To enter into the clouds is to enter a different world. This fall, I usually flew three times a weekend, studied for an hour each night, and finally just before the new year passed my instrument check-ride (2 hour oral exam, then an hour flight with an FAA examiner - written test taken the month before). Getting the rating took a huge amount of work and was quite challenging. It makes visual flying seem like a walk in the park! Balancing the airplane, the radios, the navigation and all the rest took some adjusting to. For most of the training, I wore "foggles," glasses that only permitted me to see the instruments. I could not look outside of the airplane. Keep her wings level and going in the right direction all by the instruments! It's not an easy task.
As one of the training exercises, my instructor asks me to put my head down, close my eyes and keep her straight and level. Very quickly I can assume that I am no longer straight and level but the very strange thing is that I have no idea how to correct it. It's like my sense of orientation in space has been dulled out of existence. So I must "trust my instruments" as they say.
 |
| Sometimes, IFR flying gets a little crazy! |
 |
| Foggles (and chicken)! |
 |
| Concentrating. |
 |
| Nighttime beauty! |
 |
| Love these airport lights! |
 |
| Cockpit instruments! |
 |
| I missed all of the training sunsets because I was under the foggles. |
It all was quite fun and quite a challenge. I feel like a better pilot and now should have some more flying opportunities when otherwise I would not be able to fly. It's quite an amazing thing to be flying by a few needles in the cockpit, and then pop out of the clouds to see the runway in the perfect position in front of the aircraft. Freddy was great throughout the training and liked the attention. Since then the weather and work has not been cooperative. Winter means low freezing levels and I want to avoid ice at all costs so I'm looking forward to some warmer weather for some instrument practice.
I've given my notice at my teaching job. Looking forward to more adventures. Back to NOLS, Antarctica, sailing and the like. I'm excited for the adventures ahead!
All picture credits go to my amazing flight instructor (and photographer) Jason Archer! Thank you, Captain!
In NASA news, they've postponed things again, so the waiting game continues likely at least until this summer. All part of the process! Hope you are all well!
