December 12, 2003 - Ah !!! It has been awhile since last flying and I am ready to get back in the plane. It really makes a difference when the flights are too far apart. The menu for today is partial panel and compass/timed turns with a couple of approaches thrown; ILS30-KLVN and VOR36-KFCM.
It was by the coldest day that I have flown for some time. I went to preflight the plane and thank goodness it was in the hangar. Once we were ready to go, the first thing was starting the plane to get some heat. We taxied out and departed 28R for a southbound departure.
Once level we started the compass/timed turns and they went quite well. I was very happy with the results. Drew called up ATC and we were able to get a clearance for the ILS30 at KLVN under our own navigation. That is not that easy because the Airlake airport is very close to KMSP. The approach was different because normally we would have been given vectors that would have put us into a traffic pattern. Under our own navigation, we flew direct to the FGT VOR and then intercepted the course and flew outbound for a minute before doing a procedure turn. After the procedure turn we intercepted the inbound course and tracked the ILS with minimal problems. The slight reminders from Drew are getting fewer and farther between. The approach went fairly well and when I flipped up the foggles the runway was easily within reach and I would have had no problem making the landing.
We went missed and started back towards Flying Cloud for the VOR36 approach. The airports are not far from each other so there is not much time to get the self-brief done. Drew had me slow the plane early and that made a world of difference. I completed the brief and just as I did, ATC cleared us for the approach. The wind was calm today so we were allowed to do the straight-in approach for 36. I blew through the FAF and after a quick reminder from Drew I started the timer and chopped the power. I continued the descent and Drew did not allow me to flip up the foggles until I reached the MDA. At 1280 (or is it 1208), I flipped them up and like magic the runway was right off of the nose. Yippee !! Another successful flight. I landed and taxied back.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
1. Start the Timer at the FAF.
2. Reduce the power 500 rpm�s at the FAF.
3. Watch your altitude. You can be over by 100 ft, but do not go below it. That will be an instant bust.
4. Keep studying.
