Wed Oct 14 (More Crosswinds)

Today I had a halfday at school so I decided to schedule a lesson with Frank. I drove down to the airport at 12 and the ceilings were SCT 3500'AGL with good visibility below. Winds weren't as bad as last lesson but still had some crosswind. We tookoff and stayed in the pattern at Sylvania. Did three landings and then flew off to Racine (KRAC). At Racine I made another 3 landings but this time they were much much better. I like the runway at KRAC better because it's not like threading a needle. After the three landings we pulled up to the fuel truck and went inside to check weather. Once we were fueled up we started up and taxied out to the runway. We held short of the runway for a landing Piper Navajo (I wish I coulda took a picture). Once the Navajo cleared we tookoff and headed back towards Sylvania. At Sylvania we entered left downwind for runway 8R and then did a go around before landing. Second time around we practiced an engine out and were lining up for 8L Grass and then heard a call "Sylvania Traffic Seneca _ _ _ is final runway 8." We were on short final and decided to go around again. We got mad because he came straight in. After that we made another engine out landing and taxied off. It was a fun flight.

Crosswind

Today it was really windy. So we did the preflight taxied out and tookoff. We flew to KRAC to do some crosswind practice. At first it was wierd for me to be stepping on full right rudder with ledt aileron. It dosn't seem right. Well after a couple touch and goes we had a Piper Cherokee come into the pattern so we decided to make a full stop to refuel. We went inside the FBO checked weather and some snow squalls were supposed to be moving in soon. We got right back in the air and did a couple more crosswind landings and takeoffs and im really starting to get it. We started to see some snow so we headed back to Sylvania. On approach in Sylvania we did a go around just before touching down, and then the second time around we practiced an engine out landing on the grass runway. It was a nice Saturday morning lesson!

9/15/2009

Today was a nice day except for strong winds from north to south. Well got to the airport areound 3:30 and got in the air around 3:50. Had a nice crosswind takeoff on runway 8. Since the winds were from North to South we decided to fly over to Racine Airport wich has a closer runway to North - South than Sylvania. This was a bummer because my dad came along today with the video camera to record my takeoffs and landings. He did get some video really shaky though! Well I had some really nice landings today we did about 5 touch and goes and then we departed east because we had a Falcon 2000 coming in for landing. So we decided to let them in with no hassel. We flew out over Lake Michigan and man it was beautiful! After the Falcon turned base we started to head back to enter the downwind. As we were on downwind I was looking down at the runway and got a great view of the jet landing. That jet looked really nice. After the Falcon cleared we did a full stop to fuel up. This airport is the nicest i've been to yet. Nice FBO and they even fuel the plane for ya! After the fuel was in we headed back to Sylvania. I was just starting the flare for a really nice landing and Frank said "Go full power and go around." Well it wasn't my fault he just wanted to teach me to always be ready to go around. The second time around a bit before turning to base he pulled the throttle out to simulate an engine out. well I adjusted for 60knots and turned base. Once on final I lowered flaps knowing I would make the runway. We landed on the grass and taxied back to the hangor. This lesson was my favorite!

A Foggy Day!

Well we got to the airport and preflighted the aircraft. We stood there for a while and waited for the fog to burn. After a bit it had gotten okay so we decided to takeoff and stay in a lower pattern at Sylvania. After takeoff we did one touch and go and it started getting bad again so we flew west to Burlington. At Burlington the sky's were blue! So we did a couple touch and goes there and saw allot of traffic. A Citabria Scout, Pietenpol, Piper Super Cub, Cessna 172. Lots of traffic! We landed now to get fuel. After filling up on fuel we went into the FBO to look at the weather computer. It was a really nice FBO. Well it was time to get back in the plane and fly. We did a couple more touch and goes and headed back towards Sylvania. Well I'm pretty sure conditions weren't good we had to fly really low back to Sylvania to be able to see ground. The landing was nice in Sylvania. All in all it was an exciting day!

9/3/2009

Well today was an interesting flight! We started out around 4:00pm and got in the air by 4:15. We taxied back runway 8 and did a normal takeoff right after the parachute rs got done. We headed West and went up to 2500ft. First thing we did were some turns to headings and moved our way on to steep turns. After the turns we did a stall and headed towards Burlington. We entered the pattern at Burlington and did 6 touch and goes. I had trouble on one because I pulled a little to hard on the flare and we started to go up again but it was okay we still had allot of runway. After the 6th touch and go we made a full stop for some fuel. We had some traffic takeoff after we cleared the runway it was a 172. Taxing to the fuel pump we had some other traffic taxi to the runway but it was odd because the taxied on to runway 26 when 11 was the active. They made a downwind departure with no radio calls at a pretty active airport. It kinda makes me made knowing there are pilots out there that put their lives in danger and others. Well that was that. We put 7 gallons in and departed for Sylvania. Getting closer to C89 on Upwind we had a Civil Air Patrol 172 inbound as well. they were still out a bit further so no factor. The king air was on the ground so we didn't have to worry about skydivers. The landing was his this time he demonstrated a short field landing on the grass it was allot shorter than I thought it was gonna be. We pulled the plane up to the hanger and a pilot came up to us and asked if we knew where the keys were for the 172. We didn't know the book was still in the FBO but no keys. Well it ended up that the previous pilot had left the keys on the wing while trying to fish something out of the fuel tank... Man what a crazy day.

8/24/2009

Today was a great day. Clear skies with a calm wind. Got to the airport around 9:30 and saw a Piper Seneca takeoff as we pulled in. I did the pref light and pulled the plane out. We hopped in and started up. Taxied out to runway 26 and today we were sticking in the pattern for some landings and takeoffs. We did a Short Field takeoff. Had a nice easy climb out and around the pattern going through everything that needs to be done. He landed it this time and took off again. Next time around I flew it and he helped me along as needed. We repeated this process for another landing then did a full stop and taxied back. Took off again and climbing through 250ft AGL He pulled the throttle back so I pushed the yoke forward to land in the field in front of us. "That was good" Frank said. We wouldn't have made it back so you maintained a safe speed and looked for a good landing spot. After the Engine Out practice we headed out west to practice flying the pattern over some roads. After we went back into the pattern and did a couple more touch and goes until we made a full stop. Next Frank demonstrated a soft field takeoff. It was queit odd I have to say. After the takeoff we did a few more touch and goes and called it a day.

18/19/2009

Got to the airport around 10:20. Got started right away did the preflight and were good to go. Back taxied runway 8 and did the runup. Today we were doing a short field takeoff. We lined up on the runway and held the brakes applying full power. Released brakes and we started our roll. Lifted off about 50knots and held a 55knot climb until 50ft AGL. At 50ft AGL we started a Vy climb out. We made a 180 degree turn heading west now. We headed out and did some turns to headings with my instructor saying "389er turn left to hdg 310" my reply "389er turning left to 310" He wanted me to get used to ATC since KMKE is right near by the practice area along with KENW. I already know allot of ATC because of flightsimming on Vatsim. After the turns we did some slow flight. Slow flight was cool and it was weird how it affected control surfaces. Next we went on to stalls. We did power off and power on stalls. I had some trouble at first because when it stalled one wing would dip and I wanted to use aileron to correct. I guess that only aggravates it. Finally I got the hang of it. Now we had to go get some gas so we flew to KBUU because fuel was allot cheaper than C89. Its 3.79 at KBUU and 5.46 at C89. He hasn't changed the fuel price at C89 since last years summer highs. Well into KBUU we saw a Piper Seneca taxing then take off and then when we departed another cessna was coming in to land. We flew back to C89 and once we got on upwind we heard the announcement "Sylvania Traffic Kingair 3WM is make 360 to land runway 8. Jumpers are in the air." Sure enough we looked out the left window and say the parachutes going to the ground. We extended are upwind so we were clear. Before turning base the instructor had me pull out the throttle and we did an engine failure landing. He did most the flying on this land because he just wanted me to know what its like. We landed after the kingair but we landed on the grass because we wanted it to be like an emergency farm field landing. After landing we taxied off and shut down. It was a great day for flying too not a cloud in the sky! Here is a aerial view of C89. They are redoing the FBO and the airport is gonna look really good when done. Next time ill see if I can catch a few of my own shots.