fstringham7a
Well Known Member
So there I was, October 20 something, 2001, beginning my first night cross country to fulfill that requirement as I was well on my way to acheiving my PPL......Obsolute wonderful experience. Great CFI, Beautiful Full Moon Night (CFI wasn't happy about that), strings of lights making a snake neading SW towards Vegas, pockets of lights as we passed the small cities on our way to Overton, NV. Man what's so hard about this.....Landed at Perkins (U08), stopped for some snacks, and talked with a V tail Bonanza Driver we monitored as he was flying from SoCal to Overton where he spent time in his 2nd home most weekends.
Now it was time to begin the return leg. All was well as we climbed out at a mighty 450 F/M in that Cessna 150 heavy Then it was time for my CFI to begin his mind game. Hey did you check that, did you do this, are you really sure about that, are your radio frequencys correct, what about the altimeter....................The next thing I knew he grew quite. Great now I can get on with the business of flying this plane from THE LEFT SEAT AS THE BIG GUY IN COMMAND.......ya right. He finally broke the silence and said, "what do you see in front of us"......"Lights of a city in the near distance", I say. "Would you expect to see lights of a city", he continued. to my self....aviate, navigate, communicate.....or was it communicate, naviagate, aviate......?????? In the space of just a few minutes I had turned a 180 and was heading back to Overton. JUST THAT FAST!!!!!!!!!The rest of the flight went as planned with even some pretty good night landings (NINE) back home at Saint George (KSGU). I really like this night stuff!
Now fast forward to 2007 and I am in the middle of building my RV7A. This bird is going to be an IFR and night qualified. I was working on the lighting components as This machine could be a christmas tree..remember Christmas Vacation. In walks my good friend who has combat experience off a carrier, airline Capt., great pilot who notes what I am doing and wants to know about my Mission for the airplane. "Day/NIGHT/IFR aircraft", I say. "WHAT" he says.
He then schools me in all the BAD things that can happen flying NIGHT OPS. Ya but.......no buts "you really up your chances of destroying your BUTT flying night ops". He continues, "You won't find me in the air at night". And I am qualified......YA BUT......what about the pretty lights, the twinkling stars, the calm air....."Your best bet is FLY DAY VFR", he continues.
Ya but what does he know......in walks another friend....with all kinds of hours, in all kinds of planes, in all kinds of weather, as an Airline Captain/GA Pilot for the past 40 plus years.
So I ask him about Night Ops.....He continues, "You won't find me in the air at night". "And I am qualified"......His Experimental doesn't have one light on the exterior so I guess he really means it.
So here I am with a plane that has every light known to the aviation community, a panel that would plow through IFR air, heated pitot.............
Finally my points.
I do want to maintaine night current status. In doing this I will always fly with a qualified safety pilot...I know my limitations. I will work towards an IFR ticket to increase my flying skills and to be able to fly in the system when necessary. But, I don't have visions of grandure of flying to minimums on a DARK and STORMY NIGHT.
As has been said, "There are old pilots but few if any old bold pilots". Know your limitations, flight plan, never allow getthereitis to creep into your thinking, only fly at night/IFR knowing the risks and with great capability on your part, and never ever leave a beautiful family, wonderful friends, and the flying community wondering why???????
Frank @ 1L8 ...RV7A... BUZZ ... N74BZ .... Flying
Now it was time to begin the return leg. All was well as we climbed out at a mighty 450 F/M in that Cessna 150 heavy Then it was time for my CFI to begin his mind game. Hey did you check that, did you do this, are you really sure about that, are your radio frequencys correct, what about the altimeter....................The next thing I knew he grew quite. Great now I can get on with the business of flying this plane from THE LEFT SEAT AS THE BIG GUY IN COMMAND.......ya right. He finally broke the silence and said, "what do you see in front of us"......"Lights of a city in the near distance", I say. "Would you expect to see lights of a city", he continued. to my self....aviate, navigate, communicate.....or was it communicate, naviagate, aviate......?????? In the space of just a few minutes I had turned a 180 and was heading back to Overton. JUST THAT FAST!!!!!!!!!The rest of the flight went as planned with even some pretty good night landings (NINE) back home at Saint George (KSGU). I really like this night stuff!
Now fast forward to 2007 and I am in the middle of building my RV7A. This bird is going to be an IFR and night qualified. I was working on the lighting components as This machine could be a christmas tree..remember Christmas Vacation. In walks my good friend who has combat experience off a carrier, airline Capt., great pilot who notes what I am doing and wants to know about my Mission for the airplane. "Day/NIGHT/IFR aircraft", I say. "WHAT" he says.
He then schools me in all the BAD things that can happen flying NIGHT OPS. Ya but.......no buts "you really up your chances of destroying your BUTT flying night ops". He continues, "You won't find me in the air at night". And I am qualified......YA BUT......what about the pretty lights, the twinkling stars, the calm air....."Your best bet is FLY DAY VFR", he continues.
Ya but what does he know......in walks another friend....with all kinds of hours, in all kinds of planes, in all kinds of weather, as an Airline Captain/GA Pilot for the past 40 plus years.
So I ask him about Night Ops.....He continues, "You won't find me in the air at night". "And I am qualified"......His Experimental doesn't have one light on the exterior so I guess he really means it.
So here I am with a plane that has every light known to the aviation community, a panel that would plow through IFR air, heated pitot.............
Finally my points.
I do want to maintaine night current status. In doing this I will always fly with a qualified safety pilot...I know my limitations. I will work towards an IFR ticket to increase my flying skills and to be able to fly in the system when necessary. But, I don't have visions of grandure of flying to minimums on a DARK and STORMY NIGHT.
As has been said, "There are old pilots but few if any old bold pilots". Know your limitations, flight plan, never allow getthereitis to creep into your thinking, only fly at night/IFR knowing the risks and with great capability on your part, and never ever leave a beautiful family, wonderful friends, and the flying community wondering why???????
Frank @ 1L8 ...RV7A... BUZZ ... N74BZ .... Flying
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