Feels Good to Get Back in the Cockpit

Last Sunday, I tried to fly for the first in 5 failed attempts and didn’t have much success. During the engine run-up, I experienced a bad Left magneto…450 RPM drop with uncomfortable shaking. So after trying to lean it out, apply carb heat, and do whatever I could to burn off the magneto, I decided it was best to shut it down and try to fly another day. But my frustration built more after I called the flying club the next day to see if anyone had flown the plane after me, and apparently someone did. I’m not sure how…since the maintenance shop was closed and the plane obviously did not pass the run-up on my watch…but nevertheless, whoever flew it after me had a separate issue which was squawked and the plane was grounded for a couple of days.

I wanted to try again on Wednesday night but after seeing that the plane was still in maintenance by the late afternoon, my gut told me wait until another day. Instead, I went flying with my roommate in a DA-40 that he rents out of a different flying club at PAO. The flight with him that night was great…clear skies and the beautiful Bay Area scenery. It was a little odd that there was so much traffic in the pattern that evening. At any given moment there were easily four aircraft on the ground awaiting takeoff and four in the pattern on clearance to land. But it was great to hear the radio and be part of the scene. I loved it! And I knew I had to get myself back in the captain’s seat soon.

So I decided to take a day off from work on Friday and spend at least an hour flying. And though it was hot…like 100 degrees…and a little hazy…it was still a great day for flying. And this time…everything passed the preflight and runup. So I stayed in the pattern for a couple of landings at PAO before deciding to buzz my office (at 1800ft) and proceed for a straight in approach to SQL. I completed a landing there and headed back to PAO for my fourth and final landing. And trust me…I didn’t want to stop but every tick of the clock is more money…so I taxied back to the ramp, parked the plane, and felt like a pilot again. It’s an indescribable feeling and one that I really wanted to get back.

I ended up heading up to SF in the evening last night and sat with a friend on the Embarcedero near the Bay Bridge to watch the city and the Bay at night. And while there, I dreamt of my next possible adventure…taking a Bay Tour Flight at night. We’ll see…one of these days. Until next time…”keep the dirty side down! “