Proud of this landing . . . .

Today was a great day flying.  The first part of the day, an hour of IFR training under the hood with the odd ending where Tampa Approach 119.65 basically terminated the flight.  The sequence of events:

• A first ILS RWY 14 practice approach including a clearance for the published MISSED APPROACH, hold at MURDO
• A canceling of the clearance to MURDO upon going missed with the ask, SAY INTENTIONS
• An ask and a clearance for a second practice approach but with the admonition, this approach will end in a full stop.

I stuttered a bit in the read back at the beginning of this second practice approach saying, uh, okay, Niner Niner Five.  My instructor and I moved to a bit of ground school after the full stop.  He was surprised too and had never heard a flight not being cleared for the option and given a choice.  The airspace is filling up in and around West Central Florida!

The second part of the day, because the training flight ended early there was time to join a flock of five Cubs at Havana Café of the Everglades in Chokoloskee.  Great company and food.  Great cafe to fly or motorcycle to.  The flight was KSRQ VPCLE KX01 and the reverse.  A smooth ride down and back over beautiful land, beaches, water and Everglades.

Then the best part of the day.  Back at KSRQ the winds were 18018G27 which meant that the crosswind was 11.6 steady and 17.4 gusting.  You can bet I was quietly repeating to myself the whole descent, go around if, go around if, go around if.  I had already decided Albert Whitted was the alternate since they have a RWY 18.  The landing at KSRQ?  My passenger thought the right wing was going to touch the ground before the wheels and was amazed at how smooth the touchdown was.  After clearing the runway, crossing the hold line, unclenching, connecting with Ground, I smiled all the way to engine off.

The worst part of the day?  Tomorrow's weather is forecast beyond my personal minimums and Alexandra is going into annual Monday.  Hopefully she won't be more than a week there.

Specifications and decription . . . .

Click here for Alexandra's Specifications and Description.  She is NAV III.  This is Cessna's Description beginning with Serial Number 18281504.  Alexandra is Number 18281515 and so I imagine it describes here but it is not a given or a warranty.  (smile)

When you can't see outside . . . .

The work getting an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating was begun in November 2018, first studying and passing the IFR written and then taking lessons.  It is an interesting experience.  Flying only by reference to instruments is challenging.  Meeting the challenge will take lessons and practice.  The minimum experience for the rating are 15 hours dual, 40 hours total.  After racking up the minimum, or more if not proficient at 40 hours, a successful checkride with a designated or FAA examiner will secure the IFR ticket.

A substantial amount of the time spent on the IFR rating can be spent in advanced simulators.  I'll fly Alexandra for all 40 hours unless scheduling becomes an issue.  None of the time flying Alexandra can be alone.  Either my instructor or a safety pilot must be along in the right seat when I am wearing foggles or a hood.

Starting with the last flight to date here are a few flights making up my training and practice:

• KSRQ: four practice approaches ILS RWY 14 (three missed, one full stop)
• KSRQ: three practice approaches two RWY 4 and one 32