CFI Training Flight #4

N5252V 1.2 hrs - Started flying the "vintage" 172RG again. Today was just a get aquainted from the right seat flight, since the last time I flew the RG was in May from the left seat. We went up to KPAE for some landings and I got in a normal and short field landing, plus a soft and short field takeoff. This airport was way to busy today, so we bailed and went back to KBFI. Made a no-flap landing on the short runway (13L) with plenty of runway to spare.

Lunch at KSPB

Flew my friend David down to Scapoose, OR. for lunch. He is leaving Washington in a couple of days to begin flight training at Flight Safety in Vero Beach, FL. At least for the next few years, this will be his last flight in the Pacific Northwest (and probably the last in my 182). Was also able to put 2.3 hrs on the 182 towards the breakin of the new cylinders.

I'd been to KSPB a few times, but wasn't aware of the restaurant just across the street from the NW end of the airport http://www.scappoosecreekinn.com/.

CFI Ground Training

The majority of the CFI training is learning to teach and being able to present a topic both in the air and on the ground. For my training, I'm doing full ground briefs for each topic/maneuver and this involves reading each relevant section of the Airplane Flying Handbook, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, etc., and then preparing a lecture type presentation.

Briefs completed so far (8/19/2008 - 9/22/2008):

• Principals of Flight
• Fundamentals of Flight
• Normal and X-wind Takeoff and Climb
• Manuevering During Slow Flight
• Power Off Stalls
• Steep Turns
• Traffics Patterns
• Normal and X-wind Approach and Landing
• Turns Around a Point
• Soft Field Takeoff and Climb

CFI Training Flight #3

N493GW 1.1 hrs - Pretty crappy weather day with light rain and 2500' ceilings and 1000' scattered layer at KBFI. More right seat training and I talked my CFI ("student") through the run-up and takeoff. I was responsible for the radio and cloud clearance for the flight. We headed out over Lake Sammamish and setup for slow flight and power off stalls. I had to take the controls for the first time as my instructor put the airplane in an intentional unusual attitude.

After that I was the student again, and had a simulated engine failure. I'm getting more comfortable with these and the secret is to spiral down over your intended landing site and roll out on the downwind at pattern altitude. After going around over the cows, we headed back to KBFI for a short field landing.

Next week I'm moving back into the 172RG.

CFI Training Flight #2

N493GW 1.7 hrs- Second CFI training flight and I had to teach takeoffs, steep turns, slow flight and power on/off stalls. Next, I was student again and had to show that I could handle a simulated engine failure. I flailed through it and not sure if we would have actually landed safely in the field that I picked. It's always best to remember "aviate, navigate, communicate". Learned some useful things from my instructor for handling engine out emergencies, so these will get easier with the more simulated engine failures that I do.

CFI Training Flight #1

N493GW 1.5 hrs - First time back in this plane since my instrument training days. Today I had to demontrate (and talk through) starting, taxiing and takeoff. After departing KBFI, my instructor became the student and I talked him through straight and level flight, climbs, descents, and turns. After that I demonstrated slow flight and we returned to KBFI.

Commercial Checkride

N6141R 172RG 1.4 hrs, 1.5 hrs oral - The oral portion was essentially a discussion of all of the things that might apply to a commercial pilot for a hypothetical flight. I had planned a flight from KBFI (Boeing Field) to KSUN (Hailey Idaho) with full fuel and 3 pax. We talked about what documents would be required, what inspections/equipment would be needed to legally make the flight, etc. I was quized on commercial pilot priveledges and what "holding out" was. There was some discussion of airspaces and sectional chart symbols that would be encountered along our hypothetical flight. Also had some discussions about the 172RG's systems, like landing gear, electrical, and static system.

Headed out for the flight portion of the practical and had to fly the first two checkpoints of my planned flight to KSUN. This include timing each leg and proving that my flight plan was acurate. Then was given a diversion destination and had to estimate how long and what heading to fly in order to get there.

Next we did maneuvers, starting with steep turns, then slow flight, power on/off stalls. Next had my choice of chandelles or lazy eights (chose the lazy eights). After that I had a simulated emergency and proved that I could make the field that I selected. Lastly before heading back for some landings, did steep spirals and eights on pylons.

Went to KRNT for landings/stop & goes, did short field, soft field, no flap landing, slips and power off 180 accuracy. Returned to KBFI for one last landing and taxied back to the FBO. All of the DE's that I've had seem to like to withhold your pass/fail until the very last minute. After engine shutdown, I got the proverbial "congratulations". I guess that the check ride isn't over until the plane is tied down, since I've heard of people failing because they forgot to do an after landing checklist.

The post brief was informative and it turned out that my chandelles were the weakest and my eights on pylons were the best.