(3.6) 6/27/2016

God hates me when I cut out from work to fly :(((

I checked out N1806G, one of the other Citabrias in the club. According to the online FBO, Sharkie wasn't available. There's a third Citabria, but it has toe brakes so Batelle wanted me to check out Sharkie or 06G (maybe I'll call him Snoopy, because it's red like the Red Baron) for more consistency at an early stage.

I started pre-flighting Snoopy, and everything checked out except the fuel was too low for an hour and a half flight. 

"Let's take 9091L instead". It was a hot day, and Batelle got word that the other person who was going to take Sharkie originally decided to cancel. Fueling up would take longer than preflighting, so it sounded like a good option.

I started my walk around, but when I got to the air filter at the lower part of the cowl I noticed that there was a crack all the way through the mount, right at the screw positions. Gave it a little nudge and sure enough the whole thing moved. Gave it a pull, and the whole unit slid out easily. SIGH.

Ran into the club to tell Batelle (I had told her earlier to stay cool inside), and she, another instructor, and the club manager came out to look. Sho nuff, the plane had to be grounded. 

Part of me thinks the prop downwash would have kept the unit in place, but better safe than sorry. I definitely never want to lose credibility in relation to having good judgement as a pilot. 

By this time, there was only an hour left in my lesson, so we decided to do some ground school instead. After fueling Snoopy we'd only have 30 minutes in the air. Enough for me to takeoff and for Batelle to land, but not much else. I like that she's aligned with her students in relation to maximizing value of each lesson. 

We headed back inside, and Batelle pulled out the tailwheel syllabus. At this club, there are three "stage checks" for tailwheel students to get their license. Stage one is mastery of basic maneuvers,  stage one is solo fight, and stage three is cross country. To pass each stage check, you fly with another instructor in the club who is certified for the stage check. It's their way of making sure you get exposure to different perspectives, and so that the final check ride isn't as stressful. Fine with me. She said I was making fast progress, but that she'd continue to push me and make sure I was ready for each mini check ride and the final check ride. 

We talked about the maneuvers for the next lessons, airspace around KRHV, and books I should get. 

She pulled a club copy of the FAR AIM from a nearby shelf.

"That's it? Gross."

"Don't talk about it that way! That's your bible" she said with a chuckle.

Other things I need to get: Jeppessen private pilot manual and a Citabria POH.

I mentioned that I hadn't finished the application for the student pilot certificate so we knocked that out on the IACRA website. Then I mentioned I was slightly colorblind and looking for a good AME, and some of the other pilots in the lounge chipped in on who they go to when they're scared they won't pass their medicals.

One guy: "You have diabetes? I know the guy for you".
Another guy: "look at him. You think he has diabetes???"

Mental note to self. Wear looser shirts.

I like it here. Everyone is super down to earth.

It was nearing the two hour mark, so I asked Batelle how I should pay her for her instructor time. 

"Don't worry about it."

I tried to insist, but she gave me a firm "STOP". Definitely makes me appreciate her as an instructor and like I'm not getting jipped here. Apparently, she and some of the other instructors sometimes get drinks after their last students of the day, and she invited me to come along next time. 

I'll be sure to get em at least one round :)

Positive things about today:

1) I got praised on my preflight (haha, *ugly cries into shirt*)

2) submitted the student pilot certificate application

3) got a good recommendation for an AME who deals with *very* slightly colorblind pilots

Plus, I've got a double header on Friday (two two-hour lessons) and Batelle said she was going to try to tack another hour onto one of them. Gotta keep pushing!