Autumn in the Sierra (Smoke and Fog)

"What we learn to do, we learn by doing." Aristotle

I apologize for not posting in awhile, I know I promised. Many excuses; starting with family in town, sessions with no photos and time spent in practice tests getting ready to take the written. I expect to do well on the written but only need 70% to pass. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. I don't know where I've heard that, but I like it.

Since my glorious solo I've gone out on my own 2 more times. Once to Beckworth where I landed full stop, taxied her to parking and shut her down. Then used the facilities in the beat up and characterized "Pilots Lounge" at Beckworth. Then back in, start up and off back to Truckee.

The briefer let me know that a layer of smoke was in the area on my route and the picture below shows it. It's just hanging there at 8500'. I originally climbed to 8500' out of Truckee and saw it ahead of me over Stampede Reservoir, so I felt it best to descend below it. See Below.

Smoke layer at 8500'

Self portrait. See Ma, no passengers!

The next two training sessions with my CFI were Short and Soft Field take offs and landings. The Short Field maneuvers were techniques to take off in the shortest ground roll possible and to clear a 50' obstacle. Same on the landing; shortest landing roll and clear a 50' obstacle. Short Field maneuvers were more fun. The technique was to keep as much weight off the nose wheel as possible. Holding the nose wheel off the ground as you begin, then taking off in ground effect staying 10' off the runway while your airspeed builds and then letting her climb. That was a cool thing to do! Upon landing keeping the nose wheel off the surface was challenging but not as scary as you may think.

I got rained out the next day, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Then last Thursday we flew to Reno (RNO). It was my first time into class C airspace to fly with the airliners. 

Truckee was fogged in as I drove past the airport to take Seth to his babysitter and the temperature was right at 32 degrees. The sun was climbing and I knew if the temperature were to go up one degree the fog would burn off quick. I dropped Seth off and headed back to TRK and watched the OAT (Outside Air Temperature guage) in my car go up two degrees to 34 and the sun poke through. By the time I preflighted 68F it was clear enough to take off.

The flying wasn't too difficult as I am gaining much confidence controlling the aircraft, but working with ATC was interesting, difficult and challenging. Many times I looked over at my instructor with a quizzical look on my face as if to say "What did he say?" I missed a few calls and read back a few calls all wrong, but the three touch and goes went smoothly. No loose meat landings. I was happy with that.

On our way back to Truckee we saw that the fog layer hadn't completely dissipated as it was mixed in with some smoke from controlled burns in the area. What we saw was spooky as I it made it difficult to "see and avoid" other traffic.

Turning in towards the Dragon's Breath, TRK is out there somewhere.

Same view without my fat head in the way.

The beard is coming in nice, as it always does.

Stampede Reservoir, water rings and smoke/fog.

More of the same.

We made it back to TRK no problem as the skies were clear over the airport. No traffic and calm winds. Abeam the numbers she tells me engine out and pulls the throttle. This time I got it, and got it good. We landed smooth and withing the first 300' of the runway. Again I was pleased.

This is us coming back from Beckworth the day after my first solo, thus the absence of fog.

Since my CFI endorsed my log book to go back to Reno solo, I'm going to do it tomorrow. I'm a little nervous but I know I'll do fine. There is no better way to learn than to jump right in and start. Just do it!