Private Pilot, finally

It's been a long time since I last posted. I spent two weeks in October away on vacation and then when I returned I was determined to complete my requirements. One because the airport was closing and two because my medical expired at the end of the month.

Prior to leaving on vacation I flew up to Cheyenne WY with my instructor and got in my three solo take offs and landings. The first two were fairly routine but then on the third I had to do a 360 for spacing due to a commercial, Lake Aviation, flight. And then extend the downwind for another aircraft that was considerably faster than my 172.

Once I returned I reviewed all my hours and found I was .2 hrs short for night time and 1.4 hours short on solo time. So scheduled my instructor for more night flying, basically went up, around the pattern and landed. The next day I had a pre-check ride, check ride with another instructor. That went well, so I rested up at the FBO for 30 minutes and then went out solo for 1.5 hrs. Did some more steep turns, slow flight, S-Turns, and turns about a point.

Thursday, Oct 26, was the scheduled date for my exam with the designated flight examiner. However, Colorado got hit with a wet heavy snow all day. Fortunately, I had also booked Friday and that worked out just fine. We were back in the 60s with clear skies.

For anyone who is about to go through this I would strongly encourage you to review all that book learning. The hardest part of my examination was the ground work, 3.5 hours. Reviewing my pre-assigned flight plan, explaining how I would load and fuel the aircraft. Then reviewing all the symbols on the map and in the airport directory. Then we got into the aircraft systems, what works if this fails, what doesn't work, what are the minimum instruments, etc. A bit on density altitude and it's impact, after all this is Colorado and a 5,000 ft altitude airport can be at 11,000 density altitude on some of our summer days.

After the ground work it was time to fly. For me, that was the easiest part. We went through all the standard maneuvers and short field and soft field takeoffs and landings. As well as engine out procedures and discussing why I picked the location I did for an off field landing. The only odd thing was on returning to 3V5 (Ft Collins Downtown) from the practice area. I was just approaching the Budweiser plant (a standard initial call in point) when the DFE points out something in the air at my altitude. Turns out it was someone in a powered parachute circling around the Budweiser plant. He was right at pattern altitude for 3V5, 6000 feet. Needless to say I made a wide turn around him and made an uneventful landing. Spent 1.2 hours in the air, and it seemed like a lot less.

Quite frankly, the whole process was a great learning experience. So, on Oct 27th I finally got my private pilot certificate/license. And on the 30th the airport closed. I may have been the last person to get their private ticket from 3V5.