My first real training flight

I decided to interview 3 CFI’s for my training, but I wanted to learn as much as possible in the process. I prepared for my first flight by reviewing lessons in various training aids. Got up this morning and looked outside. After literally WEEKS of fantastic weather, it was overcast and looked like rain. 4 months of waiting, and I get shut out? All day I kept calling the ATIS at VNY to see how things were shaping up. By 4:00 (lesson was scheduled for 4:30) it was marginal at best. I called Kent (my flying club’s CFI) to see if we were still on. He said sure – we could at least fly around the pattern a bit, and the wind was real calm.

So I went. We did a quick preflight, and we headed out. It was even more exciting than I expected. Just 4 trips around the pattern, but I learned tons. By the 3rd circuit, I was climbing out properly, trimming, doing coordinated turns, turning crosswind, downwind, base and final all at the right times, and starting to get a feel for the landing “process”. Kent is a fine instructor.

Tomorrow I’ll schedule a lesson with the CFI who took me on my intro flight – Marv Rowley.

1.3 hours