Confidence Builder

3/12/13

    After last lesson, I was feeling a bit down on myself. I didn't do as well as I would have liked to. I passed my presolo examination with a 95%. I have the knowledge to fly an aircraft solo. Now I just need to practice my skills in the airplane. The purpose of today's lesson was just that. I knew the wind was gusting to 18 knots and today would not be easy. I began preparing my mind for things I would need to concentrate on hours before I even went to the airplane. 

    I also had my road test today in order to obtain my drivvers license and I passed that test. After that, it was off to the airport. I preflighted the airplane, pulled it out and got it started. My confidence was high and I had my mind set that I was going to make the airplane do what I wanted it to do. I got taxi clearance to runway 24. Everything turned out normal or better in the preflight and runup. We were cleared for takeoff and I was airborne in no time. 

    I must mention that the weather was not in my favor. Not only were there strong winds, but the ceiling and visibility were just legal to fly. I made left traffic for 24 paying close attention to wind direction to keep the airplane flying in a rectangular pattern. All my landings were satisfactory, some better than others. Eventually, we had to make right traffic for 24 due to weather on the south side of 24. Right traffic is not my favorite but I'm getting better at it. 

    After 6 landings, weather turned out to be illegal to fly under VFR so it was time to put the airplane away for now. This lesson was truly a confidence builder. Even though winds and weather weren't ideal, I was still able to fly the airplane to my liking. I looked in my logbook when I got home to see that Craig had written "good job" in it. Days like these make me want to be flying all the time.