. So until September 3rd runways 01-19 are closed and runways 10-28 are shortened to 4,372' usable, that means a temporary 2,628' displaced threshold for runway 28. So here is how the call goes, "Truckee traffic, Skyhawk 1968Foxtrot is back taxing for takeoff Runway 28, Truckee."

Once again I preformed an excellent takeoff, climb out and turn to 300 degrees (part of the "Fly Quiet" noise abatement procedures program), until reaching the bypass/I-80 intersection. Then off to our training zone in the Sierra Valley. While in transit to the Sierra Valley we enjoyed the views of the Sierra and talked about if it would be best to stay away from the lee side of the valley or work the other side where the air might be smoother. Because we would have to climb higher and possibly deal with Reno traffic we choose to stay close to the lee side. Where we proceeded to find a moderate thermal. Bouncy fun, it was.

After we reported our position on the CTAF and cleared the area we began training maneuvers. Starting with slow flight and on to power off and power on stalls. These went great, I did a fair job of holding altitude in slow flight. I recovered right and well from the stalls, exactly like we briefed. Then came the steep turns. We started a left steep turn and lost altitude. So I pulled back and felt the positive G's in the pit of my stomach. I almost puked right then and there, but held it together for the sake of my instructor. It was time to go back.

So keeping my eyes on a distant peak I struggled with the pain of nausea. And it is pain! It was once studied by the defense department as a weapon, imagine the effectiveness. As we got close to our descent point I asked my instructor to take the plane as I got a drink of water from my bag. I was grateful as she took the controls. As I grabbed for my water bottle I felt my camera and took the photo below.

That's the I-80 Inspection Station in the middle right of the photo. We call it "The Bug Station". It is a reporting and arrival procedure point for Truckee Tahoe Airport. You can see Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort in the background as well. The airport is just left and below the ski runs.

After my intro flight landing (see below) I really wanted to land the airplane this time, but every time I looked at the instrument panel the motion sickness felt stronger. So I had to settle for holding the controls with my instructor as she landed the plane. Next time I'll get it, I promise.

If you have any good remedies or suggestions on controlling air sickness please feel free to share them. I'll take any advice at this point. I assume that I can condition myself to it, but any ideas for relief, for now, are welcomed.

However, I will persevere over this minor set back!

There she is, the 1979 Cessna 172N Skyhawk I will be doing my training in. What was/is your first trainer?

Next week I've an appointment for my Airman's Medical Exam. I'll let you know what it's like to turn my head a cough for a student pilot certificate. I image a lot different than going to camp.

See you next week,

Matt