You won't be sorry for buying the headset. I'm sure it's much quieter than
your cheaper set. That can be very important on long xc's in IMC as it will
reduce your fatigue level. The next step will be when you upgrade to an ANR
set which will further reduce the fatigue level.

Try and schedule as much time in actual IMC as possible once you start
shooting approaches. You may find that it is significantly different than
flying under the hood. No pun intended, but it can be a real eye opening
experience.

Kobra

"Wendy" wrote in message
...
I upgraded from my ridiculously cheap and poorly performing Flightline
headset to a DC H20-10 in preparation for my IFR training. I haven't
flown
with the DC's yet, but I will Saturday afternoon. My rationale here is
two-fold in that if I am in need of communicating, it would be a good
thing
to not only have some equipment I can reliably communicate with, but to
initiate my IFR training at an airport that is controlled (KDWH) rather
than
the admittedly fine uncontrolled airport I initially trained at (KCXO);
the
choice of which will obviously requires a level of conversation surpassing
simply shooting the breeze.

The FBO where I bought the headset- Mercury Flight Systems- seems to have
a
solid, while expensive, approach to the IFR experience. Rather than
making
loads of short XC's, they seem to stress longer ones;
Houston-Memphis-Houston being one example. Obviously, there will be a lot
of shorter excursions in the curriculum, but I have to say that the idea
of
flying under an instrument flight plan on major excursions is a
challenging
surely and valuable experience. These people seem honestly concerned with
making me a proficient IFR pilot rather than simply preparing me for the
checkride, which is the general impression I got from the operation where
I
obtained my initial certification. Any comments on this would be greatly
appreciated; being trained to pass the PTS is one thing, and thoroughly
understanding it is another, IMHO.

Apparently the training will be conducted in a C-172 upgraded to 180hp
with
a CS prop; since I have some (short) time in a Super Decathlon this won't
be
totally new to me. Instrument flying will be new, other than than my
brief
exposure required by the Private program, and I am looking forward to it.
This is a challenge I really want to master, and any suggestions you all
might have as concerns beginning training would be greatly appreciated.

Wendy