Today was just for fun. I just wanted to get back up into the sky. It had been more than a month since I last flew.
I have only flown 6 times this year. Between only flying on weekends, my scheduled, and the weather, I haven't been able to get up in the sky.
This week the weather was going to cooperate so I check the schedule and booked a plane and an instructor.
Since my doctor changed my meds, I am waiting for the FAA to agree that I am ok to fly by myself again.
Having to have both a plane and an instructor, It makes it a lot harder to schedule.
When I got to the airport, Natalie was talking with her last student.
While I got the book for the plane and checked it out, she finished up.
She was looking at me so I asked if she was wondering what we were going to do. I said we were just going to goof off.
She said she saw that I had written that down so was curious.
I explained about my medical and that she should just have to sit there and talk and enjoy the flight.
She said that was fine.
I finished up checking the book then said I was going to pre-flight the plane. She said she would wait inside. It was a LOT cooler inside.
I did the preflight and she came out as I was finishing up.
I had some trouble getting the plane started. It took 3 tries and 2 primes but finally it started with a bang and ran fine.
I pulled out and away from the new building to do my runup and finish my pre-flight.
When I was done, I got the current weather and then taxied towards the taxiway and called Ground.
I said I was at Air Associates, with Hotel, ready to taxi for departure to the northwest.
Ground cleared me to 26Right via Echo and asked for my direction of flight. I repeated to the Northwest, Mexico, MO.
I stopped at the hold short line, did my final checks, then called Tower and said I was at 26Right, ready to depart.
Tower cleared me to depart, 26Right, right turn out approved. I acknowledged, rolled onto the runway, got lined up, applied power, and took off.
I climbed up to 3,000 and leveled off. I had been planning on 4,500 but as hazy as it was, I decided it wasn't going to get any better visibility so stayed lower.
Natalie and I talked as we flew. She has been flying since she was 16. Went to SIU Carbondale for her degree and her other flight certificates.
She went to Florida and taught there for awhile before coming back to St Louis.
We listened to St Louis and Mizzou Approach.
I checked the weather. It was reporting winds at 250 @ 6.
When I was 10 miles out, I reported 10 to the southeast, inbound for touch and go on 24.
I did 4 nice touch and gos; normal landing, 10 degrees of flaps, 20 degrees, and no flaps. They were all pretty good.
After the fourth, I reported airborne off 24, departing the area to the southeast.
I claimed back up to 3,500 feet and flew along, again listening to Approach.
We talked more and as I got closer to St Louis, I got the weahter. It was reporting 210 @ 5.
12 miles out, I called Tower and they said to make right downwind for 26Right. I acknowledged and adjusted a little so I could get set up better.
Abount 2 miles out, Tower cleared me for the option. It wasn't very busy yet.
I did 1 nice touch and go and there were 2 other planes inbound by then.
My second and third touch and gos were fine.
When I was on downwind for my fourth, I told Tower this would be to a full stop.
Tower told me to extend my downwind, I was number two. We looked and I reported number two, other traffic in sight, cleared to land 26Right.
I turned and slowed down as we watched the other plane land ahead of us.
I ended up getting too slow and dropping the last bit onto the runway.
My last landing was the worst of the day.
I rolled down and Tower told me to exit at Echo, straight in to the ramp. I acknowledged and pulled off.
The plane that landed ahead of us was stopped ahead of us. We had to wait a moment till it moved so we could taxi back and park.
I shut down and while I cleared out my stuff, Natalie got out and tied down the wings and tail.
We headed inside where it was much cooler.
A nice flight.
www.shashek.com
