On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 23:13:56 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

I'm trying to decide whether I'll bother to renew my 3rd class, when it's
due. The consequences of not passing are pretty severe. Then again, I
have to rent a plane for a BFR every two years. Won't be able to get a
172
and instructor unless I *do* have a medical, unless the local flight
school has LSAs in the line by the time I'm due....

I'm sure there are going to be people around with a 2 seat LSA, that will
let you borrow it for the BFR. Good bunch of people, aviators. :-)

I've had several instructor friends offer to administer BFRs for me. But
the problem is, I like to take BFRs with someone I *don't* know. That way
my other friends don't find out how lousy a pilot I am. :-)

I take BFRs a bit more seriously than I ought to, really. I cram on the
regs before going in for the ground stuff, for instance. Last BFR, the
instructor (usual transient at the local FBO) seemed put-out that I hadn't
brought a copy of the FARS so I could look up the answers to his questions.
He gave me one...which rested, unopened, under my folded hands during the
whole ground refresher.

Flight-wise, I really do prefer the instructor is someone I don't know.
Not completely sure why; it very well might reluctance to look bad in front
of a friend. Then again, I probably have an easier time. My instructor
friends all have beaucoup hours and experience, while I always seem to get
the guy at the FBO who just got his CFI the previous week and has barely
over the FAA-minimum time. Every one... EVERY one...for the past eight
years has pulled the "engine failure" routine over a small grass strip just
east of town, usually when the airport is on their side of the airplane.
Said grass strip is one I take the Fly Baby into on a regular basis, and
unlike the CFIs' usual customers, I know DARN well where it's at.

As far as borrowing someone else's plane, I hesitate to do that since their
insurance won't be valid with me drivin' em. Makes me nervous.

I'm just a mass of neuroses, ain't I? :-)

I figured out what I'm going to do. My 3rd class expires in November, my
BFR in February, but I'll take my BFR early, before the medical expires.
That'll give me two years to dig up an LSA ride.

Ron Wanttaja