Today I did my third solo flight. My instructor was sick, so some other guy I didn't know signed me out and I prepped a plane. After it was all ready, it took me three tries to turn on the engine, because it kept dying after I turned it on. I finally turned it on with the power setting quite a bit higher, and the engine kept running so I kept going (BIG MISTAKE). I taxiied out to the runway after getting clearance and started doing circuits (taking off, turning left a couple of times, landing again and in the landing roll, taking off again).

My first circuit was fairly normal, but while I was landing, I kept drifting to the left of the runway with gusts of wind (that hadn't been forecasted).

The next circuit I was following 4 other planes, and the one in front of me didn't get off the runway fast enough, so the tower gave me an overshoot at the laaaaast second. Overshoots aren't rare, but they're still a little scary. At this point, I turned to do another landing and my door comes loose. I reached out to close it and then the tower gives me a runway change. (Never happened to me before) So here I am, door open, trying to figure out which runway I'm supposed to be on at about 1000 ft. above the ground. I finally make a huge turn and get lined up with runway and make a really bumpy touch-and-go.

Afterwards, the tower tells me to do a right hand circuit (which I've never done). So I turn right and start doing downwind checks when I realize one of the emergency lights is on: Low Voltage. I bring the power setting down and all of a sudden my engine starts stuttering and the plane starts shaking.

At this point, I was kind of worried. I looked around and radioed the tower to tell them that I wouldn't be doing another touch-and-go and told them about the light.

I turned and lined myself up with the runway and as I'm about to land, some other plane isn't getting off the runway fast enough, and I radioed the tower:
"Waterloo tower, tango golf hotel needs to land now." and they come back and give me clearance to land beside the other plane. I touched down and hit the brakes hard and stopped just beside the other plane, and taxiied back to the hangar.

My feet are staying on the ground for a little while.

[Edit: Spelling...]

------------------
<kyle90> i got my SAT scores back
<kyle90> according to the sheet i got sent in the mail, I did "better than 99% of all college-bound seniors"
<kyle90> of course, thats comparing me to americans
<kyle90> so its not really a fair assessment

[This message has been edited by BV (edited December 28, 2003).]

Eeek.

------------------
Please frame your insults in the form of a question.

I've been on a flight once (I'm not talking about airplanes, more like a private flight) and I always have the feeling that I'm too high and all the bad things will happen to me. But I also have the feeling that I have to watch outside and cheer that I'm high above the ground, my stomach feels funny (not that I'm going to puke) and overall the feeling is great.

Uhhh, my words are not helpful but I just shared an experience...

------------------
<landfish> FastGamerr > Satan

It'd make a helluva comedy film though... /me sells to hollywood

------------------
Et E'llo Endorenna ut / Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' / Ambar-metta!
(This IS[/b] SAJN_Master)

Wow, glad you're ok, BV. What were you flying? Did you find out what the problem was? Personally, I don't think I'd take off if the engine died twice before I got started. But I'm sure you won't again, either. LOL Just remember, any landing you can walk away from is a good one. And, I guess any flight you can log is one you can learn from.

BV: Just take your next flight with your instructor, and regain your focus. If you put off flying for a while, you could lose your edge. All student pilots have scary moments -- best just to get past them ASAP.

You have learned a valuable lesson: NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING. I was about to do a final runup and mag test before takeoff with my instructor once, and while I was looking elsewhere he pulled the fuse out of the oil pressure gauge. I noticed the pressure was low, but I said "It'll come up." I was ready to take off with low oil pressure. I got a good a**-chewing for that one!

Flying does not allow many mistakes -- you are very fortunate.

I was flying a Cessna 152... registration was GTGH. Yeah, I'm flying again in a few days, and I'm excited about it, we're going to do a short cross country.

I figured the engine was just cold... but you're right. Assumptions are just mistakes waiting to happen.

kaborka: Did you continue flying or look into careers at all?

------------------
<kyle90> i got my SAT scores back
<kyle90> according to the sheet i got sent in the mail, I did "better than 99% of all college-bound seniors"
<kyle90> of course, thats comparing me to americans
<kyle90> so its not really a fair assessment

[This message has been edited by BV (edited December 28, 2003).]

Wow your heart must have been beating like nuts. Happy your okay.

I did mostly sport flying, plus a few cross-country trips. Since I've been living in Los Angeles, I let my license go inactive. I got tired of waiting in 30-minute lines to take off! My other pilot friend is bugging me to get current. He wants me to go partners with him on a Diamond Katana. I wish I could afford to!

I started my training in a Katana: I hated it.

I hate you BV.

If you want ATC practice, check out www.vatsim.net

Its online real time multiplayer ATC...the controller has a radar screen and can vector you around as in RL(tm)

Its really very good.

Also you might want to go to www.dreamfleet2000.com and buy their Cessna 152

(When I say all this, im assuming you have FS2002 or 2004)

------------------
Founder of the Massassi Brute Squad (MBS)
Ab Hoc Possum Videre Domum Tuum
(I can see your house from up here)
"But he's not going to carry you three" said Death.
"Why not?"
"It's a matter of the look of the thing"
"It's going to look pretty good, then, isn't it" said War testily, "the One Horseman and Three Pedestrians of the Apocralypse"

"I am the signature virus! Copy me into your signature so that I can take over the world! Moohahahee!"

whoah bit lame.
Count your lucky stars its a propeller plane and not a hyper-jet-enegined Saab Grippen.

phoooooo

Those are scary.

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

=/ Nope. I should, though.

------------------
<kyle90> i got my SAT scores back
<kyle90> according to the sheet i got sent in the mail, I did "better than 99% of all college-bound seniors"
<kyle90> of course, thats comparing me to americans
<kyle90> so its not really a fair assessment

It's Gripen
[/nitpick]

------------------
"For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."
-Robert Jastrow

I've been wanting to take lessons forever, how much does it normally cost to log enough flight time and stuff for a private license, because I know commercial licenses are more.

------------------
<< start the revolution >>

In Canada it takes 40 hours of flight time and 40 hours of ground work to get a Private Pilot's License.

That usually costs ~ six grand Canadian.

------------------
<kyle90> i got my SAT scores back
<kyle90> according to the sheet i got sent in the mail, I did "better than 99% of all college-bound seniors"
<kyle90> of course, thats comparing me to americans
<kyle90> so its not really a fair assessment

I must confess I like the Viggen better than the Gripen...Viggen just looks cool.

Overall however, cant beat the Tornado or the Flanker.

------------------
Founder of the Massassi Brute Squad (MBS)
Ab Hoc Possum Videre Domum Tuum
(I can see your house from up here)
"But he's not going to carry you three" said Death.
"Why not?"
"It's a matter of the look of the thing"
"It's going to look pretty good, then, isn't it" said War testily, "the One Horseman and Three Pedestrians of the Apocralypse"

"I am the signature virus! Copy me into your signature so that I can take over the world! Moohahahee!"

Hey, cool, another VATSIMmer. Although I haven't done any in a long time. I started baack in '98 with SATCO, I was an S3 in ZID ARTCC. Ever participate in the Hawaiian Bash fly-in? Are they still doing it? If so, you should, it's a blast. HNL_W_APP is the best spot if you can can get it.

Yer I would have started back then too.
I havent got my controller rating yet though

I usually fly around the eastern coast of Australia. Somtimes we get quite a few controllers going..its really good.

------------------
Founder of the Massassi Brute Squad (MBS)
Ab Hoc Possum Videre Domum Tuum
(I can see your house from up here)
"But he's not going to carry you three" said Death.
"Why not?"
"It's a matter of the look of the thing"
"It's going to look pretty good, then, isn't it" said War testily, "the One Horseman and Three Pedestrians of the Apocralypse"

"I am the signature virus! Copy me into your signature so that I can take over the world! Moohahahee!"

Dude...I used to fly out of Waterloo.

------------------
Shut up. I'm GOING to do this whether you like it or not.

Which flight club did you fly with?

------------------
BV's rendition of Titanic: Let's have sex. I won't let go. I don't need this stone.
The End.
~ Wolfy

It wasn't a club, we rented from the company that makes Zodiacs...I can't remember the name now.

------------------
Shut up. I'm GOING to do this whether you like it or not.

Sounds scary, BV! I'd love to go flying, but it seems too expensive a pass-time for me! How much does it cost you per flight?

------------------
GhostOfYoda - General doer of stuff.

Great job BV... you broke the engine, didn't latch your door properly, AND you yelled at some poor guy in front of you that was only trying to taxi down the runway...

Seriously though, sounds like fun. In a scary sort of way.

------------------
"I'm more neutrally charged than YOU are" - BV

$160 with an instructor,$90 without. (Canadian dollars.)

And thanks to everyone who said they were glad I was OK.

------------------
BV's rendition of Titanic: Let's have sex. I won't let go. I don't need this stone.
The End.
~ Wolfy

Come on, guys! Quit messing around with those silly whirly toys and start doing some REAL flying. Go gliding!

Experience the sheer terror of overshooting your downwind leg and only just avoiding a wire fence that could decapitate you.

Marvel at how fast you lose altitude while searching for the runway in the middle of a thick forest. You'll be screaming, "OMFG! I'm gonna die!" before you know it.

The former is my scariest moment, on my 5th solo, and the later is my instructor's.