My Student Pilot's Log
Finishing Up

Flights 43-47

Flight 43: Tues, Apr 9. (.7 / 61.4 / 23.5)

More checkride prep: ground reference maneuvers, in the same 150 as last time. It went OK, but I was a little uncomfortable about two thirds of the way through a steep turn. There was something about going around in a circle at a steep angle that reminded me of last week's spin. I skipped the stalls today; I'll wait until my CFI is with me to try them again.

Flight 44: Wed, Apr 10. (1.3 / 62.7 / 23.5)
Flight 45: Thurs, Apr 11. (1.2 / 63.9 / 24.7)

These were more checkride prep flights. The first was another stage check with my CFI to see what needed work, and the second was solo time to work on those things.

The really good news was that the 152 I've done most of my flying in will be available for my checkride. It's been out for maintenance, and it's going to be painted soon. For the past week or so it looked like that plane would not be back in service in time, so I've been doing some work in the 150s to prepare. There's not a lot of difference between the two models, but just enough to confuse things. Flying the 150s is no problem, but being tested in one is another issue.

Flights 46 and 47: Fri, Apr 12. (.9 and 1.1 / 65.9 / 25.6)

Today was my last day to prepare for tomorrow's checkride, formally known as the Practical Test. I flew solo in the early afternoon to work on my weaker areas of flight, then I spent a few hours at the airport studying for the oral part of the test.

My flight instructor worked with me for an hour to go over some typical questions. We looked at the engine and airframe logbooks for the plane to make sure they were in order, since the examiner will be checking them.

Then we went up for some last-minute practice: stalls, steep turns, and short- and soft-field takeoffs and landings. I've never taken this kind of test before, with a mixture of an oral exam and performing specified tasks.

Sometimes while reading the Practical Test Standards study guide, it seemed impossible to be ready for everything. There are over fifty areas I can be tested on, and failing any one of them means failing the whole test. Even though I passed my written exam several weeks ago, I realized that I could be asked any of the questions from that test, and a whole lot more.

The past week or so has been stressful, trying to prepare and wondering whether I'm ready, but it seems like time to take the test and see what happens. Another week of practicing may not make a difference anyway, and I'm getting a little bored practicing maneuvers, since I haven't flown more than a few miles from home the last several times.