The picture above shows a short solo night flight. Two stop and gos, and one full stop. Close pattern. Runway 4. KSRQ. To get me legal to carry passengers at night. What a beautiful night though. Clear, cool and crisp.
Two things of incredible interest. Go to Flightware. Search for N65995. You can play the flight! I have to say it is not that accurate but it is close.
The second, ask if you want the lights turned up. KSRQ is my home and I think I could line up in clear night skies if the lights were off, but while in the pattern for Runway 4 and right over the arrival end of 32 another pilot asked if there was any way the lights could be turned up. You could have seen them then from KATL! Four other pilots, likely ATPs or at minimum Commercial pilots landing on 32 said thank you.
Can't ever forget about the rules, even though they don't change much any more:
§ 61.57Recent flight experience: Pilot in command.(a) General experience. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or of an aircraft certificated for more than one pilot flight crewmember unless that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days, and—(i) The person acted as the sole manipulator of the flight controls; and(ii) The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required), and, if the aircraft to be flown is an airplane with a tailwheel, the takeoffs and landings must have been made to a full stop in an airplane with a tailwheel.(2) For the purpose of meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, a person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft under day VFR or day IFR, provided no persons or property are carried on board the aircraft, other than those necessary for the conduct of the flight.(3) The takeoffs and landings required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section may be accomplished in a flight simulator or flight training device that is—(i) Approved by the Administrator for landings; and(ii) Used in accordance with an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.(b) Night takeoff and landing experience. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise, unless within the preceding 90 days that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise, and—(i) That person acted as sole manipulator of the flight controls; and(ii) The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required).(2) The takeoffs and landings required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be accomplished in a flight simulator that is—(i) Approved by the Administrator for takeoffs and landings, if the visual system is adjusted to represent the period described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and(ii) Used in accordance with an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.
