Down to minimum today

It's been just about a year since I had gotten my IFR ticket, and have over 250
hours since, about 25 hours in actual.

But, my personal minimums have been 1000 ft and 3 miles.

Today (Knoxville, TN) we had perfect conditions to safely fly in the soup. (NO
ICE) I got my instructor on board and we flew three approaches, NDB, GPS, ILS.
During the NDB and GPS approaches we never saw the ground, but the additional
400 feet of the ILS approach, we completed the approach to a nice touch down.

We broke out at about 300 feet above the ground.

What an absolute excellent experience. Major difference? Having the instructor
as a safety pilot eliminated any lack of confidence from entering into the
flight.

All three approaches, if you indulge me in a little boasting, where close to
perfect. I know for a fact however, if I was flying these solo, my left leg
would be shaking uncontrollably due to the addrenaline.

But with a safety pilot (CFII) to my right, my confidence was high, and my
flying, radio work, and navigation went really well.

Anyway, I just had to post, this was such a wonderful training experience.

Question, does that leg ever stop shaking?

Mark

"W9MV" wrote in message


What an absolute excellent experience. ...

Anyway, I just had to post, this was such a wonderful training
experience.

Question, does that leg ever stop shaking?

Shaking. Dancing.
Tomato. Tomahto.

Flying good approaches in actual conditions is definitely a boost. My
adrenaline usually doesn't kick in until I'm tied down and realize just how
much fun I just had.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/tknoFlyer
__________

How brilliant your response was.


Shaking. Dancing.
Tomato. Tomahto.


You have put an entirely new perspective on my left leg doing it's thing.

Actually, it doesn't happen when doing approaches, it occurs during takeoff
when I going into the clouds at a lower level, say 500 feet. I believe it's
because of the P factor and the fact that my leg is pressing down pretty hard
on the rudder.

So now what I do is use the trim and then I can significantly reduce the force
I'm pressing down with my leg.

I must tell you, when I saw the runway during the ILS approach almost dead on
in front of me, I had the biggest charge.

Good stuff.

Mark

Sounds like a fun day of flying. Good job!

jerry

I think you pointed out the biggest factor limiting most of us getting over
the adrenaline experience during low IMC approaches - the infrequent
occurrence. It's hard to get comfortable with anything that we don't
frequently repeat. I've talked to many pilots who feel that calm day VFR
can be more difficult than usual after they have been absent from flying for
more than a few weeks.

Good job on getting the instructor and making maximum use of a challenging
flying day!

JimC
WT0J (don't often include that - but it has meaning to you)
N2233W

"W9MV" wrote in message
...
It's been just about a year since I had gotten my IFR ticket, and have
over 250
hours since, about 25 hours in actual.

But, my personal minimums have been 1000 ft and 3 miles.

Today (Knoxville, TN) we had perfect conditions to safely fly in the soup.
(NO
ICE) I got my instructor on board and we flew three approaches, NDB, GPS,
ILS.
During the NDB and GPS approaches we never saw the ground, but the
additional
400 feet of the ILS approach, we completed the approach to a nice touch
down.

We broke out at about 300 feet above the ground.

What an absolute excellent experience. Major difference? Having the
instructor
as a safety pilot eliminated any lack of confidence from entering into the
flight.

All three approaches, if you indulge me in a little boasting, where close
to
perfect. I know for a fact however, if I was flying these solo, my left
leg
would be shaking uncontrollably due to the addrenaline.

But with a safety pilot (CFII) to my right, my confidence was high, and my
flying, radio work, and navigation went really well.

Anyway, I just had to post, this was such a wonderful training experience.

Question, does that leg ever stop shaking?

Mark

"W9MV" wrote in message
...
How brilliant your response was.


Shaking. Dancing.
Tomato. Tomahto.


You have put an entirely new perspective on my left leg doing it's thing.

Actually, it doesn't happen when doing approaches, it occurs during
takeoff
when I going into the clouds at a lower level, say 500 feet. I believe
it's
because of the P factor and the fact that my leg is pressing down pretty
hard
on the rudder.

So now what I do is use the trim and then I can significantly reduce the
force
I'm pressing down with my leg.


What kind of plane do you fly again? On climbout its my *right* leg doing
the extra work, 'til I trim it out...

Cheers,
John Clonts
Temple, Texas
N7NZ

well I am glad your approach went off well today, mine sucked big green weenies.

I was at 14,000 (MEA over the mountains), after I crossed mountains, they gave me
lower when I was 20 miles from the airport (carlsbad, ca), tell you what, it was
impossible to lose 13500 ft in 20 miles. I am glad it was VMC, I had filed IFR
because the forcast was possible IFR due to ceiling and fog, but it cleared up just
before I got in. I should have put my gear down when I got cleared onto the ILS (at
20 miles out), but I kept it up, GS was about 178 kts, wasnt going to happen. I had
to cancel 2 miles from the airport and do some 360's to lose the altitude.

Jeff

W9MV wrote:

It's been just about a year since I had gotten my IFR ticket, and have over 250
hours since, about 25 hours in actual.

But, my personal minimums have been 1000 ft and 3 miles.

Today (Knoxville, TN) we had perfect conditions to safely fly in the soup. (NO
ICE) I got my instructor on board and we flew three approaches, NDB, GPS, ILS.
During the NDB and GPS approaches we never saw the ground, but the additional
400 feet of the ILS approach, we completed the approach to a nice touch down.

We broke out at about 300 feet above the ground.

What an absolute excellent experience. Major difference? Having the instructor
as a safety pilot eliminated any lack of confidence from entering into the
flight.

All three approaches, if you indulge me in a little boasting, where close to
perfect. I know for a fact however, if I was flying these solo, my left leg
would be shaking uncontrollably due to the addrenaline.

But with a safety pilot (CFII) to my right, my confidence was high, and my
flying, radio work, and navigation went really well.

Anyway, I just had to post, this was such a wonderful training experience.

Question, does that leg ever stop shaking?

Mark

What kind of plane do you fly again? On climbout its my *right* leg doing
the extra work, 'til I trim it out...

I'm flying a 1999 Archer III, which is well equiped.

Mark

In article , W9MV
wrote:

All three approaches, if you indulge me in a little boasting, where close to
perfect. I know for a fact however, if I was flying these solo, my left leg
would be shaking uncontrollably due to the addrenaline.

Only the left leg shakes?
Wow! The last time that happened to me, I was doing a tap dance with
both feet on the rudder peddles. If I had any sense of rythm, I would
have turned on the ADF for a tune.
:-))

Surely the approach to Carlsbad has a hold somewhere. Suggest you
"request a descent in the hold because you are above your descent
profile".

Jeff wrote in message ...
well I am glad your approach went off well today, mine sucked big green weenies.

I was at 14,000 (MEA over the mountains), after I crossed mountains, they gave me
lower when I was 20 miles from the airport (carlsbad, ca), tell you what, it was
impossible to lose 13500 ft in 20 miles. I am glad it was VMC, I had filed IFR
because the forcast was possible IFR due to ceiling and fog, but it cleared up just
before I got in. I should have put my gear down when I got cleared onto the ILS (at
20 miles out), but I kept it up, GS was about 178 kts, wasnt going to happen. I had
to cancel 2 miles from the airport and do some 360's to lose the altitude.

Jeff

W9MV wrote:

It's been just about a year since I had gotten my IFR ticket, and have over 250
hours since, about 25 hours in actual.

But, my personal minimums have been 1000 ft and 3 miles.

Today (Knoxville, TN) we had perfect conditions to safely fly in the soup. (NO
ICE) I got my instructor on board and we flew three approaches, NDB, GPS, ILS.
During the NDB and GPS approaches we never saw the ground, but the additional
400 feet of the ILS approach, we completed the approach to a nice touch down.

We broke out at about 300 feet above the ground.

What an absolute excellent experience. Major difference? Having the instructor
as a safety pilot eliminated any lack of confidence from entering into the
flight.

All three approaches, if you indulge me in a little boasting, where close to
perfect. I know for a fact however, if I was flying these solo, my left leg
would be shaking uncontrollably due to the addrenaline.

But with a safety pilot (CFII) to my right, my confidence was high, and my
flying, radio work, and navigation went really well.

Anyway, I just had to post, this was such a wonderful training experience.

Question, does that leg ever stop shaking?

Mark