Before we begin: (Seriously, watch the video before clicking “Read More”)
Uncontrolled Fields (And Some Editorializing)
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If you’ve got an hour to burn and want to become a better stick…
I strongly suggest this video.
Thanks Danny!
Apologies for the lack of updates…
Flight instructing while taking classes at night means I have a very small amount of time to myself – I haven’t forgotten about the blog, but it’s become difficult to generate new content as frequently as I’d done before.
Expect more soon.
Review: FlightLogg.in
About this time last year I decided to start backing up my logbook with an electronic copy in case it was stolen or fell into a paper shredder or something else terminal, but I couldn’t find one I really liked.
After much careful consideration I decided that a local database on my laptop would be the solution and started creating fields and entering data – a tedious (yet exhausting) task which worked out ok but still left something to be desired in the usability department. That, and I totally ruined the database a few months later while trying to add a field – so I scrapped the project and resumed searching for an acceptable piece of logbook software. Hopefully one that didn’t involve tearing my hair out trying to learn a complicated UI, and that has all the features I want without costing an arm and a leg.
Enter FlightLogg.in, it’s completely free (the source code’s open too) and is constructed about like you’d expect a logbook to be. Here’s a quick rundown of what it’s all about:
Random and Hilariously Improbable Question
Ever wondered what our little planes would do if we put them on other planets in the Solar System?
Wonder no more – since Randall Munroe (author of the xkcd webcomic) has answered that question for us.
I find all of his posts at least somewhat amusing, so if you don’t follow already you probably should.
New Beginnings
Got my first student today – a guy who’s previous instructor bailed on him and now I have the opportunity to mold my very own ball of clay.
Now that I’m the one in the right seat hollering about things like adding full power before getting the flaps out on a go around and using proper phraseology on the radio.
Point is – I wouldn’t be the pilot I am today without the influence of several people who once were (and still are) friends and now colleagues.
In short – thanks guys. I owe you one.
G1000 Familiarization
Now that I’ve got a hefty list of alphabet soup hanging off of the end of my name, I think it’s appropriate for me to go ahead and start familiarizing myself with systems and devices I wouldn’t have come in contact with in the course of my training.
A logical place to start is the G1000 since so many people say that they’re the wave of the future. Well, that, and Sporty’s sent me a wall poster of the above image as a congratulatory gift.
Break out the bubbly!
I’ve just passed my CFI-I and MEI practical tests.
I’ve just become about 1000 times more dangerous, so break out the bubbly – it’s time to party.
Peltor 7006 Hot-Rodding #3: Inflight Entertainment
On the one hand, I’ve already got my mic.206 to 1/8″ adapter cable for putting music and such over the airplane’s intercom – on the other, I’m thoroughly displeased with the amount of static and noise that comes over the line (and in some cases goes out over the radio with my tunes… oops…)
In the spirit of the cheapasses who have traveled this road before me, I made some modifications to my hardware instead of buying something as a standard feature. Continue reading
Resume Padding
Hello again, readers – and Happy New Year! Party hat to celebrate.
In any case, I’ll still be off and away while I finish my holiday in Atlanta and add CFII and MEI to my resume. A full report will be posted here upon completion at ATP – Lawrenceville (KLZU).
Checkrides are scheduled for the 9th and 10th of January.
EDIT**
Checkrides have been cancelled on account of inclement weather and I’ll be resuming training at ATP San Diego out of my home field. It’s actually working out better than expected, though I will miss all of the people at Lawrenceville – thanks guys!
