May 15, 2006

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Flight Training Journal

Lesson # 1

May 15, 2006

Log Entry

5-15-06 - Diamond DA-20 - N392DC - From KAEG to KAEG - 2 day landings -0.4 hrs - Familiarization Flight - Wendell Gunthorpe, CFI

I was out of bed at 6:15 AM, and on the road to Double Eagle Airport at 7:15. My first lesson! It's a 20 mile drive to Double Eagle (KAEG) and I had time to scope out the weather. The temperature was 55, the clouds blanked out the sky, and they were doing the "Beer Foam" thing over the Sandia mountains. I walked into the lobby of Bode Aviation at 7:55, and Wendell Gunthorpe, my instructor, was waiting for me. I'd known Wendell for a number of years, as he had sung in the NMSOC with me. He has over 30 years of instructor experience, and I felt that he and I would work well together.

The first hour or so was spent filling out many forms. Homeland Security, release of Liability, aircraft rental agreement, and so forth. Wendell said that we would be training in Bode's Diamond DA-20, which is a low wing, two seat, composite aircraft. I'd had a chance to look at one at Sun 'n Fun in April, and it's a real fast looking aircraft. We did the pre-flight inspection, and then Wendell had me taxi to the run-up pad at the end of runway 17. After the final checks, I followed him on the controls, and we were off. As we only had a short time to fly, we stayed in the pattern, and over-flew the volcanoes. He had me fly the down-wind leg, and then took over, and we made a touch and go. The wind was gusting to 19 knots, but the plane was very responsive to control input. We took off again, and after we turned crosswind, Wendell had me turn to the downwind leg, and I flew to the point that we were on final, and approaching the runway. He took over and landed. We turned off onto the taxiway, and I taxied the plane back to the parking ramp. The most trouble I had was taxing, as the plane does not have a steerable nosewheel. You stear it using "differential" breaking, and it is tricky. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, though. Wendell said my over-correction is normal for first-timers.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable experience! I'm looking forward to my next lesson, when I'll get more "stick" time.

Check back soon for the continuing adventures of Dave's flight training.