IFR the old fashioned way

Since the club took delivery of our newer planes, I’ve been very happy to utilize all of their capabilities – namely the autopilot and approach-approved GPS receivers.  It’s a key thing to know how to use – especially when you are IFR without another pilot in the plane – which is most of the time.  Unfortunately, it can also have the undesirable effect of letting your hand-flying skills get rusty.  Fixed that today.

Decided Pam and I would head to Camarillo for the tri-tip (she had breakfast – not a bad choice either it turns out) in the lightly-equipped 2257E/  To say it was marginal VFR on the way out was putting it mildly.  I considered turning back a few times, only to just catch site opf clear air in time.  Never dangerous of course, but I probably should have gone IFR.  After eating Pam suggested that we go IFR so I could get the practice.  Yes – she is COOL.

So we did.  In the clouds from Fillmore all the way through the Newhall pass on the ILS into Van Nuys, and in moderately bumpy clouds to boot.  There IS no GPS, or autopilot, or much of anything else in this plane – so it was all me.  Flew it great, if I do say so myself.  Needles in the donut all the way until we broke out, under complete control all the time.  I feel sorry for pilots who ONLY learn with the current equipment – they certainly can’t be as accomplished as those who learned it the old way.