I have even one MORE thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!! I just made my 1st cross country flight Tuesday. It took me four days to make a proper flight plan to get there (you should see all the balled up paper on the floor of my bedroom!), and two hours to make the one for coming back, so I guess I finally have it mastered. Although I really couldn't make out half of the smaller way points, I realize in reality that those small rural ones wont be used too much, its mostly look for the larger towns and landmarks along the way, especially at night. I also now know how to intercept VOR radials to verify my way points.
None the less, we left GPT at 4:30, made it the 74 miles up to Pinebelt Regional (PIB), did two touch and goes, and started back. Pilotage up there, VOR back using V114 out of the Eaton VOR. By now it was dusk so this would be my 1st night flight. I made out Griffin Memorials' (M24) beacon when we were about 5 miles south of the Eaton VOR. FLASH, FLASH, FLASH, FLASH......nothing. It figures that their beacon would go out on MY 1st cross country, but thats OK, I just kept on Eatons166 radial till I saw the lights of Wiggins (in other words, the Wal Mart parking lot), then headed to the GPT VOR. The air was cool and dense, and the 172 was flying smooth and steady. I got to McHenry, got a visual on the TV towers to the east of 49 and felt good about knowing my way points. Over Hwy 53, Lyman intersection down below, Shadetree apt to the west, another way point recognized. Now turn on the landing light and give the Piper passing to my south a good visual on me, and ATC instructs me to follow him in; #2 to 1-8. He passes in front and I turn to the east to intercept the extended runway for 18. Lights are low, a little haze but I get a good bead on the threshold lights at about 3 miles out. I run my landing sequence, get configured and start my descent to 1-8 at GPT. The plane is responding WONDERFULLY in this dense air, and although the descent is a tad on the high side, it feels like the wings are being held up by the hands of God. Down to 18, look for the skid marks, begin my round out and let her settle to the runway. A little abrupt, but for my first time at night, not bad! Depth perception at night is not as good as in the daytime. That will improve. One full stop, then taxiway B, A to 18 and up we go again. One of the smoothest takeoffs I've made so far. Now on upwind, turn right pattern: crosswind, downwind and base, all nicely coordinated. Why is my pattern so much better at night than in the daylight? I guess because I'm more relaxed. Night flying is strangely more relaxing than in the day it seems, I expected the reverse. Two more through the pattern with full stops: now I'm current, the plane is in one piece and we're all still alive. Back at the ramp I can hardly find the right words. Any landing you walk away from! In a word...WOW!!!!! This is what it's all about! Happy Thanksgiving! -- Glenn Martin Owner KR2 N1333A 13238 Hudson-Krohn Rd Biloxi, MS, 39532 rep...@martekmississippi.com
