O/T? One step...or flap...closer

[Greebo]

I say O/T? because I'm not sure if we even *have* an ON topic subject in the tavern...probly not, but this is pretty unrelated to anything else we talk about so call it O/T if you want. :)

Yesterday I took my written exam for private pilot - airplane. I passed with a 97%. Its a computerized multiple choice test with 60 questions and very few of them require much math/vectoring/weight balance computations - passing it is pretty easy if you are serious about learning to fly.

Its a big step, I guess, but a much much bigger one will be when I solo for the first time, and then when I go for my checkride. The checkride is when you PROVE you know how to fly - the exam is proving you know how to take tests.

Still, I'm happy about it! :)

[Shiz]

What question did you get wrong? :lol:

[Aananla]

Nice job Greebo! So when do we get to throw the water balloons out at 300 feet? :D

[Greebo]

What question did you get wrong? :lol:
2 Questions wrong - both dealing with the height of airspace - one with how high over a Class C airport does Class C airspace extend, and the other with at what altitude does an Airway airspace begin.

[Greebo]

Nice job Greebo! So when do we get to throw the water balloons out at 300 feet? :D
As soon as I decide I don't want my pilots licence anymore. 8)

[Lycos]

Congratulations Greebo!

Ok, we can throw water ballons at 1000 ft then. Gotta clear the high buildings! :lol:

[Sir Rubi]

Grats on passing the exam! Just don't choke on the flying part (pun intended). Or should I say, do choke...

Do they even use chokes anymore? :shock:

[Greebo]

Grats on passing the exam! Just don't choke on the flying part (pun intended). Or should I say, do choke...

Do they even use chokes anymore? :shock:
If you're referring to the mixture control, yes, they do.

When you fly at different altitudes, the air density decreases. This results in a fuel-to-air mixture which is too rich with fuel (simply called "too rich"), which causes the engine to run roughly or even go out as there is not enough air to support combustion.

As you increase in altitude, you use the mixture control to "lean the mix" which reduces the amount of fuel fed into the engine, and you adjust it for best performance (highest RPM) from the engine. TOO lean and your engine burns too hot and can overheat, which can lead to pre-ignition (fuel burns before piston reaches the top - bad for engine) or detonation (fuel explodes in the piston instead of burning smoothly - bad for engine).

When you land and are done flying, you cause the engine to stop by leaning the mix fully, so as to remove all fuel from the engine. You do not simply turn off the magnetos, because fuel could remain in the engine, and a person walking near the prop would be exposed to a risk of a parked plane suddenly spinning the propeller and causing damage to person or property.

[attriel]

It's like he read a book or something!

Now he'll keep going on about this or that about planes whenever it comes up, b/c he's partially licensed!

:lol:

[Greebo]

It's like he read a book or something!

Now he'll keep going on about this or that about planes whenever it comes up, b/c he's partially licensed!

:lol:
No, I'm not. I am not even certified to take a plane up by MYSELF yet without an instructor.

All I have done is prove to the FAA that I can parrot back their regs to them. :)

[Asharad]

Can I sit in the back of the plane and machine machine gun noises?

[Greebo]

Can I sit in the back of the plane and machine machine gun noises?
Be my guest! But only if you go along with my "simulated dogfight" scenario where you have to report the location of a tailing aircraft while I attempt to get him off "our six". :twisted:

[Asharad]

Be my guest! But only if you go along with my "simulated dogfight" scenario where you have to report the location of a tailing aircraft while I attempt to get him off "our six". :twisted:


Swwwweeeetttttt.

I'm there.

[Gordium7]

Maybe your instructor will be sneaky like my first one. After shooting a couple touch and goes, he tells me to come to a complete stop and taxi off the runway and onto the taxiway (with a serious expression on his face). Then its, "Do two T&G's and then pick me up..."

Talk about your pucker factor.

Gratz on the written test! You will LOVE the solo flights.

You will never forget your first solo flight....

Talk about your adrenaline rush.

Nor will you forget your other first flights...

... another solo (after not flying for 5 years)
... first jet flight
... first jet solo
... first night flight
... first aerobatics flight
... first aerobatics solo
... first formation flight
... first formation solo
... first in-flight emergency
... first wash-out from a military flight training program :oops:

hehehe... look what you can look forward to?

Good luck.