First Passenger: Aerial Tour of Lake Jordan, NC

Yesterday, at 10.00 AM, I arrived at the FBO with my wife, Priya to take her as my first passenger on a flight as PIC...



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A write-up from my wife about our first flight together...
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"Over earth and ocean, with gentle motion,
This pilot is guiding me..."

As we approached the hangar, Allegro N50631 airplane already seemed prepped up and ready for the day's adventure.

A friendly greeting from Betty and Doug at B Bar D Aviation and within a few minutes, we were on our way to a pre-flight procedural check. Prasad explained the steps as he was performing them. Check the engine oil levels. Now rotate the propeller manually ten to fifteen times and test the oil dipstick again, see the tank has filled up. The engine compartment lid comes off easily, see how the screws line up with the lines of the box, we just screw them back in so, not too heavy.

As I watch with a mixed feeling of happiness and curiosity, Prasad slowly and certainly pulls the vehicle out of the hangar and faces it perpendicular to the runway. He is in home territory it feels like, and watching his careful and thorough checks, all nerves are smoothened out. See this is how you glide into your seat, and firmly close the window. Buckle up, wear your headset and lets look at the pre-flight test one.

Soon enough, he adds choke to the start and with a whir and a rev the engine starts to a persistent roar. The sudden noise from this new blue toy like plane is startling. Is this little device making all this sound?! The pilot announces the taxiing and off we go, cruising in the Allegro. For a start, I feel no fear. Doug has already told me something I know by now, Prasad will take care.

I am all curiosity - how will this thing lift itself and us up to the skies - can it really 'fly' ? This cute toy plane, is it real?

Well, we were on runway 21 and inching forward as Prasad looks at the engine oil temperature gauge and the tachometer to pick up. Suddenly, the flight has taken off without any topsy turvy tummies! It lifted up like a butterfly that was hovering over land which has suddenly thought of a better place to be. The skies :-)

I could not feel any fear. I admit I anticipated a turbulent ride but the take-off proved otherwise, assuaging doubts and increasing my curiosity quotient. What more, in store? At a height of 3,000 feet above land, Prasad pointed out to the landmarks in the vicinity. Having never been on a flight in a small airplane before, it was hard to orient myself so suddenly and identify with the reckoning. I was 'blind' as I enjoyed the view.

The radio had to crackle itself in and out as other pilots announced their courses. Prasad made a turn-around as he approached the runway on our return we made a 360 degree turn and returned again to land. They say landings are the tricky bit to a flight. Prasad landed after he was parallel to the ground and barely a few feet above it. There was one jolt as we touched down but that was it!

Betty told me that on a clear day if you go up a few thousand feet the views of the mountains are splendid. I believe her. Doug said that the winter weather is more suited to flying LSA-s because the thermals are much nearer the ground and its easier to ride the thermal then. Less bumps. Well today was hardly bumpy by that count, and we had a nice outing.

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Training for Class C and D Airspaces

Today, Jim conducted ground school training for airspace C & D endorsement for my Sport Pilot privileges. I Prepared the flight plan and Radio communications procedures for KFAY (Fayetteville Airport - Class C) from KTTA with Jim. I then preflighted the plane Allegro 200 LSA. The winds were from 040 at 4 knots. I tookoff with Jim from RWY 3. After the climb, I made a right crosswind and piloted the LSA towards FAY at a magnetic course of 170 degrees. We then listened to KFAY ATIS and obtained information Quebec.

I contacted FAY Approach 10 miles south of Sanford, NC. FAY Approach advised 'ALLEGRO - keep clear off FAY class C airspace’ being unable hear our communications clearly. Jim asked me to turn the plane to KTTA. I made a 180 turn and headed towards KTTA. Seven miles south of Raleigh-Exec Airport (KTTA) I announced my position and intention to land at KTTA. A Bonanza also made a call approaching KTTA from 10 miles N. Jim asked me to perform a short approach after crossing the runway midfield to take position before the Bonanza. Abeam the no. 3, I put flaps at 2 with an airspeed of 70 MPH. I turned base and final approach legs at 65 MPH and landed at RWY 3. Within minutes the Bonanza also landed at RWY 3. I taxied to FBO. Jim is going to test the radios with the avionics technician tomorrow and will contact me to schedule my next flight training class.

KTTA - KBUY - KTTA Flight

At 10.30 AM today, I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA in preparation for my Sport Pilot Certificate Checkride. My flight instructor, Jim Schmidt also accompanied me for the trip from KTTA (Raleigh-Exec Airport) to KBUY (Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport) from where I took the checkride with DPE Zenda Liess.

The weather at both KTTA and KBUY were sunny with great visibility. But, it was windy with good crosswinds at both the airports. Both of my landings at KBUY, arriving from KTTA and the simulated engine-out landing (power idle) with the DPE required crosswind corrections. After passing the checkride and obtaining my temporary sport pilot airman certificate from the DPE, I took-off with Jim to KTTA. We cruised at 3,000 ft with a ground speed of 104 MPH. The winds have changed direction since my takeoff from KTTA in the morning from RWY 3 and now they favored RWY 21. I performed a crosswind landing and taxied to the FBO.

With my newly obtained 'license to learn', my next lesson with my instructor is to get proficient for an endorsement for class C and D airspaces.

Passing the Sport Pilot Check Ride !

Today, at 11.30 AM EST I took my sport pilot certificate check ride with the DPE Zenda Liess of Burlington, NC for completing my flight maneuvers, navigation and emergency procedures portion of the practical test and passed...
After the flight, the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) printed and gave me a temporary airman certificate. I am now a FAA certified Sport Pilot thanks to my flight instructor, Jim Schmidt and B Bar D Aviation of Sanford, NC.

Practice Review of Flight Maneuvers

I preflighted the airplane and taxied to RWY 3 with my instructor Jim. I performed a normal takeoff with flap 1 and headed towards the flight practice area. At 2,500 ft AGL, I made clearing turns and steep turns to the right and left to a circle. Jim performed a steep right turn to circle to allow me to see precise control of airspeed and altitude. I practiced the maneuver again.

Horizon - view from 2,500 ft above Pittsboro, NC

Jim demonstrated power-on stall and recovery and power-off stall and recovery with flaps 2. I performed the maneuvers maintaining the heading and gaining the original altitude. I then descended the plane to 1,500 ft and performed S-turns above a state road. Along the way to KTTA, I performed turns around a point maneuver using a small pond as ground reference. Maintaining the altitude of 1,500 ft and an airspeed of 90 mph, I entered the midpoint for downwind for RWY 3. I reduced the airspeed to 70 mph abeam no.3 and put flaps at 2. Turning the base and final legs in the traffic pattern, I touched down with a little float just beyond the first taxiway exit. Taxied back to FBO.

Solo Flight Maneuvers Practice

I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA at 10.00 AM today and started the engine as a cold-start (applying full-choke with ignition switches off for 3 seconds and then choke off and restart with ignition switches on). After the checklist, I taxied to RWY 3 following a Cessna 172. I departed with flaps at 15 degrees and with crosswind corrections for winds from 330 at 5 knots. After the climb and left crosswind, I piloted the airplane near the 3M plant at Pittsboro, about 10 miles NW of KTTA.

At an altitude of 2,500 ft AGL, I made clearing turns and steep turns to a circle with the distant water tower as the reference. I then piloted the plane at slow speed (55 mph) at flaps 2 towards the water tower. I made shallow turns to left and right. I then performed a power-off stall and recovery. Gaining an airspeed of 90 mph, I descended to 1600 ft and practiced circle around a point maneuver with a small pond as the ground reference.

I entered the downwind leg at midpoint for RWY 3 at 1250 ft and reduced the airspeed to 70 mph abeam the number 3. I switched the flaps at 2 and maintained an airspeed of 65 mph for the base and final legs. I then performed a short-field landing with crosswinds and touched down before the first taxiway exit at 1300 ft. I then taxied back to RWY 3 and performed a soft-field takeoff gaining airspeed by ground effect after the liftoff at 50 mph. I then executed a traffic pattern with an approach speed of 62 mph at flaps 2 for a soft-field landing. I then taxied back to the FBO.

Flight Training - PTS Maneuvers

I practiced Sport Pilot flight maneuvers with my instructor, Jim Schmidt, on 08/27/10 and on 09/01/10. The aim of the flight training was to perfect my flight maneuvers to the sport pilot PTS standards. I performed the following maneuvers under Jim's supervision and with his insights for improvement.

(1) Takeoff with flaps 1 - soft field and short-field

(2) Steep turns of 45 degrees at 2,500 AGL - right and left

(3) Slow flight with flaps 2 at IAS of 50 mph for an assigned heading and shallow turns to left and right

(4) Power-off stall and recovery with flaps 2 and assigned heading

(5) Power-on stall and recovery with flap 0 and assigned heading

(6) Simulated emergency landing procedures from 1600 ft

(7) S-turns and circle around a point at 1,400 ft

(8) Landings with flaps 2 - soft and short field

Jim briefed me on my flight training and provided inputs for my solo flights to practice flight maneuvers.