Its about time.

ME, HOBSON AND LOBSTER AT THE CHINESE PLACE
BOREGO VALLEY APT FROM 8500 FEET
ON THE WAY TO IMPERIAL
URS TRULY
EMORY APT




The last post was on the 11 the of january and time has just flown by. All this flying and studying doesnt leave me time for any thing else. But befor i begin...... a big thank you to all who took time out to view the blog and leave a comment....it makes a difference. In case you are wondering if i got my cross country solo...well the fact that i am writing this post means that i made it back in one peice. And by the way it was perfect (if i say it myself). The flight plan was accurate and i passed the check points as per schedule, which left me enough time between checkpoints to to take pics and videos....will upload them soon.


A lot has happened in the last few days...


1. I got caught by a cop for cutting lanes and i was able to wiggle out of it without a fine. What happened was that we went to pick up theses new students from the airport and we took 2 cars. I was following nilesh who has an amazing sence of navigation, however is found wanting in the driving department. On the way back he turned left from a center lane ...completely oblivious of the cop car parked on the bend. I turned after him and guess who gets caught. I can laugh about it now but was shitting bricks when it happened. Infact i dont think i've used as many SIR's in my life as i did that night. The cop turned out to be quite understanding and let me go without a ticket even though i was clearly at fault.





2. After the cross country to Hemet i also completed a long solo cross country of 3.3 hrs. It was from Gillespie to Imperial to Thermal back to Gillespie. By the way Imperial is only 4 miles from Elcentro which is an Airforce Base.........which i almost landed on (but thats another story).....that was an experience by itself. Just being able to share the same airspace with F16's, B 52 bombers, Citations, Lear Jets and the big airliners while sitting in midget cessna 152 ....its magic.





3. I gave my PPL written test yesterday and i scored a 92%. That explains why i've not been able to update my blog. Thats not all.... i have a check ride coming up soon so now have started studying for that. It seems i didnt think things through when i opted to become a pilot. I have almost 2 more years of constant cramming to do. BRIN IT ON!!!!!





4. Oh yes i almost forgot .....went to Torrence for a real nice chinese dinner yesterday. Its only 60 miles from elcajon. But we were feeling a lil lazy to drive.... so we FLEW. Sounds so cool doesnt it!!!
Actually its an Anglo(my school) tradition. Do a night flight to torrence because we need to log our night flying hours and have dinner at the chinese place. Which by the way serves a real sumptious spread for 12$ and its all u can eat.





And yes most importantly ..i am headed to NYC for a week......Guess who's gona be a chachu. Bhabhi is infact in hospital right now and the baby is expected any time tomorrow. Am really very exited........the first baby in the family after a very loooong time. Will upload the pics when i get there. Also after which am headed straight to Chicago for Anish's wedding. So the next few days are gonna be very eventful.

and dont miss me and hobson doing a low pass over el capitan...the link is attached below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDfkgdmyDdc

Cross Country

Have completed about 40 hrs of flyin and am now ready for cross country. So i made my flight plan using the current winds, calculated headings, check points, fuel etc............ and then Hobson took me to Hemet ....about 50 Nautical miles from Gillespie. And once we turned around he asked me to fly us home. All was goin well untill i reached Pauma Valley airport. Kinda lost my way ....n then hobson had to guide me. I promised my self i'd do better the next day. He asked me to make another flt plan ......i stayed up late n was thorough with my stuff. Well we flew at 08:00 hrs and guess what...........the flt plan was perfect........i was maintaining my heading and altitude, each leg was timed to perfection. After 20 mins hobson took the controls and said there was no point completing the flt plan cause he was confident that i would make it. This means that i go to Hemet solo......my 1st solo cross country.......given that the weather is on my side. Its supposed to rain tomorrow. Oh n at the end of our flight.......Hobson decided to do a low pass over el capitane reservoir...... just a few feet over the water and the mountains looming over us. It was beautiful ....also an illegal maneuvre as per FAA.....but what the heck. I have a recording of it.... will upload it on youtube and attach the link. Goto go n sleep now and go over the flt plan in my sleep.

New Year In New York

It’s always nice to be able to spend time with family. Especially with my family since we all live in different parts of the world. Funny, though there are miles and miles of distance separating us.......... we are just that much more close knit. Just like the saying “distance makes the heart grow fonder”. But it’s also because of the way our parents have raised my sister, brother and me. The values they have instilled are what make all of us what we are and will be.
I love you mum n dad , trups n sush.


Well 1st of jan 2007 was the 1st time that we as a family spent new years together after 16 years. And thanks to my bhaiya and bhabhi who live in manhattan ….we could spend it in NYC. And then how could I give up the opportunity of being at Times Square to bring in the New Year. Well mum n dad culdnt make it .......cause they rather see it on tv and sush culdnt make it....... cause bhabhi was pregnant, so it was me n my sis n 2 of her friends who flew down from Montreal just for the night. So we decided to step out and get to 42nd street around 10 pm. Figured 2 hours plenty of time to get there…atleast be able to see the ball from a few blocks away. So we took the subway upto grand central and made our way to the discovery building. It seemed like the whole world was

there…..every other person spoke a different language. The energy was building up and there were cops every where. NYC is really beautiful at new years especially times square with the neon lights every where. There were over 1.5 million people ahead of us …the result we walked all the way uptil central park and cudnt move any further. Didn’t get to see the ball fall but the fire works were amazing and the atmosphere electric. Would I do it again ……never.
But it definitely is a one time thing …….a must do.
Roamed around the streets till we found a pub and returned home at 4.
I didn’t drink……(keeping my promise to mom).
Still a nice way to bring in the New Year.

(cops on bikes at times square)

SOLO

Dec 23, 2006


The Search is over…..I have finally gone solo. PILOT…..me, wow has a nice ring to it.
After a long wait the day has finally arrived. Countless days of practicing the traffic pattern, numerous chair flying hours later. I must say all definitely worth it.
It was a Saturday (also Hanumanji’s day) and therefore there was veryy little traffic. Hobson booked me on N67474 and I did the preflight. He hopped in next to me and we did 2 circuits around the pattern. We then taxied back to school , clicked a few pic’s , he wished me good luck and off I went. I called the ATC “ Gillespie ground Cessna 67474, at Anglo with info K, request Taxi 27 Left ….student pilot on 1st solo”. Got the taxi and takeoff approval and I was ready for take off.
Telling myself to calm down and remember all the procedures…..and follow the checklist.
I was lined up on the runway and then cleared for takeoff…..
Full throttle………… engine t’s and p’s in the green…………… airspeed alive……… rotate at 50 and takeoff.
That’s how quick it happened …..and then the nerves started calming down. Suddenly everything was falling into place ( except the fact that the aircraft was climbing much faster than normal…..now that hobson wasn’t in it any more). Turned crosswind ....landing checks, levelled off at 1400, turned downwind and reported position. I came in for my landing and the nerves started to creep back in….. there was a slight cross wind and the aircraft was drifting slightly. Minor adjustments to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway. The airspeed was a perfect 60 and I was on the glide slope…..just above the numbers ….parallel with the runway ….felt the ground effect kick in ….and flare….. Touch down….as smooth as that. Nilesh and Hobson were recording it on my camera (am attaching the link to youtube) and u can hear nilesh say nice landing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf8QbFB2ArA

Well did another go around and came to a full stop on the third landing.
Taxied back to Anglo and Hobson, Nilesh,Robertson and Paolo were waiting for me.
They all congratulated me and then came the customary celebration. I was asked to kneel and kiss the ground for making it back in one piece…as soon as I did that hobson and nilesh dunked 2 buckets of ice cold water and god knows what else on me. Man it was cold. Have that on you tube aswell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npiIVuaMU_Q

Searchin for solo

ME AND 757CM

SAN DIEGO APT......CAMERA WAS STICKIN OUT THE WONDOW (note to self ....do not open window in flight)





6000 MSL..........NICE WAY TO STEP BACK AND SEE THE BIG PICTURE

ME N HOBSON

ive now completed 18 hrs of flying .............and now am in search of my first solo. Tom says i should have it by monday. But going by the way my landings are going .......i need to get with it. Landings ........i had them good 2 days ago, but for some reason 757CM has not been treating me nice. I am doing everything right in the circuit pattern ....all the way uptil final approach ......im even good till short final...the aircraft is lined up with the runway, airspeed is reading 60, maintaining the glide slope.......engine idle.......carb off.......but the flare ........thats where i goof up. they say that even the best pilots struggle with their landings........i just want to get it right......consistently. I mean i have the theory right ...i just need to focus and practice. Add to that there were a few aerobatic aircrafts practicing manuvers in the same airspace..........and i saw them land. They make it look like childs play, using short approaches, doing 360's while losing altitude and landing in one sweet motion...it was truly inspirational. I have 2 flights scheduled tomorrow......if u see a new entry in my blog.....means i probably got it right.I also have renewed respect for all pilots all over the world......its not easy. Its not only about flying an aircraft..its about navigation, communication, awareness of regulations, aircraft performance and limitations and most important maintaining safety......its multi tasking at its best. Add to that the physical stress of pressure changes and gforces on the body.......no wonder i am exhausted at end of the day. its late now n i plan to get up early to do some cahir flying......wish me luck.

My First Flight

Hi Guys,

I was introduced to the blogging world about a year ago .........and now have finally given in to the urge to become a part of it....

A lil intro ........I was working with IBM India .....happy and content with where i was headed until the flying bug came n bit me ..........well that was 6 mths ago ....now i am in California , enrolled in a flight school and on my way to becoming an airline pilot......well thats the aim....And these are the experiences of a dreamer that u r welcome to share in.

As soon as i joined the school i had to apply for TSA clearance (this is all due to 9/11)
The good news is i have my TSA clearancee as of 30/11/06 ...which means am good to fly and no more waiting on my arse......
I was scheduled for an 8 am flt with my instructor Tom...and yes i was all set...........however one of my friends also named Tom was heading to Hawthorn next to LAXat 5 am n was returning b4 8 so i figured i go with him and try my hand on a Cessna 172 since we begin our training only in cessna 152s which are smaller.
So left home at 5 am .........it was really cold....did the pre flight checks and eventually took off at 6 and headed along the coast to Hawthorn.....passed miramar on the way thats where Top Gun was shot.....and at day break the view started to unravel itself.........words cant express how beautiful the view of the sun rising from the mountains casting its spell on everything around it is, we had a smooth flite untill we landed in hawthorn ......we had an incident on taxi and the right wing was dented.. nice way to begin .....thats wheni learnt my 1st lesson TAXI AT A WALKINGF PACE... take off was delayed to 09:30 to get a second opinion for airworthiness of the aircraft....after the go ahead from the mechanic we took off for el cajon... the aircraft a Cessna 172 ,call sign N6ZP ....a beautiful aircraft ....smooth in the air....and on the way back guess who got to take controls.......and Tom the pilot in command thought i was a natural......i think it comes from driving the omni for 3 yrs......ne ways returned only at 10:30 hrs....so missed my sced training ....doesnt matter though cause i popped my cherry with a C172.....lucky me.
Date 01 /12/06....time 12:00hrs....A/C CESSNA 152 N757CM my 1st flt with my instructor.....tom hobson....nice guy ...Typical Brit....slightly cocky.....and as i later found out an aeronautical engineer ...and an ace pilot.....guess i lucK out again.
Did the pre flt check....filled fuel as well.. just like u do in a car except the tanks are in the wings.....and take off. Climb to 3500 ft and i was already on the controls by 1200 ft.....did the reg maneuvres....climbs ....descents......normal 20 degree turns............and then he said that there are 45 degree turns which are more difficult... since you need to maintain the turn without losing altitude and increase throttle at the same time and do a 360degree turn using only visual reference.......which he said i would do much later.....i asked if we could try it....he gave the go ahead (a lil sceptical though)......Guess what guys I NAILED IT... ....Good begining i feel. Asked for feed back and Tom said he has never seen n e one do a steep 45 deg turn on the 1st day.............i feeeel goooood.
looking forward to tomorrow......i'm sced for 2 flts......wish me luck.