yesterday was a great day!
It started out the night before with my night dual cross country to New Braunfels [BAZ]. We launched a few minutes late [story of my life, see posts below] and because I had a passenger, s-l-o-w-l-y climbed to altitude, but into a beautiful night. I learned a lot as usual, 'altitude is your friend, especially at night',...., but we found BAZ, landed, took off and came home in smooth, clear beauty. I think I like night flying. It was lovely, but late and I was tired. Bud and the poopers were waiting up for me when I got home around midnight, and we went to bed right away.Thursday Bud let me sleep in and took the poopers into town to do chores. I got up to do some last minute cramming for my FAA written test scheduled for 5:30 pm near San Antonio airport. Bud and poopers got back home around 10, and Bud cranked up our new riding mower and was off. Of course he can't mow much since he'd be cutting wild flowers, so he rode it over to show the next door neighbors. He kiddingly says he bought it for me, but he loves it! I doubt I'll ever get to ride it.
We loaded up the puppy car with my E6B [a circular slide rule, the old one Bud gave me which he used in the Air Force], plotter, logbook with endorsement from my instructor stating he thought I was ready for the test, and Bud and the poopers and I were off. We had good directions from Brian Tobias, and also had Google Maps on my Treo, so we found the site with little trouble. Bud and the poopers wished me luck, and I went in with more than a little nervousness.
I was met by Brian [not quite my idea of an FAA Check Pilot who owns Tobias Aerospace Systems]; he had on jeans and a t-shirt stating he was a member of the Helicopter Police. I think he did a little bit of everything there including providing CAT testing for FAA exams, mostly for mechanics. He told me he didn't get many private pilots students taking the test. He got me started on the test, and when I finished about an hour later [I actually went through it twice double-checking, but without reworking the flight planning questions], he told me I made 93! YEAAAAA! Justin had told me I needed more than 90 to make the FAA Check Pilot not worry that I was marginal. Then Brian said he really worked over the guys he checked out who made 100, to make sure they really knew their stuff.
When I showed Bud and the poopers my report I got kisses from all, *SLURP*. Then we went to have a celebratory dinner at The Old San Francisco Steak House [notice I have my great old flying jacket draped over my shoulders] on North San Pedro. Bud had eaten there when he was in SA for recurrency after Viet Nam in 1973, and I had eaten there when we lived in SA in the late 70's. It is famous for the 'Girl in the Red Velvet Swing'. A girl gets on a swing over the bar [the room is probably 50' tall] and swings up until she can kick cowbells attached to the ceiling - really cool - and this is still being done. The girl was cute and did a great job, all with a big smile on her face. Afterwards, they let young customers come up and swing a bit. Shannon did this about 30 years ago, she was so cute in that swing. I emailed her from the table [we love our Treo's], telling her where we were. Her IM reply was that she had thought about that very place earlier that day!Bud and I left with a couple of doggie bags, and since they had not torn anything up in the car while waiting for us [not always the case, BTW], Jack and Sophie got a treat, a few bites of steak [they got the rest for b'fast this morning, cheese omelet with chunks of steak and baked potato - a better meal than most of the uncivilized world or even the civilized world gets]. We got home around midnight and Smokey was happy to see us. She'd have gotten to come with us but we were concerned that we'd have to have the windows open a good bit if it was warm, and we'd have to bring the litterbox as well. So she stayed at home as WatchCat.
[As I am writing this, Smokey comes running from the dining area following a *CRASH* sound. She jumps onto the window sill beside me, lies down, and looks innocent. Bud went to see what happened and she'd knocked down some books and papers that had been on the simulator. Little nibber.]
Next, the big nut to crack, the Practical Check Ride with an FAA examiner. I'll schedule this for after our trip to Pensacola. Keep your fingers, toes, eyes, and everything you possibly can, crossed for me.
Labels: FAA written test, night xcountry
posted by pdf Tex @ 9:00 AM
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