willisbr
Active Member
I just got the handshake from Ron Menzie because apparently he thinks I can fly!
I can't say enough about how great an experience my training and practical test has been. Dofin Fritz has been a great instructor. I owe a great deal of gratitude to him for his patience as it has been a long time coming to make things official. School, weather, work, Navy in the pattern...patience and keeping the goal in sight pays off!
Ron and I met Wednesday afternoon and did some table talk for a while. Ron is a super guy. I felt that we were best friends the moment I met him. He's easily engaged. Not only is he an easy brain to pick, he has such an inquisitive personality and wants to know about you and your experiences.
He showed me around his hanger/apartment/shop/man's dream escape and then off we went for a flight. I spent an hour getting used to his SH modded RAF. It was a bit of a challenge because I had to get used to the differences. It sure is a great machine. It was quite different and I couldn't put my finger on why...until he pointed out the CLT. OOohhh!
So we landed and went to lunch at some hole in the wall coffee/sandwich shop which was AWESOME. I've never had a better salad and sammich. There were old couches and tables spread out in an open garage looking place. Everyone is very nice in Searcy. There is a major Christian college here that runs the town. The radio stations include 3 country stations and the rest are gospel. If you have other tastes, bring an iPod or dashboard drum to the beat of seams in highway. Oh, and it's a dry county. So I can't go have a celebration guinness after passing the practical. Shame. Nearest cold one is an hour away. BYOB. After we had dinner we went back to the shop and did some maintenance on his RAF. I called it a night and went back to the Hampton Inn. Heated pool and hot tub. Yea.
The next morning, after a buffet breakfast at the Hampton, we met at the hanger and did some more table talk. Shortly after, we did the oral and flight test. Thanks Lord for the direct cross wind. You are so kind. His RAF handles beautifully in wind that was quite intimidating. But...I PASSED!
A few pics and a hand shake later...and I was a Sport Pilot!
Now to go home and get some more hours. and more. and more. I'm a happy guy right now. Off to the hot tub!
I can't say enough about how great an experience my training and practical test has been. Dofin Fritz has been a great instructor. I owe a great deal of gratitude to him for his patience as it has been a long time coming to make things official. School, weather, work, Navy in the pattern...patience and keeping the goal in sight pays off!
Ron and I met Wednesday afternoon and did some table talk for a while. Ron is a super guy. I felt that we were best friends the moment I met him. He's easily engaged. Not only is he an easy brain to pick, he has such an inquisitive personality and wants to know about you and your experiences.
He showed me around his hanger/apartment/shop/man's dream escape and then off we went for a flight. I spent an hour getting used to his SH modded RAF. It was a bit of a challenge because I had to get used to the differences. It sure is a great machine. It was quite different and I couldn't put my finger on why...until he pointed out the CLT. OOohhh!
So we landed and went to lunch at some hole in the wall coffee/sandwich shop which was AWESOME. I've never had a better salad and sammich. There were old couches and tables spread out in an open garage looking place. Everyone is very nice in Searcy. There is a major Christian college here that runs the town. The radio stations include 3 country stations and the rest are gospel. If you have other tastes, bring an iPod or dashboard drum to the beat of seams in highway. Oh, and it's a dry county. So I can't go have a celebration guinness after passing the practical. Shame. Nearest cold one is an hour away. BYOB. After we had dinner we went back to the shop and did some maintenance on his RAF. I called it a night and went back to the Hampton Inn. Heated pool and hot tub. Yea.
The next morning, after a buffet breakfast at the Hampton, we met at the hanger and did some more table talk. Shortly after, we did the oral and flight test. Thanks Lord for the direct cross wind. You are so kind. His RAF handles beautifully in wind that was quite intimidating. But...I PASSED!
A few pics and a hand shake later...and I was a Sport Pilot!
Now to go home and get some more hours. and more. and more. I'm a happy guy right now. Off to the hot tub!
