Flew today for the first time in two months. I'm a 1000 hour pilot, so it's
not as if I'm starting from scratch, but I really felt slow on every
thinking step. Had to refer to checklists to remember all the preflight,
startup, takeoff drills, which made me wonder what I had forgotten on
emergency and other checklists, so I reviewed them in the run up area. Once
I got off the ground I was fine, and landings were no problem - probably
muscle memory takes over. So I guess, for me, the thing that atrophies first
is procedures. Maybe a sign of age...

Yes, I have this experience almost every spring. It's the checklist
that gets me. I stumble through it and fret that I've forgotten
something. (It is hell to sit in the back seat of a Cub with the
engine running and realize that you have not checked the fuel level.)

Once in the air, it is as if the horse that was sitting on my chest
has gotten up and wandered off.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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