Two Pilots & an LSW: Here We Go

Monday, August 05, 2024

Here We Go

Kaylee passed her big licensing exam, and did well on it! She texted us before she went in, that she hadn't slept well, she was nervous, and chaotic, so I talked to her about drinking water, a little caffeine, eating some protein and carbs, closing her eyes, doing some deep breathing, and relaxing, and knowing she knows and loves this field and will get it. She texted almost 4 hours later that she passed, and she said "You may now refer to me as 'Kaylee Stants, MSW, LSW" Woot!! She can now officially start her job as a therapist, and her last big hurdle for the foreseeable future is behind her! She was the first person in her class to take the exam, so she was super nervous, they all knew she was doing it, she'd have to tell them all if it didn't go well, etc. So when she came out, after 3.5 hours for a possible 4 hours to take the test, we were all waiting to hear. So glad they tell you right away, as opposed to having to wait for somebody to score it and get back to you in a week or two like I seem to remember my first pilot written exams being. lol

So that's good and done and woo hoo!

Steve got added to the Aerostar insurance today, so that will help me. Right now I have nobody who can chase me in the faster plane, so doing things like going to Pennsylvania is a lot harder in a 172RG. This will help.

My day was spent running and organizing.

I was up at 5:40 am to get the Conquest to Toledo by 8 am. It is getting autopilot work done. Again. I was picked up by a guy named Jim in Ethan's Cherokee Six. Jim was nervous as all get-out to fly with me, but it was too early in the morning for nerves. :p Jim took me back to Frankfort, I drove to Kokomo, and after a quick lunch took the MBros 340 over to Defiance, Ohio for its annual inspection. I took Brennan with me, one of the kids that works for us. He's standing out as a hard worker and super thoughtful, helpful, and if he sees something that needs done, he just does it, even up at Oshkosh. So I let him do all the flying, and he did a nice job. His first time in a twin with a glass panel, and he was smiling the whole time. Morgan came over in the 172RG to pick us up. On the way home, I told them I could right seat while one of them flew, or I could back seat it and Brennan could fly home and Morgan instruct. She got all big-eyed and said "But you don't ride in the back". I said "You're right, I don't." She said that a few times, and asked if I was serious, and I said yes, so she wanted to do that mostly just to take a photo for proof that I rode in the back. Brennan did a nice job flying, he's signed off to fly the plane too, and I trust her up there more than that. So offering to ride in the back when they both know I don't ride in the back was my little vote of confidence to them both, and it was a little full circle moment, my student instructing another guy and hearing my things come out of both of their mouths. lol

When we got back to Kokomo, I put the time in his logbook, and then had Morgan pull out BOB (which went fine) to run up the right engine looking for an oil leak. We think we found it and can fix it, so that's good news. Then I had her put away BOB (which did not go fine, it was hysterical), and spent the next two hours trying to get my schedule worked out.

Here's what I know. I've got Susi coming from Florida to finish her T-6 transition training which is going to take at least 1/2 a day, and she'll be here tomorrow at noon. I need to pick up the Conquest when it's done but I don't know when that is yet. I need to get to Pennsylvania to pick up the Cheyenne from annual, and Wednesday morning I have a corporate flight to Cincinnati from 7 am - 2 or 3 pm. Thursday I leave for Colorado in the Conquest so I HAVE to have it back by Wednesday. Friday I fly the C-45 to Lincoln, NE to do rides for 3 days so I have to get the Cheyenne before I leave. So not only do I need to arrange my own schedule, I need chase planes and pilots and THEIR schedules. Today I used three different pilots and two different airplanes for my two different stops.

Do I drop off the Cincinnati people, get someone to pick me up there, fly me to Pennsylvania, pick up Cheyenne, fly it home, get dropped back off in Cincinnati to pick them up? Nope, they won't be gone long enough.

See what I'm sayin'?

This kind of stuff is excellent logic problem practice. ;)

What I've figured out so far is that tomorrow morning at 8 am, me, Steve and Cameron leave for Pennsylvania in the Aerostar. I get dropped off, pick up the Cheyenne, bring it home by 11 a.m. Grab a sandwich, pull out the T-6. Susi gets here at noon, and we do T-6 transition training and finish her up hopefully. Wednesday morning 7 am I leave for Cincinnati, till 2-3 pm. Thursday is an all day trip to Colorado. Friday I leave for Lincoln, NE through Sunday giving C-45 rides. Somewhere tomorrow or Wednesday, when I know when it's done, which I don't know yet, I have to get back to Toledo to pick up the Conquest. Got it?