Solo Flight Practice: Sport Pilot PTS Maneuvers

On July 2, 2010, I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA and taxied to RWY 03 for solo practice of Sport Pilot PTS maneuvers. I performed a short-field takeoff, applying full-throttle with brakes and release for a takeoff at 56 MPH, climb at 70 MPH, heading to NW of KTTA (Raleigh-Exec Airport). I climbed to 3,500 ft at the flight practice area near the 3M plant located in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

I performed clearing turns to 360 degrees at 90 MPH followed by steep turns to 360 degrees both left and right. I then slowed to 70 MPH and put flaps at 2. Maintaining a slow-speed of 62-64 MPH, I headed straight towards Jordan Lake and then performed shallow-turns to the right and left. I applied power and retracted flaps from 2 to 1. At 70 MPH, I retracted flaps from 1 to 0 and gained an airspeed of 90 MPH. Turning towards the KTTA, I started to descend and entered the midpoint of downwind for RWY 03 at 1,250 ft and 80 MPH. At abeam # 3, I reached an airspeed of 70 MPH and put flaps at 2. Maintaining an airspeed of 62-64 MPH during the final approach, I landed the airplane after a short flare at RWY 03.

I then taxied to beginning of RWY 03, and performed a soft-field takeoff with full back pressure and liftoff at 50 MPH, climb at Vx=65 MPH with a crosswind (winds of 7 knots from 350 degrees).

METAR for KTTA

I headed towards the intersection of two state roads and performed turns around a point and S-turns above a state road at 1,750 MSL. I then entered the downwind for RWY 03 and performed a short-field landing (AS of 60-62 MPH at Flaps 2 during final approach) witnin the first 1,300 ft of the runway of 6,500 ft. I taxied back to the FBO. With the completion of this flight, I have now logged 100 landings and 40 hours of flight time.

Second Solo Flight !

After a gap of one month in my Sport Pilot flight training due to severe winter weather, today I was able to practice from the Raleigh Exec Airport (KTTA). The wind was mild (5 knots from 020 degrees) and the weather was cold (37 F). I performed three takeoffs (one with 15 degrees of flap and two touch-and-gos with no flap) and landings with my flight instructor, Jim Schmidt,CFI of B-Bar-D Aviation. I taxied clear of the runway and left Jim at the FBO after a complete engine shut-down. I then started the Allegro 2000 (N50631) fitted with a new Rotax engine and taxied to RWY 03 for my second solo flight !


On my second solo flight, I departed from KTTA runway 03 at a takeoff speed of 56 mph and climbed at 70 mph. Taking a north magnetic heading, I flew over the 3M Plant and turned towards KTTA and made a go-around of the runway at 3,000 ft. Again I flew north and turned back to KTTA. Descended to 1450 ft and entered the left downwind leg at 45 degrees and performed my first solo landing of the day with an approach speed of 75 mph. I taxied out of the runway and departed again from runway 03. After a normal takeoff with no flap, I headed towards the practice area flying for about 6 to 8 miles N and turned towards KTTA . Piloting the Allegro 2000, I entered the left downwind, followed by another plane, and turned to the base leg and then final at a high speed (80 mph). I perfomed my second landing of the day after a long flare to bleed off the higher than normal speed...and that completed my second solo flight. I now have a full one hour of PIC (Pilot In Command) time in my Pilot Logbook !

Discovery Flight and Sport Pilot Training in a Light Sport Aircraft

On July 30, 2009, I had my first sport aircraft flying experience in the Allegro 2000 LSA (80 HP; Cruise Speed: 120 MPH, Vso= 44 MPH) from the B Bar D Aviation Fixed Base Operator (FBO) located at the Raleigh Exec Airport (KTTA), Sanford, NC.

Jim Schmidt, CFI, a Flight Instructor with the FBO gave me the Discovery flight. The 40 minute flight was an adventue and rekindled my life-long desire to become a Pilot ! I asked Doug Hempstead, the owner of the FBO about the procedure to start my flying lessons and made an appointment for my first flight lesson for the Sport Pilot Training...

I applied for and got the FAA Student Pilot certificate on August 08, 2009. I took and passed the FAA Sport Pilot Knowledge test on September 16, 2009.