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Flying Lesson 18
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After reeling in the success of a solo crosscountry that went as planned, today's lesson was another dual crosscountry to another airport in Bradford county PA. This was in preparation for my next solo crosscountry which will be early next week. The requirement for this crosscountry is that it spans more than 150 miles. It will consist of stops at two airports before returning back. We traveled to Bradford county using a VOR radial and the trip was mostly uneventful. There was some wind today so we had the wind factor to deal with but other than that it was a routine flight. It is always interesting to land in a new airport. I don't have many hours under my belt so getting oriented, entering the pattern, and setting up for my first landing there took some thought as opposed to landing at my home airport which feels so much more natural after doing it a hundred times.
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Once on the ground I simulated the next leg of the journey by entering the next VOR into the radio. I also had to demonstrate my ability to takeoff, exit the pattern and get started on that leg of the trip. Once I demonstrated that I could continue in the right direction with my instructor, we turned back toward Seamans and flew back. As the lessons progress I become more and more independent. However, I find my self still getting tongue tied when I make my radio calls into a new airport. I assume it will settle down with experience. I know I need to become proficient in this regard eventually for entering airspace at towered airports. I can feel my abilities overall improving with each hour spent at the yoke. I can see clearly where a pilot's experience comes into play.
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