Kickin' It

Man, I really need to catch up my logbook again, dangit.  I let it get way too far, and here I had been doing so well for so long.  *sigh* 

Flew the ole "Slug" today, 32L, with a guy working on his instrument rating.  You might not think that airplane is good for that because there are no gizmos and the panel is arranged in other than the normal configuration, but when you're working on the basics of interception and tracking and holding, you don't need gizmos.  In fact, this may help with situational awareness in the end anyway.  Really, the airplane did very well today.  We were full of fuel on a not-that-cool day with two not-that-small people in it, and it performed very well.  I do like that airplane.  It could use a couple small things, but all in all it's a solid airplane.

Next up after lunch I got to solo a guy who has been working towards solo for...years.  He's another one, he's had some difficulties, in many different arenas, but he kept on going, and today he kicked me out of the airplane and went off by himself.  I always love that.  When I was inside, while he went around the pattern I sat down and was watching the TV there.  A guy came in and said he wished he was a CFI so he could sit at the airport and watch TV.  I said "WHILE your student is on his first solo."  He said I must be too scared to watch the guy land.  I said no, I wasn't nervous at all about it, it just takes him awhile to get around the pattern, so I relax for a few minutes then go watch the landing.  And he did great, of course.  :)  Yesterday one of mine passed a checkride, today one went solo, it's a good week!

Before I got out, I told the guy that there was a radio inside, that I'd be listening, if there was anything that came up, I'd be there.  He said "What if I get on the radio and say 'Laura--how do I land this thing again??'"  I told him that if that were the case I'd get on the radio and talk him through it, but that he and I both know I won't have to do that.  ;)

The below is a video I saw last year sometime, that Nathan sent on today.  That just looks like a lot of work, and a lot of fun.  I'd enjoy doing that for awhile.  Not forever, but for awhile.  Probably just long enough to get good at it.  ;)  But it definitely gets the testosterone going.  C'mon, doesn't this look like fun??  (I just showed this to Kaylee, who said "You would have a LOT of fun with that, wouldn't you."  I'm like 'Yup!'



This weekend is slowly coming into focus.  We're going to send another CFI down to support the Westfield fly-in.  Steve's going to Air Boss at the Warsaw airshow.  Kaylee is going to wait until the next go-around in a few weeks to test for her yellow belt, both because she wants us both there and because she wants more time to practice first.  She did get a yellow stripe on her existing belt today, and she broke her first board.  A thicker board than she'll have to break for her test, apparently.  She's feeling pretty proud of herself.  :)  And me...I'm either going to Louisville for a formation thing, or going to Warsaw to give rides and fly in their show for them.  I'm leaning towards Warsaw at the moment.  The guy's a super nice guy, he's excited to have us there, and we'll GET gas for going, not just me spending gas somewhere else.  Who needs practice anyway, right?  *cough*