Laura's Logbook

Day Two of school passed successfully for Kaylee, and she was in good spirits when I picked her up. The only thing that I didn't like to hear was that during their "reading time" in class, she has to hold the book really far away or the words are too small and she can't see them and it hurts her eyes. I first got glasses when I was in 4th grade, and I think Steve was younger than that when he got his glasses, so while her last visit to the eye doc showed she was within the normal range, I'd say it is time for another visit to the eye doctor and time for some at least reading glasses for her.

It is August and we've had nothing but cool weather-until recently. I've been dreading the nasty Indiana Summer weather, and it looks like it's arriving with full muggy factor intact. The worst part about flying in the winter is getting the plane preflighted, started, shivering as you are pulling it out and putting it away. But once you get IN the plane, you're fine. Summer is hot and muggy doing all that manual labor of tugging the plane in and out, but even in the plane, unless you are going on a long trip and climbing up high to cooler air, it is a little glass-enclosed, minimal air flow oven in there. You come away from a few lessons flying rather...disheveled. If I used hair products, they would melt off just like my make-up does. I'll still take summer over winter. At least I can fly more often with less trouble-I'm just hot.

This morning I had a flight in the 172RG working with someone on their CFII (Instrument Instructor certificate), so we did some approaches using the GPS, ILSs, hold entries and holds, missed approach procedures, all that good stuff. While we were up flying, Steve was up flying in the Saratoga doing a checkout in it. Something about knowing we're both up there in different planes buzzing around at the same time always makes me smile. I like that we both do this.

When we'd both finished with our lessons, we hung out at the hangar for awhile, where I got a good lesson on the workings of the magnetos. Nathan & Jon were working on the Cub, and I learned quite a bit about the timing, the inner workings of the mags, etc. It was actually pretty interesting. I've been trying to learn more on the maintenance end of things by osmosis for awhile where I can. My mantra used to be "I don't want to fix them, I just want to fly them". Well, that doesn't cut it. I still don't want to fix them necessarily, but I need to know more. Fortunately neither Steve, Jon nor Nathan make fun of me for asking dumb questions. Yet. ;)

It was Friday and time for lunch, so Steve & Jon hopped in the back of the Saratoga and Nathan & I hopped up front, and Nathan flew us into Glenndale for burgers and chili dogs. It was my first time in the Toga since it had been down for about a year. It's a nice airplane; could use a little better ventilation in the cabin when it's this hot, but plenty of room, nice sounding and nice flying airplane.

To finish off the day, I had a flight tonight at Sheridan starting pretty late to work with the "Pinch Hitters" crew. It's a little different flying with them than flying with students, because they aren't students nor do they want to be pilots, they just want to know how to control and land the airplane and be able to walk away in the event of pilot incapacitation. So I don't do things the same way with them that I do with everyone else, I just do the bare bones "this will get you down safely in the majority of general light airplanes out there". In 1.3 hours tonight we covered controlling the airplane by pitch, power, airspeed, steady rate climbs and descents, turns, and takeoffs and landings. If they asked a pilot about what I'm telling them to do, the pilot would tell them 20 steps I didn't teach them. But they won't remember and don't need 20 steps. They need to know the top five to get down in one piece. It's an interesting exercise, anyway, and hopefully one they will never need. My person tonight did in fact make a landing he/she would have walked away from just fine AND been able to re-use the airplane, without me touching it, on their first time ever in a small airplane. Success. :)

Tonight is Steve & Kaylee's night. When I got home (late), they were in the living room playing Wii Cheer and Wii Music and having fun, and they plan on staying up late and sleeping on the couch. Kaylee really enjoys these special nights. Once in awhile I join them, but usually I let it be a daddy/daughter thing. They're awfully cute...