Preparing for the next step...

I have completed all of my solo cross country flights for the private pilot curriculum and now I am preparing for the next step...the check ride. I have been going over every inch of the Cessna 172 and learning new information constantly. So on the 8th of October I will have my check ride and my private pilot's license.

There were some interesting planes at Gateway today and luckily I had my camera so I can share them with you.

9/15

I passed my Pre Solo written test yesterday with a 90% and will solo in a C-172 for the first time by the end of the week. Yesterday was one of the best flights I've had at ATP. I impressed my instructor enough for him to let me practice my crosswind landings with the winds gusting to 20 and a crosswind component of about 11. Every landing was real smooth and on top of the gusting winds I was in the pattern continuosly behind a C-130. Every time I turned in the pattern tower would mention "keep the 130 in sight at all times and caution wake turbulence". So it was a great experience to both fly the airplane and calculate where to touch down in addition to about a 25 degree crab angle. My instructor recieved a new job flying a cirrus G3 so I will be paired up with a new instructor at the end of the month. All the instructors are waiting for the golden ticket of opportunity out side of flight instructing, and I completely understand. So I will be paired up with a new instructor coming in from the FL location and make the smooth transition into completing my private pilots liscence. .......which will be in about a month

Update 9/12

So far........... so amazingly good. Today I arose at 4:00 am for a wheels up flight of 5:30. My favorite time of day at KIWA is early in the morning when the temperature is out of the triple digits. I went Class Delta hopping today. I flew from KIWA to Falcon Field, did a touch and go then headed up to Scottsdale. Next I did a touch and go and headed up over towards Deer Valley and also performed a touch and go. After Deer Valley I flew west to Glen Dale and landed for a quick drink . I then did a Pre-flight and transitioned through Class Bravo airspace through Goodyear and then direct to KIWA. As soon as I passed through Goodyear's airspace I put on my Jeppesen hood and flew under simulated IFR all the way to Gateway until I started my descent into Class Delta and entered the pattern to land. I am loving Mesa, AZ and I am becoming quite the proficient pilot.

Week One

It is now Saturday and I have beena at the ATP Phoenix location for about a week now. I am very pleased with the program so far and am having the time of my life. I began the week checking in my bags and getting my room in a manner that was comfortable. My schedule so far has been an early flight in the morning around 7am and then a groundschool in the afternoon from 1pm-5-pm. I am impressed with my ability to mend myself with the program to get the best results. My instructor's name is Scott and he is an ex-cop with around 500 hours. I enjoy flying with him because he seems to be a grounded person. Right now I have accumelated around 6.7 hours through ATP and I am loving every minute of it. I have familiarized myself with the surrounding area of Mesa, AZ and the scenery is pristine for flying. I am living the dream and it only gets better from here...