The Long Drive -

The trip to Myrtle Beach ended up with a one-way drive back to Kentucky. Two large convective areas appears to be growing from 6AM to 8AM when I was looking at the Nexrad coverage. So we made a decision to drive back because at 45 MPH they looked like they would basically cover all of KY by the time we needed to be arriving at KLEX.

Well, on the way back the first system dissipated completely. The second slowed down and barely went south of Lexington. Short version, it would have been OK to fly there.

Weather flying is an art and a science. My thoughts on Sunday were that no Thunderstorms would be an issue since the TAF didn't include Cumulonimbus until 4PM local. The Nexrad picture made me second guess that thought. The TAF did "barely" turn out to be correct, but none the less was correct.

I spoke with a good friend of mine who has tons of time in Seneca's and with his dad with 15,000 flight hours... His thoughts.. Experience only comes with doing it. Some things are knowledge that can be gained and taught from a book, but these are items that just come from the practical part of flying and sticking your "wing" in it per se.

So, I sojourn on learning the new tool that I have to make more sense of and learn "safely" and slowly.

Time to spare go by air, more time yet go by Jet

Friday on the family's maiden voyage as a group we learned the meaning of that popular pilot phrase. The plan was to leave Lexington at 2 pm, but as the weather would hve it we would leave at 8pm. I also locked my keys in my car (with my briefcase containing our computers and iPad - charts). So Drew the co-pilot went home to pack a bag and we departed at 8. We after deviations for weather on the way down we diligently watched another system move in and park itself on Myrtle Beach. So over Charlotte, we diverted to Charleston. I was able to change the rental car from myrtle beach to charleston, but we will most likey leave from there again Monday. It's a two hour drive, but there is a $500 one way drop off charge they are wanting to incur. Kind of nuts.. So our two hour trip.. 12 hours.. Time to spare... Go by air...

Honey, we need a jet.

Well my first long cross country in the Baron resulted in two shots of trying to get out and around thunderstorms and convective flying. My co-pilot and his guest (an instructor at EKU flight program) both decided that on Friday we should wait for Saturday morning to allow stuff south of Atlanta to blow out. Only to have another front sitting on us Saturday morning in Lexington. When the time didn't allow for us to get back for Sat night commitments we scrubbed the flight.

First Solo Flight

Thursday brought the first solo flight in the Baron. While I was the only rated pilot in the plane, I wasn't alone. Good friend David McCowan was with me. We took a gingerly stroll at 140 to 180 knots over above Stanton, Ky then returned to Lexington overflying my house. Vicki and the boys enjoyed my turns around the house on the way back. I think David enjoyed the flight too. Good times...

Insurance gods are satisfied

Anyone who's either thought about buying a plane or owns one knows that as a Pilot we must satisfy the FAA, but as an owner operator we must satisfy and offer up tithes to the insurance companies.

Mine came in the form of an initial orientation program to the Beechcraft Baron by approved instructor and program. Fortunately, I have been luck enough to have a local Flight School with two instructors that meet both requirements that are on duty when I need them for my schedule to complete this.

Last night, I flew the last scenarios of the FAA/Industry Training Standards (FITS) curriculum for the Beechcraft Baron. Yea! Now, the insurance company is satisfied that I should have known better and that if I break the plane they will consider paying the damages, rather than no consideration at all. My omage to that rite is paid in full.

An annual instrument proficiency check is all that is required, but I believe that simulator training from FlightSafety, SimCom or a similar company is the order of business next year.