It looks nice outside today. High scattered clouds, overall a clear blue sky, a bit of a gusty wind.
What you don't see is the turbulence, lots and lots of turbulence.
Took off from Pontiac and headed towards Flint. This time we left VFR and picked up VFR flight following from Great Lakes Approach to do the approaches at Flint.
We were getting bounced around a bit and it kept getting worse.
Did the Flint ILS 27 approach full procedure with the hold and did it and the hold rather well. Great Lakes Approach liked my hold so much they kept me in it for traffic spacing for quite awhile and sent me off on the outbound leg for a very long time before having me come back in. Then on to a good approach, even as I was being pushed off course constantly by the wind and turbulence.
On the missed, I went on the heading requested by Flint Tower and I was climbing, right on course, and flying completely sideways due to the wind. Quite a weird feeling when just on your instruments.
Then I got vectored for the VOR 18 circle to 27, and was getting bounced around enough that my headset tried to slip off. Fun.
Did the VOR approach and did a good circle to 27.
Then went missed just a few feet above the runway, and back to Pontiac for the Back Course 27L Approach - partial panel from Flint in turbulence. I noted that likely was illegal under the Geneva Convention based on conditons - too bad, did it anyways.
Managed to stay on course and hold altitude at 2,500 even while getting banged around a lot and Kevin thought I did a really good job of it.
Did a good approach and landing partial panel which was rather hard due to the turbulence banging everything around, and did it all correctly.
Conditions were continuous light turbulence with bouts of moderate turbulence, and strong winds, which made it a rather challenging day.
Next up: Mock check-ride and oral exam drills.
That's 1.7, 1.3 simulated instrument, 1 hold, 3 approaches, a very nice landing, and a whole heckuva lot of turbulence.
3 comments:
Better to see it for real than have it catch you unaware... Just sayin...
I've gotten to the point where when I get vertigo in the car wash I look at the car's instrument cluster first....
That six-pack is your friend when the turbulence gets bad. Totally inside will keep you from tossing your cookies.
Old NFO: Yep, that's true.
B: Yep, I was totally focused on the instruments but they were banging around too! Ah, no vertigo, but made it work anyways.
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