awesome

Mason's Tweet solo

In the Tweet world, this week was a good rebound from the crappy weather spout we had. I got to fly Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and today was a “travel day” so we didn’t have to come in at all. Although birds were a real problem in the area, I still managed to get my requirements done and solo on Thursday. There’s a rule about when birds are too severe, then no solos, and if it’s moderate, then solos can only do three patterns before making a full stop landing. When we got into the plane, they were first reporting severe so I thought my whole day just went down the tubes. But luckily they changed it right then to moderate, so I still got to do my three little patterns (a whopping 15 minute flight). Still, I’m relieved to have it done with. This last week, I had some concepts about the pattern work really click for me so I feel a lot more confident.

After we get back from our winter break, I’ll be pushing on to instrument work and doing some aerobatic maneuvers (loops, aileron rolls, etc). I’m not sure but I think there’s only about 9 more flights for me now before my contact (basic visual maneuvers) checkride. It’s a little different than civilian training syllabi in that a lot of the phases overlap. For example, I’m in the contact phase right now but I’m also doing introductory instrument flights. In college, it was very separated between what you were training in (visual one year, instrument one year, multiengine one year, etc). It’s a lot more to study and be prepared for so no slacking off too much during break!

The pics and video are from my solo takeoff in the T-37 Tweet. In the Air Force, the IP hops out of the plane and sits in on the little tower that controls all the pattern work. So he could hear and see everything I was doing. It’s a little more nerving than the civilian world where the instructor shakes your hand and goes inside to an office room to chew his nails until you land. But all was good, I think the controller even rated one of my landings as an “excellent touchdown” which doesn’t get given out too much (at least not to me)..

Mason forgot to mention the most important part…me! Since we got out of school on Wednesday I was lucky enough to get to go see Mason’s solo. I didn’t actually get to see him fly, but I was in the flight room with some of the guys in his flight and I got to hear him over the radio. Then I got to go with the guys out to the dunk tank. It’s tradition to throw the guys into this big (nasty) tank of water after they solo. So for me, it was pretty fun hanging out with the guys and I don’t think they minded that I brought a huge bag of chocolate chip cookies with.

Mason and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings for a celebratory dinner, and then went to the casino, since it was military night. Unfortunately they changed the hours from 5-9, so we were there too late, but discovered that we each had some money on our cards. Our rule, only play with the money they allot us…so we went in with $15 free, and came out with $28.25…overall I’d say pretty good! Mason and I are definitely enjoying the time off from work, and are now looking forward to Christmas on Tuesday, and a visit from my family next week. Mason just left for a group motorcycle ride with some of his classmates, and I’m going to just hang out and maybe run a few errands. PS, it is 76 degrees here today! :-)

Some photos: http://neiu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015131&l=6e5ff&id=77800450

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This week was one of those weeks where you just wanted to hang out indoors. For me that was fine, since I'm teaching during the day, but for Mason that meant no flying. Fortunately, the weather has turned around and this weekend brought sunny skies and 50 (almost 60 degree weather). I finally hung my outdoor thermometer, so now I can just look out the backdoor and see the tempertures rise.

Mason and I are finally getting into the holiday spirit, and I told Mason he would get the husband of the year award. He changed his mood around and we hung our holiday lights this weekend. We tried to hang them earlier in the week in the rain, and it didn't turn out too great. We had a difficult time hanging the lights, and even duct tape didn't work. We finally decided to purchase the little clips you need to hang the lights to the roof. They now look great, thanks to Mason's height! We went to town last night and had an awesome dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. We didn't have fond memories of it from a visit in Champaign, but REALLY enjoyed it last night. We finished off the evening by purchasing our first Christmas Tree.

Today, we decorated the tree and did some early spring cleaning. We went through a lot of the tiny things that accumulate around the house, and tore apart some closets with things that were still boxed from the move. It's crazy to think we've been living here 5 and a half months already. I guess that means we're closer to the end, although things here are going well. I've come to realize that Wichita Falls is one of those places that you can't judge by it's cover. There's actually some cool little places, it just takes awhile to find them.

I only have 2 and a half days until I am on my 2 week school break, and Mason gets off Thursday afternoon. Hopefully he'll get his solo flight before then. My students had their holiday program on the 11th and they were GREAT! I attached a video. They learned social dances, and were awesome.

Cheers to another week!

http://neiu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015053&l=90893&id=77800450

A crappy winter wonderland

This week sucked.

I, along with most of H flight, flew ZERO times this week. Every day was cloudy and either icing conditions or complete fog. In Illinois, fog over the airport in the morning was normal but it would burn off as the day went by. But here, the fog just shows up and doesn't move all day.

My last flight was last Friday and I was starting to feel like maybe I knew what I was doing up there, "flying a decent jet". But now after not flying for so long, that confidence has dropped back down. I spent a lot of time in the sims all week just practicing for my next flight. I have two scheduled flights before my first solo. They're supposed to be all pattern work (just touch and go's) so that will be good for me. Because we've all had such a long break without flying, they might give us an extra flight but maybe not. Our last day of flying before winter break is Thursday so that gives me four days to fly 3 good sorties if I'm going to solo before break (which is the goal).

With all the sitting around and not flying, you would think I would get a lot of studying done. But really, with 12 students all sitting around in our flight room all day, it's extremely difficult to focus on what you're reading. With the exception of one guy who's already solo'd, all of us are at about the same point in training.

Tonight is an ugly sweater/turtleneck & eggnog party at one of the guy's houses. More chairflying this weekend and better luck next week.

In other news, Christmas/Hannukah lights have still not been hung. Nails/screws didn't work. Duct tape didn't stick. I don't think the plastic clips at the store will hold. Staple gun is next.
Chuck Norris approved our class patch so that's in production right now.
People in Texas complain non-stop when the weather is below 60 degrees. It's a little annoying.
We tried to go for a big group motorcycle ride last weekend since the Italians got their bikes but we got rained out. Bummer.
We went to Ellen's school's winter production and it went exactly as you would picture a 3rd-? grader show to be. The 3rd-5th graders ended up being much better than the high school students.

For grins and giggles

Check this out: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1239982372

Where does the Time Go

This week went by so fast. I can't believe that it is already December, although it's hard to think about holidays and such when it's still 70 degrees out. (Not that I am complaining. It's great!) This weekend was also too fast. Mason and I seem to keep passing during the week with our different schedules so Friday night we went out to dinner at On the Border (yum!) and had a chance to catch up on all the things that happened during of busy week. We both were feeling sick this weekend, so Saturday we mostly slept. Mason seems better, but I still don't feel to great. We ran a few errands, and worked around the house and got to go out to dinner again, this time at the Texas roadhouse. They have really good BBQ. When we got home Mason took me for a night motorcycle ride. It was pretty fun, since the weather was perfect and the fresh air felt good, but it was a little scary since he took me on the highways for the first time. It's pretty scary when a truck goes whizzing by...

Today, Mason's class painted a dunk tank by their training building. The tradition is that, when you have your solo flight you get dunked into the tank. Mason's class will be working on their solos over the next few weeks, so they got to paint the tank with their class theme...they chose Chuck Norris quotes. It was warm, but VERY windy today, so it felt pretty cold. I tagged along for fun (and borough cookies.) we didn't too much work done, but Mason spent the night studying, and I took it easy to prepare for tomorrow.

http://neiu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2014831&l=6ef28&id=77800450