I Believe I Can Fly!

Yay!

2009-08-31T08:58:00.001-07:00

Its in the system! I should be expecting the hard License soon!

License Conversion

2009-08-19T04:27:00.001-07:00

Wah… difficult… jialat.

Airmen Certification Search

2009-08-05T19:12:00.001-07:00

Housemate showed me the FAA airmen search function in the faa.gov website. And its cool, because you can check up practically anyone who has an FAA license. So I checked up on myself.

OK, its not updated yet, but at least my IR is in.

And then we made searches on many other people just for fun. Here’s Harrison Ford.

And this is John Travolta. Haha… just for fun.

Things So Singaporean

2009-08-05T10:54:00.001-07:00

My goodness, this song is so wonderful.

It has the shots of the familiar Singapore. Meaningful facts. The part that cracks me up is the using tissue paper to chope seats, and the 2 temples with a church in between. Haha.

This is home. Nowhere else on Earth is the same.

Done

2009-08-05T10:26:00.001-07:00

I am finally done with my Commercial Pilot Licenses.

Multi Engine CPL (temp license returned)

Single Engine CPL add-on.

The multi checkride was ok, I did whatever I could that was right. And I kept my cool when the simulated engine failure became a real one. It just would not start despite doing all that we can think of. Eventually, enroute to return to Riverside, the engine sputtered up with much effort, and then we continued with the rest of the checkride.

In a twin engine aircraft, when an engine fails, the inoperative engine propellers are feathered, that is, to move it flat or streamlining it to the path of the aircraft. This reduces drag on that side of the aircraft, which would otherwise pull the aircraft strongly toward the inoperative engine.

When an engine restart should be attempted, the props should be set back to the unfeathered position. This unfeathering accumulator helps to make the props unfeather so that the wind can catch on the blades and make it spin. It was later discovered that the unfeathering accumulator was low on Nitrogen or something. Without the unfeathering accumulator, it should still start be able to start. Not too sure why it didnt.

But we made it ok.

The single engine add-on flight was not as good as I hoped. Firstly, it was a long time since I flew the C152, so I was rusty, and I forgot the pattern speeds, and was rough on the soft/short field landing and take offs. Thank goodness for an instructor who spent so much time with me in the plane to help me review it through.

The single engine checkride was ok. The examiner was upbeat and pleasant. When I briefed him the passenger’s brief to the part about an engine failure and what I would do, he ask if I will feather the prop. Haha.. hes funny. The Cessna 152 has fixed propellers. And when the flight was done, he asked if I have any questions during taxiing. I asked if I passed. And he replied “if we dont hit anything on the way back!” and he added, “and if we dun get an engine failure along the way…” then I say, when that happens, I’ll feather the prop.

Despite having passed the checkrides, I dont personally feel that those were my best or even, the better flights. And I shared this with the CEO of RFC, and he said:

“Its better that ur checkrides are not your best flights, and yet you passed. Rather than having it as your best flights and yet still fail.”

That makes sense.

But I suppose all checkrides are flown not completely at the best performance of the students, because there are various stress factors: of having an examiner beside them, of not having an instructor beside them (telling them what they did wrong or dint do), with an added knowledge that this flight is a decision factor of the license issue, as well as an accumulated discomfort with each small mistake the student realises he makes, especially when there is no “lets try that again”.

Now I can come home.

I just realised that I have became a Singaporean who sought to realise dreams in the West. No matter, Singapore truly, is home. No where else would I rather be. (Dang, as a pilot, I would be EVERYWHERE!)

Air Ticket

2009-07-28T17:53:00.001-07:00

I have changed my flight to the below:

7 Aug, Friday.

If the departure were to be on 10Aug, Monday, there will be a USD69 charge. Nuts.

But the flight changes for 11Aug onwards has no extra charge.

OK, see how. 7 Aug for now.

Argh!

2009-07-28T16:45:00.001-07:00

Looks like I wont be able to complete my course in time for my return to Singapore departing on 3Aug Mon.

I need only 4 more flights and I am done with multi engine CPL.
- night short cross country
- night local flight
- day review
- the Checkride
(not considering screwing up the checkride and having to pay USD150 for another go)

Of course, after the Multi CPL, I will be doing a Single Engine add-on. This add-on allows me to be a PIC for a single engine aircraft for compensation or hire. I will need:
- a review of the commercial maneuvers
- The Checkride

The reason why I cannot depart here on 3August? Weather.

It is forecasted that weather will be screwed up for the rest of the week, with a possibility of clear portion on Thursday evening and Friday morning/afternoon. I asked if I could get the night flights knocked out on Thursday, and hopefully, the day flight on Friday… possible, if the instructor cooperates. But both checkrides on Friday too? Unlikely.

Saturday and Sunday seems screwed up too. (Sunday is indicated at another source.)

Tonight is so screwed. Freaking storm moving Southeasterly.

OK, looks like I will just rebook for my departure on Friday 7Aug. In time for National Day!

I hope I return before:
- National Day (as last year’s was spent in India, watching NDP on the internet.)
- my moisturiser runs out (It lasts me almost beautifully for my entire duration, new bottle when I arrived, almost finish when I depart. It was like a foretelling when I would finish my course. Damn, I should have spreaded more on my cheeks to finish it faster.)
- toilet paper runs out (I am a cheapo, I dont want to buy another 4 rolls at USD1)
- quarters for laundry runs out. (About 1/2 roll of quarters left)
- detergent runs out (I think enough for one or two loads)
- before I get any calls from prospective employers

congrats!!!

2009-07-26T15:36:00.001-07:00

Roomate passed his CPL Multi! Congrats!!!!

Probably on Monday, he will do his single engine add-on, and then he can get out of here le!!!

Me next!!!!

Being Pilots

2009-07-26T12:13:00.001-07:00

This is an informative video about how pilots are in operations.

Ok, I think I just need a bit of familiarisation and I will be as good as them.

Bumblebee

2009-07-20T18:51:00.001-07:00

I have a new housemate who came in yesterday. He drove in from Dallas and is a UAE resident. After opening the door for him, showing him around and settling him in, he went off to Walmart and bought a whole load of stuff, including a blender and food to fill the rest of the space that me and Roomate do not use. Now we have difficulty looking for our things. Haha.

We have an issue with temperature, like when I first came, the same problem with Roomate. The Hsemate felt it was too hot, at 76 deg C (24.4deg C), and wanted to reduce it to 74 (23.3deg C) or lower, and we were afraid that the bill will shoot through the roof. Its queer because he comes from USA where is so much more hot, whatever temperature lower than UAE would be more comfortable. But well… dont know.

On the way to school, I saw a red Chevrolet Camaro parked at the car park. I took some pics.

Its the same car as the Transformers Bumblebee, except that its red and has no stripes.

its damn cool man. It looks so strong and fast. Chunkier than the Mazda RX8. I had thought that the Chevy Camaro and the Ford Mustang are among the nicer cars I have ever seen. And here it is, parked right under my nose.

And then when I reached school, a red Camaro was also parked there. I was suspecting that it could belong to my new housemate, but i dont know. But it was later confirmed that its his. Dang! That means I not only can admire the outside, i can ride it!!!!

shiok.

Today was supposed to be my familiarisation flight with roomate in the Beechcraft Duchess.

But as I followed roomate along and learn from him the ropes of pre-flighting this larger aircraft, I spotted a drop of red liquid on the tail anchor. On closer inspection, the red liquid was streaked on the whole length of the belly. It is hydraulic fluid.

So blah blah blah, the instructors came to inspect, then brought in the engineers, and then they decided that the aircraft would be safer if it gets checked, and there the engineer fired the engines and taxiied it to the hangar. So there, my first flight on the aircraft and it became unserviceable.

they popped open the wall cover aft of the pax cabin to reveal an exciting concoction of cabling, tubes and components. Its amazing, a piece of wire, and our lives hang by it. If it snaps, no more controls, and down we will go. Heres a pic.

There was a moment of awkwardness when the instructors asked who spotted it, and while it was roomate who was doing the pre-flight, Stephen spotted the fluid leak. Roomate would point at me and said that I spotted it, but I didnt want to make him seem that he dint notice it, so I said he showed me what to see. Haha. Push here and there. Typical chinese characteristics.

anyway, so there, a whole day of wait and nothing happened. Whats new. Welcome to RFC.

Today, I went to Walmart, and something got into me, because I bought all the comfort foods.
- Jelly beans
- cheese cake (dual packed with triple choc cheesecake)
- snicker 6pack
- 8pc fried chicken (nicer than KFC)

Man… today is get fat day.

First Watch

2009-07-19T14:20:00.001-07:00

My weekends (after the restructuring of RFC) are mostly days to relax, because on both Saturdays and Sundays, no transportation is provided and some instructors prefer not to work on Saturdays.

Every weekend days after that had me waking up at 11.30am. How unproductive, correct? Perhaps. If I had flown 5 Saturdays instead of sleeping thru them, perhaps I could go home one week earlier, right?

Well, nvm. What can I do abt it?

Today, I woke up at the usual time and looked into the fridge to see what I could eat. There was nothing much, and I was lazy to cook. So I took a walk to First Watch, a place which I walked past on numerous occasions, wanted to go in to eat, but never had a chance to. Today, I realised this desire.

I saw a couple of ladies at the same restaurant who spoke something that sounded like Singlish. I think its the same lady I met at Walmart whom I talked to because her accent sounded very from home. She turned out to be a Malaysian on mission work. I didnt approach them to talk this time. Otherwise they must thought I am weird to keep approaching middle aged ladies…

Its a popular place, because I had to wait 10-15mins for a table. When I was seated, I ordered coffee, it came in a flask. Nice. The creamer they have are the French Vanilla flavoured kind. Nice!

I ordered Bacado, which is an omelette with avocado, cheese, sour cream, served with First Watch potatoes, english muffin and salsa. the total for breakfast including tax is USD9.70. I think its breakfast like Cedele and other breakfast places in Singapore.

On the way back, I saw a black Wrangler Jeep, and decided to take a closer look at the car. The door are hinged on the outside, and looks strong. The interior looks luxurious, there seem to be a sun-roof… “HEY!” i heard a shout. I looked back, there was a family looking at me. OK, I do look suspicious hanging ard a car. I walked over to the family and said “my apologies, I was just admiring.” and walked away.

There was a sign I saw at a store. Christmas in July????

Cri Cri

2009-07-17T23:31:00.001-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colomban_Cricri

Hello. This is the Cri Cri. Its the world’s smallest twin engine. its so cute. Its like a toy. But with a range of 400nm, its no joke, can fly direct to Langkawi from Singapore, brings u places!

Some guy modified it and installed mini jet engines (used on Remote control aircrafts) to it. The results? Improved performance! Faster crusing speed. Even with one engine, the speed is only 6kts less than with the 2 props. The link is below.

http://www.amtjets.com/gallery_real_plain.html

Can see the following for its fan-site, where tech specs are avail, and more videos to see.

http://flight.cz/cricri/english/

The S(t)imulator

2009-07-17T22:24:00.001-07:00

By popular demand, I shall put up pics of the simulator that has been giving me the initial training before moving on to the aircraft. Is there more value being put through these unrealistic machines first? I would like to think so. Eventhough the handling isnt so realistic (its so sensitive), it helps greatly with the procedures and most flight techniques.

Just for you, Jeffy. :)

The sim tries (hard) to give itself an “in-the-aircraft” feel, so the externals are shaped like so (No, theres no need to pre-flight the sim). Its made of fiberglass, at least 2 piece joined together. I suspect if we put it into water, it can be used as a boat. The black thing sticking out on the top left is a TV. Yes, a TV. Its like playing Wii.

There are 6 sims in the sim room, 3 on each side. Pictured here are the VFR sims. That is, they have TVs. Bottom right is Oliver.

Pictured below is the IFR sim. There is no TV, hence no “outside” visual. Its flown by instruments reference only. The VFR sims are actually used for IFR training too, actually, the IFR sims are rarely used. I think its because when shooting the approach, the instructor will want the student to take the hood (foggles) off and try to land visually.

This sim is also my favourite sim. Oh no no no, I dun use it. Its my “spot” where I eat my sandwich lunch, drink my coffee and err… read my notes or study… untill a certain point, i only appear to be, without actually productively doing so.

This is the computer user interface hooked up to the sim. With this, the instructor can move me around on the map, change my altitude, determine my winds, pressure setting and/or visibility, fail my systems/instruments/engines. It also can tell the instructor my exact climb rate, my specific heading, my explicit altitude, my coordinates, etc. Cannot cheat.

The whole package deal. See how private and cosy the sim inside is?

The VFR sim with a hole in the cover for the TV, the white thing in front of the TV is the “nose cowling”.

And this is the Frasca 142, the conventional twin sim that has made me waste so much time waiting for for two weeks. I should be getting it done by Monday.

Want a car? Wanna bet?

2009-07-17T22:16:00.001-07:00

The CEO of RFC is selling his Jag for USD 7500. Any takers? That is SGD11250. Add in COE at SGD50,000 and shipping SGD5000, still cheap! Oh yeah, its left hand drive… so cannot…

I visited the Riverspirit Casino last weekend. It was fun, not because I spent a lot, but because one of the group guys made it really funny. This guy, he doesnt visit Casino much, and only wanted to be there because drinks are free (it was self-service freeflow, softdrinks or coffee). And dunno why, of all the surrounding Blackjack tables ofminimum bet USD5 , he stood at the USD25 min bet table, and decided to play there.

So its just him and the lady card dealer. And it was clear to her that we are inexperienced, so she explained that the min bet is USD25 to be placed in the big circle and also a USD1 chip in the small circle.

So she started dealing. faced down, he pull the corners of the card to see the numbers, and she told him not to bend the cards. just pick it up and see. Haha. Hes got an Ace and a 2. that would be either 13 or 3, correct? He said “hit me”. She say, just use the card to scrape the table, he doesnt know what she means, and when she elaborated, he overdid it.. haha… scratching the table like 4-5 times..

Hes got another A. So that 14, 23 or 4, correct? What would you do? I would take another card, just to take chances. He chose to stay. Siao.

Needless to say, the dealer won and took his bet. She took a while to count the total in his hand of cards, and had a look that we felt was “wtf, does this guy know how to play Blackjack at all?”

Hahahahha.. it was SO hilarious. He was lamenting later that with USD25, they could buy SO MANY packs of cards. Haha… And we were laughing at how he said, “hit me.”, scratched the card on the table. and ultimately, how he chose to stay with the hand that he has. hhaha.

He then tried the jackpot machine, inserted USD2 worth of bills, pushed one button (the highest bet) and was gameover. HAHAHAHA… He could have pushed another button to opt for more “lines” and increased his chances of winning. Or pushed smaller bets and could played more rounds… Oh well…

I havent laughed so hard for so freaking long.

I tried to lose some money there too. Yup, u guessed it, I played the jackpots too. At the Indiana Jones machine that was flashing 2million on top, i announced that I am going to win back my training fees. I inserted USD1, and had two goes at a minimum bet of 40cents. And what happens to the 20cents change? I opted to cashout, and the below was what was printed.

I didnt want to make a mockery of myself to cash it at the counter, so i decided to keep it as a memento. Besides, there may be a service charge for that, and say it costs 25cents, I would still have to pay the counter girl 5 cents, just to cash it.

Home Built Aircrafts

2009-07-12T17:04:00.001-07:00

OK, I dont know whats gone into me, but over this weekend, I had developed this enormous interest to build a plane by myself. There are many companies that manufacture airplane “home-kits” for aircraft enthusiasts wanting to own one for themselves, and yet want it cheaply.

The result, building your own. Its like Ikea, they have save ur costs by letting you do ur own constructing, but they provide all the materials needed, even possibly some basic tools.

I went to search online, and found so many nice nice home-built planes. There are so many designs, some requiring more building time than others, or more complex tools, etc.

The Aerocanard: USD 24, 132 (Airframe only price)
This should be a fun plane to fly. A canard type aircraft. It does not have an empennage (tail: rudder and elevator part) section, but rather, the lateral axis is controlled by the mini forward wings. It has various advantages over the rear elevator such as providing better stall recovery characteristics, because the mini wings stall first, therefore dropping the nose, thereby reducing the angle of attack and gaining speed to recover from the stall, the main wings dont even get to the stall yet.

Vans RV-7A Airframe Kit – USD 20,540
The picture of the aircraft I took in this blogpage of mine, i think is a Vans RV-6, which is the previous Vans version in tailwheel.

Zodiac 650 : USD 18,500
The cheapest, simplest, seemingly easiest to assemble, and coolest, with the bubble canopy. Its similar to the Vans RV-7A though.

See the nice “bubble” canopy?

Tailwheels come standard on some aircrafts, but since I do not have the tailwheel endorsement, of course I would choose the conventional (tricycle) gear options, nevermind the add-on price.

The prices stated are for the airframe only. Other items required are the engine (duh…), propeller, instruments, paint, tools, and would cost more than the airframe itself. The lowest cost the completed aircraft might cost is at least USD 50,000. Thats SGD75,000. Abt the price of one car!

Im sure if i looked hard enough, I could find a 2nd hand Cessna 152 or similar for less than that, to fly immediately. But then again, what fun is that if i dont build it myself.

Since the idea is to build it, then comes the thought of where I could do it. Home would be easy, except that there is really a lack of space. If I have a garage or a backyard, that would be easy. But HDB flat? nah… I thought abt building it at the airport, renting a hangar space and going there every weekend to work on it, but the price is recurring. At about SGD4.40 per 100 Sq m per 24hrs at Seletar or MYR 1.00 per 10Sqm per 12 hrs which I will need 50sqm, and will be MYR 10 a day, at SGD5 a day. Hmm, seems like its cheaper at Seletar and far accessible, yeah?

Then I decided to check the singapore AIP on the regulations regarding Sports aircraft, also known as homebuilts. Found in the enroute section, and guess what? Homebuilts are prohibited from operating over Singapore. Damn it.

I wonder if I can make it IFR certifiable standards, if it could be acceptable to use it to fly into Singapore.

Then comes back to the original question, do I really want to own an aircraft?

Silly post.

I suppose, this mini dream of building an aircraft could only come through when:
- I have lotsa money
- i have lotsa time, retiring age? Or perhaps when kids have grown up?
- I have my own backyard or garage.
- I have a car that is strong enough to pull a trailer with the aircraft on it with its wings taken off, to a local airport for some fun flying.

Or I could make a few, in a row, have them certified (if not Singapore, maybe elsewhere), and rent it out at SGD75 per hr (still cheaper by half). That makes SGD75,000 in a thousand hours, after which, I have another 1000hrs more to TBO and would have broke even.

Just thoughts to occupy my mind… It will be a long time before it happens.

Not My Laundry Day

2009-07-07T22:12:00.001-07:00

My day went ok today. The Multi Sim was acceptably terrible. It felt like when I started in the PPL in the sim. Altitude all over the shop, heading all over the shop, new things to learn, memorised checklists forgotten, unfamiliar situations…

But I will get it. Eventually.

The evening is what really suck today. My whole night is ruined.

I set my laundry in the wash at the self service laundry room, said hi and bye to two nice Indian schoolmates. One boy one girl.

and when I came back to put the washed load into the dryer, I found a sanitary napkin amongst my load. It could be a panty liner, I am not too sure. I have been asked many times, “is it used or new?” Duh, its the laundry room, why would there be a new pad there? “Is it red"?” Duh, its been washed, would it still be red?

I am utterly disgusted, grossed out, angry and upset. NVM the “goodluck” that I can win 4D with. I hate such unhygienic actions!

I had to walk back to the apartment, get another serving of washing liquid, more coins (USD1 in quarters).

Thankfully, my 2nd wash was uneventful.

However, all the good dryers are in use. One that is not has unclaimed laundry in it. There were some other people in the laundry room, and I was removing that unclaimed laundry from the dryer (so that I could use it), but started feeling embaressed, so I threw everything back in. And settled to use the less popular dryer (which I dont trust).

One hour later, I returned to collect my hopefully dried laundry. To my dismay, it wasnt. Like I said, it was a dryer I dont trust for a reason. So there I was alone in the laundryroom, removing the same unclaimed laundry (containing sexy underwear, so this owner could be suspicious of the unhygienic act) from the same unused dryer.

And here I am now, after having spent another dollar, waiting another freaking hour for my laundry.

Super clean, yeah? Washed twice, dried twice. Total USD 4, and total time 3hrs.

Excellent.

// post note: the laundry was still not dried when I went to collect it after the 2nd drying. So now I am waiting for it to be dried the 3rd time. That makes USD5 and 4hrs. 2am is collection time. Frustrated //

Swine Flu

2009-07-05T11:52:00.001-07:00

How the Swine Flu started…

Happy Independence Day, USA

2009-07-05T00:18:00.001-07:00

Interesting and lazy day.

Its Independence Day for USA, so the instructors prefer not to work too hard today, so no need to go to school. I welcome this, so that it gives me a few more days to memorise my multi checklists… damn those pages and pages of it.

At 3.30pm, I decided that I couldnt wait for the indian guys to watch Transformers 2, so I went to watch it myself. And it turned out that I had the show for free… This was what happened.

Abt halfway through the movie (USD6.50), the surround sound cuts in and out intermittently. I was debating whether or not to just walk out to complain, but i didnt want to miss any bit.

So after the movie, I went to talk to the manager, telling him I didnt enjoy the movie at all, and he asked how long was the problem. I said a good half of it. Then he said, “well, we had the problem for the last 45mins of the show, but no one came out to complain.” WTF, they know they have the problem but did nothing… so screwed up.

Anyway, the manager gave me a movie pass, to watch any show. I was wondering if I should watch Transformers 2 again, and make sure I enjoy it, or watch something else. I think I will watch something else… Haha… cheapo, yeah?

After the movie, I thought I could eat at Subway, then have coffee at Starbucks and study at the same time… (which i later figured is not a good idea, since I will move my hands in motions to simulate being in the aircraft, making me look like a nut.) BUT, Independence Day has it, both are not open… So I thought I would go back to the apartment instead.

But I passed Tinstar, some mexican restaurant, and I ate there, with complimentary chips and salsa. Not as good ponca city, but at least I have a place to eat and drink and study outside.

When I left the restaurant (and hopefully successfully cramming in a few checklists just by mental memory), I noticed that there are people seated outside looking up at the sky. Then I remember, Oh yes, independence day has fireworks! I approached a family seated on a truck and asked what time the fireworks starts, he said “we thought it was 9pm (it was 9.15pm then), but it hasnt started, we are running out of ice cubes!” haha.

I stood nearby and waited a bit. And where I stood, I could see fireworks shooting up far away nearer to Tulsa downtown.

This video is also of Tulsa Downtown, but with the magical ice cream van in the foreground. The rip off ice cream van…

At 9.25pm, the waited fireworks started. The rest of the videos are of the fireworks nearer to me. I believe they are released over Riverwalk, where I watched the movie. They are SOOO boring… one pops, then darkness, then one pops… then darkness… what a waste of time.

My goodness, they are really stretching it, possibly because of the economic problem, then again, I have never watched it before, so theres no basis for comparison.

I was standing there and watching, and a bunch of kids walked past me. One girl said “BEAUTIFUL.” and repeated it a few times, almost directing it for me to hear. Was she expecting that this asian only knows that word? I looked at her and said, “Yes, it sure is, have you seen it before?” Think I caught her by surprise, because she replied without looking at me.

the last one is more like what we have in Singapore… quick succession of the fireworks. My goodness, its 30 mins long… I think if they released it twice as fast, and have it all in 15mins, it would have been a lot more impressive.

What The Clouds…

2009-07-04T12:37:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, 2 Jul, We have some really really odd looking and freaky clouds moving through our airport.

There were waves in the clouds, which were weird because Oklahoma is mostly flat ground and do not have the mountains to create such high altitude waves in the clouds.

There were swirls in the clouds, which looks like a tornado was gonna form because of the turning wisps… But as I told Monika, as much as I would love to see one, I dont want one to happen here.

See the waves near the center?

See the greaky two eyes in the sky? Theres even eyebrows and a smirk below it!!!! And the puffy parts below it are the beard!!!!

close up of the eyes.

See the swirly holes? theres more elsewhere (not pictured).

These clouds are very fast in deforming / reforming, they dun stay in the same position for long, and they drift very fast. they were just a huge patch of clouds pushing through the skies with high winds. In a few hours, it was sky clear again.

Friday 3 Jul, I was eating at Southlakes, the golfcourse near the airport, with some indian dudes, and saw two sets of two aircrafts taking off together in formation. After departure in the direction of 19 (pictured here, Rwy 19R i think), they turned East and flew on…

then the second set.

The first group did a square crosswind leg, while the second group flew direct to them, they joined shortly after, by then it was too far to see their formation.

안녕하세요

2009-07-01T23:19:00.001-07:00

내 블로그에 오신 것을 환영합니다. 저는 Stephen 입니다.

좋은 하루 되세요과 나중에 봐.

I’d Be Damned

2009-07-01T18:16:00.001-07:00

OK, I completed my commercial maneuvers on Tuesday 30Jun. The maneuvers are fun. And my last flight with the maneuvers instructor has him complimenting on all my maneuvers, even those that i expressed worry about.

The ones I felt least confident about are Eights on Pylons and Power off 180s. But on the flight yesterday, those were done to standards of my own satisfaction.

So today, I went to the multi sim room and hung around there.

It seems the Multi Sim Instructor likes me enough… He pinched my nipple… yes… he did… through my clothings of course, not that i flashed it for him to. Then again, he does it to every one (guys only). Apparently, he has high expectations of me, believing that I am a brilliant person. He was the one who took the oral prep for PPL. He knows his stuff very well. He has a Masters degree.

We had lunch at some Buffalo place. And I loved it. I chose the sauce Carribbean Jerk and it had the right degree of peppers hotness.

// Post Added – Interesting napkim I found on the table… //

He told me that when Michael (our French coursemate and Jacenta’s BF) clears the sim check, then he will start me in. Which will be within these two days. He added that from today 1Jul, it will be about 1 to 1.5 weeks from my checkride. Oh my f**king goodness…

1 to 1.5 weeks…

Lets say I take my time, and take 3 weeks, twice the time he says, I will still be in time for my flight on 03 Aug, without needing to change it! (Is it some kind of premonition of when I could complete the course? If so, I should have booked my flight for May! Then again…)

Goodness, 3 weeks.

Oh my… 3 weeks…

And then I am out of this super boring place. Back to the cooling embrace of Singapore Sunny Island. (The temperatures here lately have risen to about 39 deg C. And its just the start of Summer. It could get even hotter.)

OK, I have to gambateh-si through my checklists… there are pages and pages of it to memorise. Many of which must be acted upon in a snap of fingers.

I can do it, although I hate memorising, I can do it. Its just memory work. I’m sure I can retain checklists for 3 weeks.

Dalhart Long Cross Country

2009-06-25T17:28:00.001-07:00

It will be the last single engine cross country I would ever do in the USA. (There will be a multi-engine cross country.)

RVS to Clinton CLK to Dalhart DHT

At Clinton, which I have been to before, windmills and all, I took a picture of the old cash register… What an antique!

Closeup of the button panel…

Can you see what this black black thing is? Its a cow farm!

This is Dalhart. The small door after the long shutter door is the pilot lounge.

There is a Cafe nearby of name… err.. Cafe.

This is Maksin, the baby-faced Russian check airman that RFC has. Hes cool. Comfy to fly with him, because hes small sized too. So we both have lotsa space. I brought him lotsa magazines to read, and so I think he was quite happy throughout the flight.

This is the err… forgot what pie liao.. but it was SOOO SWEET… And mind you, especially u who know me long long… I have a sweet-tooth and i find it sweet.

Me, looking defeatedly less sweet than the pie.

Here I am, with the super sweet Strawberry malt shake. With the aircraft in the background. See the hair? The result of wearing the headset for hours and hours.

No proper welcome signboard, but theres an EXIT signboard… Siao place.

I dont suppose the airport operators use this poles and Crop Spraying signboard as goal posts for their football games during lull times….

See the amazing crop circles!

Fields and fields of it! Its circular because there is an automated watering device that walks along the radius and waters the crops… but why certain sectors have different colours, I have yet to understand why.

The highest I have been to as yet!!!! 9800 feet and climbing! (Actually I was trying to maintain 9500feet for proper VFR flying altitude, evidently, I suck at it. The day was hot, and the aircraft was practically at its service ceiling, and maintaining the altitude was difficult. )

Saw this crazy cloud above us. But lucky it wasnt dangerous. Oh yeah, enroute RVS to CLK, we had to descend to maintain VFR, and also, I had to literally dodge clouds… swerving right and left… hahaha. But really, I should have been 2000 ft away laterally from any cloud.

This is me, doing the self-service refueling at Clinton. Check out my ass, looks hot, yeah?

OK, now I have to wait for commercial maneuvers and Multi sim and multi time!!!!

Lots to learn and lots to study!!

Turkey Mountain

2009-06-25T00:09:00.001-07:00

I was walking to the noodle shop one day in hope of asking when the salsa days are and i chanced upon some indian dudes in a car. They were gonna go to Turkey mountain to release a turtle they caught when they were fishing, and I asked to go along just to see the place.

Yes, theres a lake on top the hill…

And from the hill, can see far far away!

Can u see the highway stretching far far?

After they dropped me off at the noodle place, I ordered a Chipotle something. nice. And I also asked abt the Salsa days.

Noodles not bad…

Hindi Song

2009-06-22T21:37:00.001-07:00

I took a ride with some indian coursemates back to the apartment. And in the car, they blasted hindi music. Some are nice about being sensitive to me being on board, but I genuinely wanted to listen to the songs they listen to.

The below song was something that drew me to it. The song has a very romantic significance. i would equal the romance factor to Tong Hua… The lyrics are below with its translation.

After the ride, I went back to search for it.

kahin to,
(somewhere…)
kahin to,
(somewhere…)
hogi woh
(it must be…)
duniya, jahaan tu mere saath hai
(the world, where you’ll be with me…)
jahaan main, jahaan tu,
(where me, and where you…)
aur jahaan
(… and where…)
bas tere mere jazbaat hain
(… only the feelings of our love reign supreme…)

hogi jahaan subah teri
(where my morning will have a sunrise…)
palkon ki kirnon mein
(… with the rays from your eyes on me…)
lori jahaan chaand ki
(and lullabies of the moon…)
sune teri baahon mein…
(…I’ll get to hear in your arms…)

jaane na kahan woh duniya hai
(dunno where that world lies…)
jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahin
(dunno if it even exists or not…)
jahaan meri zindagi mujhse
(where my life wouldn’t be…)
itni khafa nahin…
(…so upset with me myself…)
jaane na kahan woh duniya hai
jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahin
jahaan meri zindagi mujhse
itni khafa nahin…

saansein kho gayi hai kiski aahon mein…
(the breaths are lost waiting for someone…)
main kho gayi hoon jaane kiski baahon mein…
(dunno whose embrace has got me all lost in dreams…)
manzilon se raahein dhoondti chali….
(that now I am in search of ways from my destinations…)
aur kho gayi hai manzil kahin raahon mein
(while the destination itself seems to be lost in the tracks)

kahin to, kahin to…
(somewhere.. omewhere…)
hai nasha teri meri har mulaqat mein
(our meetings get us into a high of love…)
hothon se, hothon ko
(with the lips, with our lips…)
choomte… rehte hain hum har baat pe
(we kiss each other through the words we exchange…)

kehti hai fiza jahaan
(the wind tells me about…)
tere zameen-asmaan
(… an earth and a sky…)
jahaan hai tu meri hassi
(where you become my laughter…)
meri khushi meri jaan…
(… and my happiness and my life…)

jaane na kahaan woh duniya hai
jaane na woh bhi ya nahin
jahaan meri zindagi mujh se
itni khafa nahin…

Instrument Rated !

2009-06-21T19:42:00.001-07:00

Steady lah!

Finally, I am instrument Rated. Legal to fly through clouds, able to fly blind liao… err… blind as in no visual of outside.

Yay!

This is after showing:
a hold at Glenpool VOR
VOR 1L RVS
ILS 18R TUL
LOC 18R TUL

Wonderful.

Pineapple

2009-06-18T19:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I did my FAA Instrument checkride orals, and will be doing the flight tomorrow, Friday.

That leaves today free!

Woke up late, made lunch, watch Stardust DVD, went to school to find out what time my checkride will be, and then went to Walmart.

Went to the fruit section and saw that a pineapple costs USD3.90. I envisioned it to be like the Sarawak Pineapples and was immediately tempted. Bought one.

Its so much cheaper to buy a whole pineapple, than the cut ones, i think i have like 1.5 more servings for the same price, with some effort put in.

And it was so easy, chop the top off, chop the bottom off, slice the skin off, and ensure the black dots thing are cut out too, then can dice liao. Except for the centre near the crown, the mid to bottom center portion is quite soft and can be eaten. And it IS like the sarawak pineapple… Shiok!!!!

So happy.

Next, I am gonna try watermelon. But i think its less worth it, but then again, the watermelon is a little bit bigger than the pineapple for the same price.

Housemate Upgrades To Become Roommate

2009-06-15T20:50:00.001-07:00

Finally, I have a roommate. It will be Ivan, my original housemate. I was told by Yuri, CEO of RFC, that he is expecting a UAE guy to come in on a single occupancy, and that he wants to give the masterbed room of our apartment to him.

That means that Ivan has to move in with me.

So today, I cleared out HALF of my room, HALF of my wardrobe, HALF of my toilet sink, moved my toiletries to one side of the bathtub.

Sigh… but we have our monies worth on this one. Since we paid for double occupancy each, but have stayed on a single occupancy basis for more than 7 mths.

Oh well, it wont be long more for either of us anyway.

While at this, I requested to Carly, to have another table in the living room, since me and Ivan took up a good half of it each. I hope she helps us with it.

--------

I just ate an over-ripe mango. Produce of Mexico, bought at India Bazaar. USD1.39, nice sweet, but a bit mushy…

Mexican Food

2009-06-12T17:43:00.001-07:00

No, I didnt get H1N1. Its just a Mexican restaurant which is situated right in the airport premise. Ponca City airport!

The food is good and reasonably priced!

This is me saying “cheese” at my instructor’s request.

Fajita Burrito stuffed with beef! Nice chips that are handmade USD1.75 nia! I love the salsa dip brown sauce on right dish) which is free!

on the return flight, I was lucky to be able to fly thru clouds! See, In within cloud!

Pop out and in of clouds…

After come out, in front got MORE clouds. Yay! Fun fun fun!

Suntan Part 2!

2009-06-07T17:24:00.001-07:00

Wah, I am too free for this weekend, that I went for another session of suntan.

At the same time, 4.30pm, this time 5mins longer on each side. I can actually feel myself getting darker.

And now that my bursitis is (i hope) completely healed, I have re-started my running regime.

For healthier living!

(Actually for a vainer life… haha… I intend to return with 4 flying certificates, with a nice copper tan, and a chunkier body…)

Texas

2009-06-05T20:08:00.001-07:00

During lunch with my instructor and Larry, my instructor says something really funny…

He was complaining abt the laws of Texas, and blah blah, and then he ended it with, “you know, they say say Oklahoma is very windy, because Texas sucks.”

Haha… I was so tickled.

Bath

2009-06-05T19:36:00.001-07:00

Ahhh…I havent taken a bath in ages…

Haha… not the shower-bath lah… Bath as in bath. In a bath tub and all…

I have this box of Vaseline Soothing Honey Vanilla Moisturising Bath Beads enriched with milk protein . Never used it until now.

And boy did I take long to soak in it… 1hr-ish.

And with me, I have my handphone playing music in the background, and I have a glass of pina colada (pineapple and coconut) juice at the side. Ahhh… life.

The Vaseline bath thing says, “Emerge with relaxed body and renewed spirit.” Yup, just what I need…

Learning Plateau ?

2009-06-05T19:32:00.003-07:00

On Saturday 30 May, I awoke with only about 4hrs sleep. But surprisingly, my instrument flight with my instructor went perfect. I was ahead of the aircraft, I had most of my procedures done and in time, I knew where I was on the plan view of the approach plate. I was so situationally aware. Except for a few very minor errors, he cleared me to take stage 2.

But after that, I couldnt do it anymore. I took 2 attempts for stage 2 sim check to clear. And on my Stage 2 flight check, I discontinued the flight on the 1st attempt, because I couldnt hold altitude, and was ill-confident. I basically freaked out midway after taking off and barely 8mins into the flight was the Initial Approach Fix. When my altitude fell below 500 ft… I told the tester I couldnt do it. He then asked me to take the hood off, and to take him back to Riverside.

Surprisingly, the return flight from there was quite ok.

My 2nd attempt was much better, but I still have lots to work on. It seem to have impressed the same tester that I could identify all the areas (in his list) that I have to work on. I basically debriefed myself.

I did a sim with my instructor. And it dint turn out too good either.

When we parted, he came back and told me, that he had a discussion with some other instructors, and thought I could have run up a learning plateau. My instructor himself had one, after “mastering” holds once, he could never do one more after that. His instructor made him take a week off, and after that, all was back to normal.

So he suggested I take the weekend off.

So, I am gonna go for another suntan tomolo. Maybe a movie, and hopefully a nice dinner somewhere. Maybe even go to a shopping mall… Maybe round up some guys to go pubbing… somehwere to chill out.

Engine Power Settings !

2009-06-03T20:58:00.001-07:00

OK, need to memorise and use the following power settings for the Cessna 172.

100kt cruise – 2300-2400 RPM

90kt cruise – 2000-2100 RPM

90kt descent @ 1000 FPM – 1500-1600 RPM

90kt descent @ 500 FPM – 1800-1900 RPM

80kt descent @ 1000 FPM – 1400-1500 RPM

80kt descent @ 500 FPM – 1700-1800 RPM

OK, now wish me luck for the stage 2 check tml…
(Today weather was crap for flying.)

Super Productive Day

2009-06-02T18:46:00.001-07:00

Today, I accomplished much!

I cleared my Instrument Stage 2 Sim Check (albeit 2nd attempt), clarified and understood the possible clearances I can received before making an instrument approach.

And when I got back to the apartment, I went for a 1.5hr suntan, that doesnt seem to add up to much. I swam for 20mins. I then went to set the laundry to wash and dry.

Cut up the 1.9lbs of pork into 7 portions. 3 of which I marinated with Charsiew sauce. 2 of that I marinated with Korean BBQ sauce. One more I dry rub with Kurma Curry powder. The last portion I am cooking it now.

I made my usual minestrone soup with many many ingredients. Its actually a minestrone powder base that already has like some dried carrots, and pasta in it. But I added 6 sticks of baby carrot, cut up, 1 stick of celery, cut up. a generous amount of corn nibblet thing. And for today only, I threw in the pork.

Tml, I shall try my best to clear Stage 2 flight check. This check is critical, considering after this stage, all I am doing are 2 IFR cross country flights, learning nothing much new, this Stage 2 flight check is as good as a review for the actual Instrument Rating checkride.

Good luck to Angela for her exams!

Strawberries!

2009-05-26T22:17:00.001-07:00

Oh I love Strawberries!!!

Especially when they cost only USD1.50 per box!

Ooooh!

Side note: Seems that I eat a lot more things that I usually would not typically eat. Icecream by the tubs, strawberries, curry, potato salads, celery, carrots, pizzas, milk, orange juice, etc etc etc… I am so glad I dont balloon.

Today is Memorial Day

2009-05-25T15:28:00.001-07:00

// Warning, Long Post //

A day to commemorate the ones fallen at war. (Applies to Americans nia.)

OK, today is the day that my instructor wanted a day off being a public holiday due to Memorial day. I cant deny him this since is a official PH. I thought I could do some hour building today, but tough luck, as the cloud ceilings are too low for my comfort.

I FINALLY transferred the photos and videos from my Nokia N82 (the more portable one of my two computers) to my Lenovo Y400 Laptop.

Just to catch up.

At Chicago, at a tunnel connecting connecting terminals, cool light run on the ceilings.

This video was taken on my UA flight from Hongkong to Singapore. Although I was seated on the centre block aisle seat, the flight was rather empty and I could shuffle myself to the window seat. I did so especially when I saw quick flashes outside.

It was/were (a) cloud(s) of intense lightning activity. The bolts just go on nonstop. Man, it is ONE cloud that I wont dare going near.

On my lunch with Lily at the airport, I wandered to the T2 viewing gallery. And I’d be damned, why did I do so much work to fly to Clinton to view the windmills when there was one right inside the transit area of T2?!?

Ok, now the photos…

This is an aircraft I saw when I was going to my FAA Commercial exam. Quite cool, because the pilot flew in in it wearing business clothes, and brought along a suit. He was just parked and transferred to a limou, i assume proceeding for an important meeting. This aircraft is shorter than me, and so tight and tiny. Cool, very cool.

At Chicago airport, where I caught my connecting flight to Hongkong, I saw lots there. Check this out.

Some old plane. Must be the wright brother’s era. I forgot what it was. Check out the wooden propeller, and the rough ailerons.

And then some fighter aircraft flown by the namesake of the airport, Capt O’ Hare.

Then in a certain terminal, there was a dinosaur. Its confirmed dead. Quite cool. Please dont think I am a pervert by taking pictures of the dino’s pelvis, I couldnt fit the whole damn thing into one frame.

Serious case of Bunions.

At Hongkong, while I was eating Taiwanese Beef noodles (yes… in hongkong and eating taiwanese food), I saw the clouds over the mountain. This is what I learnt as lenticular clouds, lense shaped clouds that hover over the top of mountains. Looks incredibly still, but terribly turbulent.

Back in Singapore, on the Saturday, I was surprised that I could wake up at 8am, very much in time for my hair appointments. While walking from Wheelocks to Cineleisure, I passed by the courtesy Lion. My goodness, why the need for such an advice? Then someone told me it could be targetted at a particular nationality.

While going back to Tulsa OK, at Seattle, I saw this airline that has a face on the tail. Alaska airline. Cool. How would u like to have ur face on the tail of the airplane?

Parabolic

2009-05-20T21:04:00.001-07:00

Today, I flew the C172 in the morning. Which was ok. Today’s aircraft was slightly better than yesterday’s since, I could see the cowling AND touch the pedals with my toes…

The lesson ended at about 1pm. I thought it would be a nice day to rest, since the muscles round my collars are feeling so tight and strained, due to the heavy loads of the night before’s Walmart stock up.

But I was encouraged to fly as much as I can during good weather days to clock up to 82 hrs in total of time-building.

So I did.

I feel so rusted after the break. I took extra long to do my flight plan to Chanute and yet, I missed out on a few items.

But my flight was uneventful… except for the part that I did a few parabolic maneuvers.

A parabolic flight involves pitching up high, and then smoothly pitching downwards. This causes everything in the aircraft to achieve weightlessness for a few seconds. I placed my fruitbar on the dashboard and tried it.

The fruitbar floated up for abt 2 seconds. I thought it was so cool… So I tried a few more.

Then at one of it, I think i overdid it… I saw like black grains which I evaluated to be dirt, raining UPWARDS from the floorboard. Damn it. As soon as I regained normal flight, the dirt bits fell onto me. Yuck. Think I descended faster than the dirt.

Other than the dirt, the items (Operating Handbook) in the seatback pocket came to the front and my bag that was in the rear was all messed up. I wonder how high it flew.

After that yucky one, i decided I should do no more.

Back in USA

2009-05-19T22:43:00.001-07:00

I am back in USA. and boy was I told that I dint miss much.

They said that the day I arrive (18 May Monday), was just the 2nd day of good weather after weeks of bad! The first day being Sunday.

Flew on the Cessna Skyhawk 172 for the first time. Its ok, except that its slightly heavier, easier to taxi straight, different to land. Although its got a larger internal cabin and touts more comfort, I dislike it because I am so short. If I adjust the seat high enough to see the cowling, then I really have to tiptoe to use the rudders and brakes. vice versa. Oh well…

Another option, wear platform shoes or use a periscope.

I have much to blog, but there was simply too little time. Will go progressive!

姐妹

2009-05-10T20:38:00.001-07:00

With yesterday’s celebration, I hereby end my career as a 姐妹, or the latest term I just coined, a “兄妹”.

Congratulations, Teresa and Jeffy.

Commercial Written Exam

2009-05-06T22:35:00.001-07:00

96%

Yup, 96%. Did my End of Course today amidst Meterology class, and cleared that with a 96%.

Then after having my logbook endorsed, I shoot straight to get the FAA done. Cleared that with a 96% too.

To date:

PPL – 95%

IR - 93%

CPL – 96%

Not bad, yeah?

Now watch the knowledge attrition rate… Its alarming.

Steady song…

2009-05-05T21:20:00.001-07:00

Yes, I like this song…

Thoughts For 5May

2009-05-05T15:19:00.001-07:00

As of now, 38 hrs more to my flight back to Singapore!

i did the Stage 5 of Commercial groundschool (stages 1 through 3 are for Instrument groundschool) today. And boy did I get a shock. I scored a meager 80%. I was damn disappointed, but Wayne said it was a good score, because its exceptionally hard. (To think i scored 96% on the Sporty’s website sample tests)

Anyway, it was too late (and wet) to stay longer to do more. So I will do the End Of Course and FAA tomorrow instead.

Regarding the ideas about the Egg Timer and the Yoke clip? Refer to here. I tried the rubber band solution and it works almost perfectly. I strapped two thick Broccoli rubber bands over the clip of the timer, and stretch it across the handles of the flight yoke. And the timer suspends in midair between the handles. Nice position, because its not too far away from where the instruments are. One thing though, because of how the rubber band hold the timer up, the timer faces up. So to see the screen, i have to tug a bit on the rubber band to tilt it toward me. When the 10seconds is up, i just roll out and forget abt the timer. Its good because it is impervious to turbulence, it doesnt fall over.

Theres one more thing I wanted to blog about, but dang, it slipped my mind… I forgot what it is………

The Jetlag Combat Plan

2009-05-04T18:29:00.001-07:00

I have decided on my strategy to combat jetlag. Combining advises from Denise, and some extra actions on my part.

This is the Itinerary.

Notes:
CDT – Central Daylight Time GMT-5 (TUL and ORD)
SGT – Singapore Time GMT+8 (SIN and HKG)
UTC – Coordinated Universal Time

UA7934/07May TUL-ORD (Flt Time: 02:00)
Dep: CDT0600 / SGT1900 / UTC1100
Arr: CDT0800 / SGT2100 / UTC1300

Transit Time ORD: 04:20

UA0895/07May ORD-HKG (Flt Time: 15:45)
Dep: CDT1220 / SGT0120 08May / UTC1720
Arr: CDT---- / SGT1645 08May / UTC0845 08May

Transit Time HKG: 03:15

UA0895/08May HKG-SIN (Flt Time: 03:35)
Dep: SGT2000 / UTC1200
Arr: SGT2335 / UTC1535

So the plan, I will stay awake at Tulsa the whole night through on Wednesday night (Thursday morning), I have to leave at 3.30am to check in at the airport anyway.

Will sleep whole duration TUL-ORD (2hrs), and sleep maybe 2hrs more Chicago airport.

Then sleep another 4hrs on ORD-HKG, means must be awake at SGT 0520 onwards (CDT 1620).

Of course, my sleep will be broken, because I will be transferring around Chicago airport, possibly roaming around like a lost soul, probably hunting around for a snack, and on my HKG bound flight, I wont want to miss the first in-flight meal.

By then, I am ABOUT Singapore time liao. I HOPE, my body would have rested enough, to be awake for the rest of the journey. I would have to be awake from 0520 SGT to 2359 SGT.

Goodness, I hope I will be ok enough for my hair appointments.

No Flying Till I am Back!

2009-05-04T16:11:00.001-07:00

OK, I talked to the instrument chief instructor (or at least what i think he is), about the state of the weather for the next few days.

I told him that it is unlikely that I can complete Stage 1 on Wednesday itself, EVEN if its a day of perfect weather. And I went on to add that I would prefer to push flying altogether till when I come back so that I would have more practice when I actually fly. Instead of splitting it up and come back and be not so current, and need review flights, etc.

He agrees, and says that would be a better plan.

So I guess, I can relax a little!

Pertaining to Groundschool, I am HALF done for Meterology assignment, and i am complete! and I talked to Wayne (the groundschool instructor), and he says that I may be able to take Stage 5 and End Of course tomorrow. And after that, I would be cleared to take the FAA! At best to do it before close of business day Tuesday, at worst, first thing on Wednesday.

As usual, screw needing “more time” to study, I had been consistent all along the groundschool course, so i would have been as prepared on Wednesday morning as Tuesday afternoon.

Sunday’s Forecast for the week

2009-05-03T08:36:00.001-07:00

This Thurs is my departure from the Western Hemisphere, back to the East.

And as you would have read my earlier crap blogs, I aimed to complete Commercial Groundschool and Instrument Flying Stage 1 before my departure.

Groundschool is on the way, except that I am now more easily distracted due to the impending vacation. I am not as confident that I will do as well as PPL or Instrument groundschools. But I will give it a good damn shot. The passing score is 70%, the RFC standard passing is 80, my personal passing is 90. Lets see how it goes.

As for instrument stage 1…

What I have left to do now are 4 flights, but looking at the weather… darn, it MAY not happen.

Monday is foggy before 10am, after that is clear, but I still have class, and would like to attempt groundschool stage 2 after class. That could take me to abt 3pm. Still can fly some, since day light ends at 8pm.

Tues is clearcut screwed.

Wed has a 30% chance of thunderstorms. But as the common notion here, if theres even a 10% chance on bad weather, it will bloom to full 100% bad weather eventually. Bad weather forecasts will remain bad, and good weather forecasts may deteriorate.

Why am I glad… hahaha…

I have my hair appointments set up on Saturday. In time for the wedding! (to which Teresa says “vain.”) As to why its appointments, I leave that up to your imagination.

(Yet to blog, my trip to Woodland Mall, and about my good friend Nikesh who left for India)

test 1

2009-05-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

test blog frm hp on blogger website.

Be In Time

2009-04-30T21:28:00.001-07:00

I could be WELL in time to complete Commercial groundschool assignments by Sunday night.

I have only 2 more assignments (out of 12) to complete. One is Advanced Aerodynamics and the other is Meterology. Both are long long assignmets having 111 and 152 questions respectively to answer. If I do one on each of the weekend, I am complete.

Then maybe I can request Wayne to take the Stage 5 check at the end of the Monday. And If I do well, maybe I can ask to do the End Of Course as well.

With the EOC done, I would be cleared to do the FAA. Hopefully by Tuesday.

Also, I hope to complete Stage 1 of Instrument flying course by Wed. With the weather sucking till end of Sunday, Mon till Wed could be my best bet to complete it. I have only 4 more flights to complete the Stage 1 lessons.

Nonetheless, on Wed, I hope to go to Woodland Hills Mall to do some shopping, to get the items that some friends want. Nice to take a walk too.

If you have some request for some stuff only available in USA, please let me know. I have on order, Coach things, nail polish and Mopiko.

stepchoo@singnet.com.sg

Have fun.

Morse Code

2009-04-27T17:43:00.001-07:00

OK, I am gonna ATTEMPT to learn Morse Code.

Not just for fun, but as a personal challenge to what I perceive as poor memory.

It is also a great aid for me to identify radio navigation aids, without having to look down on my paper while having a vision restricting device strapped to my head. The device limits my view to only seeing the instrumentation, instead of the natural horizon.

If I have the Morse Code in my head, then I do not need to refer to the identification on paper, following along, dit dah dit, etc while taking my eyes away from the instruments (to later discover that I am no where near my target altitude and heading).

Oh well…

http://www.learnmorsecode.com/

http://www.g4fon.net/ <—theres a software here that helps to learn the letters.

Jelly

2009-04-26T11:25:00.001-07:00

OK, its a nice Sunday. I am making Jell-O. Black Cherry flavour.

Strawberries

2009-04-25T11:47:00.001-07:00

Im eating strawberries now. No one to be passionate with, but I bought a box of strawberries from Walmart anyway. It was CHEAP. USD1.50 with a usual price of USD3.98. Thats less than half price!

Shiok sia… indulge…

Im like popping in one after another. shiok….

I was telling Mary, the school bus driver that with the bus schedule for summer being more spaced apart, thus giving us more time at Walmart, I buy more items. BEcause more time, means slower stroll, means longer time to get tempted, and more chance to succumb!

Yesterday’s trip to Walmart, I bought strawberries, instant meals from TGIF, readymade burritos, things i need not buy… Well, I also bought things which i probably need shortly,like ham (goodness, I wonder how much ham I have eaten in USA.), tomatos, Skype card, milk and bread.

These will last me some time.

Today, I went for another two sessions of simulator. And man, was I fixating on the Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) because again vacuum failure is given. Reacting to it is fine, but using the instruments that were left were the problem. I was practically chasing the VSI needle, and hence, I neglected the other instruments… picture me in the air, bobbing up and down, and unknowingly veering to the left or right…

Muses and Abuses

2009-04-24T20:35:00.001-07:00

- Shit the drying machine. Makan my USD2 (SGD3). After the washing machine, transferred the laundry to the dryer. USD1. Came back in an hour to collect, but not dry. Another USD1. Came back in another hr, STILL not dry. Came back to apartment to get another USD1, and change dryer. Knn… Wasted USD2. I am gonna get a refund!

- Wah, my stomach funny funny man… Its making me flatulant. But thirsty, now drinking orange juice… Man, its gonna blast me to the moon…

- I bought a digital kitchen timer for instrument flying. Nifty little object. Simple and idiot-proof. Good for pilots. We use it to time turns. At standard rate, we make a full circle turn in 2mins. Its using one AAA battery from my torchlight (which they call flashlight here), I hope theres no night instrument flying, because I dont have enough batteries to operate both gadgets!

- Now, while the others spent USD11 to buy a yoke clip to clip the timer to the control column, I am considering the USD15 yoke clip which is better and prevents the timer from sliding over on its side when a steep turn is done or when turbulence is encountered. But… as usual, I innovate. I will probably go to walmart and buy another bunch of broccoli, to get the thick rubber band it is tied up with. So that with that combined to the same that I already have, I could strap the timer onto the yoke without spending much. I get to eat the broccoli which I bought, the others cant eat the clip…

- I still have not yet done my long crosscountry with Maksim. Both Thurs and Fri were bad days to fly. Thur have windshear at Riverside, with rain at the dest. Fri (today) have low clouds. But thankfully, I found out that I will only need the 50hrs BEFORE the instrument checkride. So I can wait for a better day to do it.

- I started my simulator sessions with Jason Briggs today. He ran through in a briefing room the essentials of instrument flying which some things were already learnt in the ground school. Thought I did ok in the sim, but instructor said i handled well, because I did what was required to ok standards for a first time, and even handled a vacuum system failure (which caused the Attitude Indicator and Directional Gyro to go kaput) ok. I simply ignored the AI and DG, because it was going crazy, and made corrections to achieve level flight with the other instruments.

- Because of the above, Jeffy said I am gifted. I dun agree. Jeffy, you can do it too! Maybe even better than me.

- OK, i go study le. Lots of thinking required for instrument flying.

Tan In a Can

2009-04-22T21:42:00.001-07:00

(Tan as in Sun Tan… not the surname… in any case, I’m a Choo, not a Tan. Refer to what the Indians think of my surname here.)

After the flight to Monett, Maitreya suggested going to Clinton. Although it required me to do a whole new nav log, I was excited about it, because this is slightly further than Hinton, and I will be able to see the windmills!

I was doubly excited when I realised that the aircraft I picked, has a “sunroof”! How nice!! (Pic taken with camera between my legs.)

Then I realised… it will cook me alive while flying.

Yes, I got a slight tan, because the whole way there, I was basking in the Sun. The glorious Sun. And it was SO freaking hot today. It reached 32 deg C on the surface. Highest since I came here! and in flight, it was no better. Although I had all the air vents open full blast, and the heated air vents fully closed, I was still sweating like the blue pig.

No choice. Tahan lor.

So fly there… and then I have MORE complains… Dont know why, the plane will bank itself to the left… so i have to constantly unbank it… this is one plane I cant fly hands-free. Then its so turbulent…jialat…

Anyway, then I saw it… the windmills!

Yeah, in the above picture, cant be seen, but i saw it!

Here it is. Up close!

There was a lot in the area!! Could you see all the white stumps? Its a whole farm of it!

Three in a row…

Heres a video of the windmills. (Video reposted.)

Clinton airport toilet is nice. Like a hotel hoh?

This is Maitreya.

Behind the airport, there were gunshots. So we went to take a look. Theres a place nearby where some people were shooting rifles. Not too sure what they were shooting at or what they were shooting. But I would love to have a go at it some day. Maybe my next time building, I go in the morning, and when arrived, go shoot, then fly back.

Then we left the place after I topped up 3 gallons of fuel. Originally, on paper, I just need half a gallon more, to be legal. But I kiasu, so I asked to top up 2 gallons… Then I become kiasee, I ask the guy put in ONE more gallon at USD3.10 per gallon. But I landed with 6gallons. while I only needed 3. Darn, over buy. But more is better than less.

On departure, the windmill farm is more visible…

To conserve fuel, I climbed high, to 7500 feet (cruising at high altitudes burns less fuel, less skin friction). As can be seen in the pic. I made very thorough pre-flight calculation and I determined based on forecasts that flying high would reduce flight time, since I have tail-wind. So I did. And its my first time flying so high. I was afraid I would collapse due to lack of Oxygen, but nah, dont think it was THAT high.. haha. But I did note that I have a very slight headache. Hypoxia setting in or just my imagination?

Thank goodness, on the return flight, the sun was shining on the dashboard instead…

On return, Wayne asked if I completed my 50 hrs of time building. Which I said I did and he later assigned and introduced me to the Instrument flying instructor. But…

When i got home, I realised that I had miscalculated my hours. I am 5 hrs short of 50! Tomorrow is gonna be a windy day, so i may take the chance to fly to Cape Girardeau with Maksim, since it will be a day that people will not dare to attempt stage checks.

Monett Airport – 22 Apr

2009-04-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

Flew to Monett with Maitreya (an Indian dude), but we traveled there in separate aircrafts.

its basically the same route as to Grand Lake Regional (remember the Lake Runway?), but for some silly reason, I couldnt find the Grand Lake on the way to Monett.

At the airport (where I took a huge dump… OK, I didnt just type that… You dint read this.), there was a slightly larger twin propeller aircraft. While I was going to the loo (the restroom, as I am now accustomed to calling it.), the owner of the aircraft came out. And I asked him if we could pop in to take a look. He let us!

Our return flight from Monett to Riverside was ok, except that the original plan to do a couple of touch and goes at Grand Lake Regional, was thwarted because the airport runway was closed. To think I dragged my plane there on a low level at 2900 feet to “avoid” Maitreya. What a waste of fuel.

Anyway, the landing wouldnt be fun because the wind favoured runway 17, which is a normal landing. Its the other end (runway 35), that has its end in the lake.

Saw a few nice dams holding up water along the way back.

Hint On Airport

2009-04-22T20:43:00.001-07:00

Kidding… Actually its Hinton Airport. Normal flight there. There wasnt a decent place with its name to take a picture of, so I took a pic of the courtesy car.

After I flew here, I realised that further down the chart are some windmills… In fact, a lots! I thought I should fly even further to see them.

Blue Pig

2009-04-20T22:19:00.001-07:00

Remember my blog about my Ardmore flight with the Sun setting beautifully on my left while I flew in the dark into hot soup?

I finally flew there again, this time earlier in the day, and ate there. Man, it sure is an expensive meal, since I paid USD324 and flew 1.8hrs there and 1.8hrs back, just to eat it.

2 ribs with fries and a drink, USD8.60. The sauces are nice. Too bad I couldnt finish it because I had a late breakfast. I packed up one of the 2 ribs and the rest of the fries and flew it back for dinner.

Flight To Mena Intermountain

2009-04-19T21:28:00.001-07:00

Late Post: 16 April 2009

Check out the renovated school. Now there are more briefing rooms, and classrooms. There are two telephones, and one new computer which except the regular weather website, blocks out everything.

This day, initially, due to strong winds, I decided to not fly at all, but was offered to have an instructor on board and hence allow me to go on flying, despite the wind. So I did. Immediately, I planned for Mena Intermountain.

I heard that its a beautiful place, flying over high hills, so I thought I could check it out myself.

The flight was interesting because for the first time, radar contact was lost, means if anything happened thenafter, no one will know where I am. If anything happen, they have to do search and rescue from where radar contact was lost up to the airport of intended landing and/or further. But it was an interesting experience.

Can you see the hills? (BTW, sorry for the poor resolution, I forgot to set my hp cam to high quality.)

A tornado tore though the place recently, you could see blue “roofings” which are actually tarpaulin, covering up the roof ripped off by the tornado.

Check this out! I have a carpet on my arrival! Bought 4 gallons of fuel from them.

Could u see the two planes behind? They have their side engines and tail come ripped out.

See the hills…

Some boats… in the middle of nowhere…

Some cool lamp made of decommissioned aircraft engine.

Theres a road running along the top of the ridge! Wonder why…

Thanks to Jacenta for lending me the Sectional Chart, and for recommending the place!

Great Weather Days Ahead !!!!

2009-04-19T16:03:00.001-07:00

Yay, finally after a whole week of crappy weather, low clouds, rain, etc, we can expect good sunny weather for the following days as forecasted above! I can finish my time building in a jiffy!

As of now, I need 20.2hrs more to complete it. I need to do a long cross country with Maksim to Cape Girardeau (soon, i hope) which will probably take 8 or 9 hrs. And so I will need about 3 more cross countries by myself. I can get then all done by Tuesday!

Following those, I can get an instructor for instrument flying!

If you need the weather forecast for USA, you can refer to http://aviationweather.gov/ and fill in your desired place on the top left where it says local forecast and click Go. This website is also my regular website for most of my weather forecasts and nowcasts where I can make aeronautical decisions as to whether or not to fly.

I Am Going On A Vacation…

2009-04-18T20:11:00.001-07:00

… to Singapore!

Yes, I have booked tickets to return to Singapore for a week, primarily to attend Teresa and Jeff’s wedding on 10 May 2009! Although, I havent quite received her invitation card yet… *hint hint*

The best part of the wedding, i will be a xiong1 di4 among the jie mei, that is, on Teresa’s side (Sorry Jeff, to protect you, i better succumb.). Somewhat like a jiemei with a male organ attached. No, I wont be cross-dressing. But colour coordination, definitely.

I am quite excited about Teresa and Jeff’s wedding. I am quite sure I will go weak and teary eyed during the exchange of vows, as had happened to me during Oli’s… Gosh, so sissy, hoh?

Since I am gonna return to Singapore, I thought I could do a little more. The below is a list collated so far.

1. Hair cut at Supercuts (Singapore’s, not the USA one)
2. Visit Strip Coed
3. Go for a massage
4. Go for a foot reflexology
5. Watch a movie (with a friend)
6. Cycling along East Coast Beach
7. Walk down Orchard Road during a week day
8. Eat
9. Eat
10. Eat
11. Eat
12. Eat

Might go with Teresa and Jeff for a flight to Tioman or somewhere. As in, we fly ourselves there. But this is not confirmed. My PPL would be of no value at Malaysia and Singapore without proper conversion and validation. So its more of a joy ride for me. But on saturday, Teresa says I could follow them into JB to repeat items 8 through 12 and also item 3.

I am so happy.

I was just getting demoralised by the weather. I have been getting low cloud ceilings, for the past few days, and I am being worn out from being at home. I cannot wait for instrument lessons to commence. Bet going to Singapore will greatly recharge me.

As of now, I just came back from dinner with Housemate, his instructors and some other closer schoolmates. Housemate blanjah, as thanks to his instructors for teaching him after he earned the PPL last year. Also because his current instrument instructor is leaving.

I must say that TGIFridays has very good service. I ordered Jack Daniels Flat Iron requesting it to be medium. and what came was well done. I told a waiter abt it, and it was sent back immediately. And when the waiter who was in charge of our area, came by, and saw that i have no food yet, he was upset and told us that he will take the item off the ticket. Cool. And the steak was absolutely wonderful, tender, bloody, juicy, and the sauce with onions in it was marvellous.

Grounded

2009-04-14T09:34:00.001-07:00

Everyone makes mistakes. Whereas I make particularly glaring ones.

I am grounded for today, while its a beautiful day to fly.

I was caught starting to taxi without completion of the Engine Starting checklist. Among the items missed out are, not turning the airplane beacon on and not putting the flaps up as a check after engine start-up. These two items are very visible externally.

Upon reaching the engine run-up area, I was informed by ground control that Chief Flt Instr needs to see me. Upon which, I promptly turned around to RFC.

He was there at the ramp, pointed out that the beacon was not on, the flaps were not put up and confirmed that I did not follow the checklist. He instructed me to gather up my things and meet him in the office. By then, I was certain I would be grounded.

I have no excuse, and no reason not to follow the checklist.

He informed that I am grounded for today and that I am to write a 5 page essay on checklist, quoting at least 2 NTSB accident reports that involve failure to follow checklists.

Knowing where my mistake lies, being grounded and having to write the essay was not the punishing part. It was the embarrassment of having this news spread around in less than 5mins, that was more excruciating. Everyone gave me the “dirty look”. Could feel people pointing fingers behind me. Sigh. I guess I have become their entertainment for the day.

Mass Rapid Transit

2009-04-13T17:02:00.001-07:00

Man… I was reading on MRT on wikipedia and oh, it made me miss home!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Rapid_Transit_(Singapore)

It made me so want to go home.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

2009-04-12T15:21:00.001-07:00

If during Christmas, we eat Roast Turkey, do we eat Roast Rabbit at Easter?

Kidding… :)

Yesterday, I did TWO flights to Pauls Valley. And caused some un-needed worry for the Chief Flt Instructor (again) because of the filed flight plan problem. I dutifully closed it when I arrived at the station, but it wasnt shown as closed, and had subsequently called the school to ask for me. They would have initiated a search and rescue if the school could not confirm that I was safely on the ground. Thankfully, the FSS (Flight Service Station) called up the Fortworth Center, who told me on the radio frequency to close my flight plan when I get on the ground. Odd, since I always do that. Anyway, Chief Flight Instructor seemed convinced that I did what should do, and allowed me to continue with my solo flights.

Enjoying a little in-flight meal.

Before my second departure, while on run-up, saw this cool red bi-plane. He was swinging left and right along the taxiway centerline and wondered why he doesnt know how to taxi straight. Then I realised that his nose cowling is higher than his cockpit because hes a taildragger plane. He couldnt see the centerline from on top. So he has to see it from the side.

I took the last bus on Saturday after my flights home, and made it in time to go to St Bernard’s church with Oliver Dias, generously picked up and driven there by Becky.

The Saturday Easter Vigil is not so crowded but extremely long. There were 4 readings from the old testament, of Genesis, Moses and his people through Egypt, the passover, and something else… Yes, I was tired and I was drifting away. Easter Vigil was beautiful because there were darkness which were then lighted by our candles, singing of the Easter Exultet, proclaiming, the Litany of the Saints, the profession of Faith, the renewal of Baptismal vows, baptism of 6 candidates by full immersion, and acceptance into the fullness of the Catholic Faith of 12 other individuals, and all 18 Confirmations. Wow! In a single day, 3 Sacraments celebrated!

(By contrast, On Good Friday, it was far more excruciating. During the veneration of the Cross, which we kiss, touch, kneel to, genuflect to, bow to, it was an exceptionally long event. They had only ONE cross which everyone venerated. In Singapore, we would have like 5 or 6 crosses and queues to expedite. One thing to note, that cross here was very nicely constructed in design, made of planks that however were not finished smooth. Cool, how realistic.)

Check this out! Full Immersion baptism! How cool is that!

Arty Farty Crucifix.

The nice dressed up choir packing up.

Easter Decor.

I thought that the Americans love to kneel so much, because they kneel the entire communion part of Mass. In Singapore, after we received Communion, we kneel and pray, then we sit. The americans, continue kneeling. Then I realise that they kneel whenever the tabernacle (the brown box beside the light) is open. Which made perfect sense, because the tabernacle is open for adoration, and we remain kneeling out of respect for the Master.

Easter Sunday itself. Rainy and cool. Slept till noon, woke up and watched DVD Marley and Me. Shared a Foccacia Supreme Great Value frozen pizza (topped with sliced mushroom), with Housemate.

In the afternoon, heard someone knocking the door… Didnt see anyone in the peephole, but heard someone shouting… then opened the door and peered out left and right, no one! But on the carpet were some Easter Eggs!!! How cute! Later the next door indian boy came over… Knew it was them. Oh no!!! More candies to eat!

Housemate pointed out a bird to me who seems to be making a nest. It would fly tree to ground to tree to ground, picking up twigs on each circuit. i tried to video the bird to and fro. But the Nokia handphone wouldnt let me pause the video for long. So what I had are short clips of the bird’s journey.

Pancakes?

2009-04-10T10:29:00.001-07:00

Good Friday.

A day of fast. But yet… I made pancakes.

And prepared sandwich (with turkey ham) for lunch in case I flew.

But my day ended quick with me returning home on the 9am bus. The cloud ceiling is too low and the winds are too gusty for many flying.

Since I was free, I made pancakes!

Easy, just add milk and egg to the mix, and beat till smooth. (Actually a bit lumpy, but dun care…)

And made 8 medium pancakes.

Housemate declined my pancake offer, so I brought 4 to the Indians next door instead. They were so happy, that they packed me a large large handful of candies and chewing gums…

Nice.

Weird

2009-04-09T22:21:00.001-07:00

I was just back from Walmart with my $53 purchase, and put the things away. I did see my receipt around while putting things away, but when I sat down wanting to refer to it, its gone.

I looked around, I looked into the trash can, I looked into the plastic which I threw away into the trash can, I look in my room. I just couldnt find it.

Then I found it in the toilet… Man, am i suffering from Dementia or Alzheimers or something?

I must have left it there when I opened the facewash and floss.

I just ate a big packet of corn nibblets. Something like cupcorn. And it costs USD1.40 with tax. Thats abt SGD 2.10 for two cups of cupcorn! haha. Think I got a nice deal. But I think at the same cost, I could get like 2 or 3 whole corns… haha. Anyway, this corn packet quite cool. Microwave the packet unopened. A special vent (relief valve?) will open to let extra steam out. Cool.

After some while……………

Just made salsa dip… haha. Cut roma tomatoes, onion, mix it with the salsa dip mix, and voila! Havent tried it yet, though.

My supermarket visit this time is worth $54. And listed here are some of the items. Some are comfort items.

Supreme Foccacia Great Value (a brand) pizza
The microwave corn thing
Eye Round Steak at $10 for 2lbs (8 servings)
tomatoes (big for sandwich and small for salsa dip)
4 cups of yoghurt assorted flavours
onions
orange juice with lotsa pulp!
milk 2%
microwave popcorn (kettle corn flavour!)
granola bar (for on the go healthy snack)
salsa dip mix
bread
neutrogena facial cleanser (the fragrance free kind, yuck!)
artificial tears (not that I cant make my own, in the morning its dry)
floss

These should last me a long time!

Cross Country Time Building On 8 Apr 2009

2009-04-08T22:44:00.001-07:00

Despite the butter session, I was nonetheless still approved to continue with flying solo for the rest of my cross country time building. Chief Flt Instructor seem to think I am a very good pilot. I have my doubts, but I am managing fine.

I would not have minded not being solo, because with a safety pilot onboard, its safer! And theres company onboard (something like an inflight entertainment), and theres someone to take controls if I want to scratch my backside or stretch or whatever. Some say that the school wants to save the money that it has to pay to the safety pilot if one is onboard, while at no extra cost to the student.

I have a previously done nav log to Chickasha which was unused, So I merely plugged in the forecasted winds aloft, to complete it. Filed my flight plan, preflighted the aircraft and I was on my way.

The flight there was nice. Although I have no radio aid along my intended path, the checkpoints were rather easy to confirm. So I didnt get lost at all… Happy… :)

Along the way though, I did come across some interesting things. Like having a big jet do a holding over the airport at 4000 feet, just 500 feet below me.

SC = Stephen Choo OCC=Oke City Center
SC: Err, Oke city Center, N94268, request to climb to 6500 feet to avoid the holding aircraft (yes I am a bit kia see).
OCC: The aircraft to your 12 O’clock is holding at 4000 feet, he WILL be below your current altitude, however, climb to altitude at your discretion.
SC: If that is the case, I will maintain 4500 feet, thank you. 268.
OCC: Roger

So I maintained my altitude 4500feet (actually I climbed a LITTLE bit to 4600-4700feet). And continue on my path toward this big plane doing holds.

Can you see the aircraft coming in from the right of my nose, then to my left, do a 180 turn, and shoot back to the right.

I also had a Kingair (twin turboprop plane) on my 1 O’clock, but i couldnt find him, by the time I saw him, he was zooming past under my left wing. OCC, “268, traffic no factor.”

OK, after the planes passed me, I passed through Oklahoma City.

Want to live in these neat houses?

And I arrived at Chickasha. No there really isnt any chicks there, eventhough I commented that I was going to find chicks.

And at Chickasha, theres this cool yellow plane parked. Went up to take pics.

The front and back pilot seating. THIS is the reason for the shirt cutting ceremony.

After a toilet break, taking pics, I am off again. Passed by Will Rogers Airport, Oklahoma City’s airport.

Interesting, are these crop circles? If it were, its made by terribly untalented aliens!

After return to Riverside, I relaxed a while, walked ard, talk to people. Jacenta recommended me to go to Grand Lake Regional. Its an airport parked on a peninsula sticking into a lake, and its runway end was just touching the water. I HAD to go take a look.

So I did my nav log, weather check, filed flight plan, preflight the plane, and go.

Tulsa Departure (that controls the airspace in the vicinity of Tulsa, including Riverside’s aircrafts) vectored me REALLY far away from my intended path. I planned a straight path going North East. But I was directed to go North. When they released me to my own navigation, I practically have to track East to get there. Basket, make me do a right angle triangle… Cant be blamed actually, I asked to maintain at 2500 feet, and going through Tulsa airspace at that altitude with the big jets entering and leaving Tulsa International, would pose a big problem. They had to get me out of the way.

I thought I would get lost, but I found my way there. It wasnt too far away, and there were BIG water bodies to recognise.

And I arrived. See the airport and the water? It was hard to gauge height over water as there are no features to see. I ended up being high, and I went around and came back round to try it again. I landed. Its helluva cool to fly low over water.

compare with:

This is an airport with GREAT services, it even serves food and includes a supermarket! I was tempted to eat there, or pack back, but refrained from doing so. Nonetheless, I bought……

…… Krispy Kreme!

When I was done with my pee-break (seems like I pee at every station I stop at, ah?), I left. Here, I taxiied to the runway, but the last taxi doesnt lead to the end of the runway…

… so I taxiied ON the runway to the end and did a U-turn.

On my left (while taxiing to the end of the runway), are berths for boats, theres a resort in the area.

Approaching runway end.

runway end! See the speedboat? He was slowing down as he crossed the front of the runway, I think he was looking at me as much as I was looking at him. Imagine, both of us wishing to be at the other’s position.

U-turned.

Took off and turned left twice to have the airport again under my left wing.

See how close the runway end is to the water!!!

My return path was interesting. Under Jacenta’s recommendation, I flew near the ground (1000 feet above, although the min is 500 feet) and had a good view of the place. I followed the curvature of the river for fun. After a while, I realise I could see more if i side-step the river. After the river, I followed the expressway, I was SPEEDING! See my estimated flight path drawn by myself on the chart.

Features seen in flight. Look, houses along banks of the lake! Want to live there?

Could you see cows or horses grazing below?

The path I leisurely took.

As you could see from the chart with my drawn lines, I came in from the East, letting me pass by City of Faith for a good clear picture. I was 1000 feet above the ground.

I was back before sunset. Phew.

Phew.

2009-04-08T20:38:00.001-07:00

OK, you must be anxious to know how the buttering today went. Chief flight Instructor (the better term for Chief Pilot Training), was more upset with himself than with me, because he did not realise that I was still in the air when he went home. He has the impression I was in the apartment and relaxing. Perhaps miscommunication is the culprit here, no one knew I went. although CFI did tell me to go and come back before dark.

But they were mostly concerned, for safety reasons. As Yuri stated , “Have you done an emergency landing in the dark before? Can you pick out an emergency landing field? Do you want us to have to call home and tell tham that Mr Choo wont be coming back ever again?”

I am also quite famous in school now. People will ask me, what happened yesterday? Some asking because of pure concern, others for curiosity. Some asked how come I couldnt fly straight from Riverside to Ardmore, because when the issue popped up, they whipped up the website where my location can be tracked. They saw my flight path.

www.flightaware.com

From KRVS fly to KADM (Southwards).

I had remark from instructors and students:
1. Ay Stephen! You cant fly straight for nuts!
2. Man, you dont keep to headings?
3. Zigzag man!

I’m cool.

I Am Gonna Be SO Screwed…

2009-04-07T22:27:00.001-07:00

// Warning. Long Post. //

Today I went to school quite happily because I cleared my FAA groundschool yesterday.

Digress: Yup, I cleared the FAA Instrument Ground School. The first in class to clear it and the only one in class to clear it yesterday. the other guys wanted more time to study. After scoring 93% for Stage 3 check, 92% for Practice Test one (I could have opted to do another pract test, but i went straight to do the EOC) and 93% for End Of Course, I thought, to hell with it. Cut the pain short. Just do it. And got 93%.

On meeting the Chief Pilot Training to talk abt the plan for time building (I need 50hrs of crosscountry time to qualify for Commercial rating), he advised that since I have not flown for more than a week, i should do 2 hours in the airport traffic pattern. This involves flying in rectangular patterns with the runway as a long side, for practising landings and take offs continuously.

This sounds easy enough. The problem is, it was a PERFECT day to fly and every freaking plane in the airport is used by students to fly pattern. There was a long line of aircrafts waiting for take-off. TWICE, I was instructed to do a go-around (which is to execute a “take-off” for a rejected landing). After the 2nd go-around, I decided to ask for a Squawk code (a means to identify me on radar), so that I could proceed to Tulsa International for touch and go practice.

Going to TUL was uneventful, since I was vectored (given turn by turn instruction to the destination) there. Touch and goes there included asking to do a short approach, which I was not trained at all to do. It ended up with me landing in the middle of the runway, I was supposed to land on the 1st third of the runway. The next instruction for short approach, I told tower “unable”. And instead was instructed to make left 360 (make full turns to the left) to create spacing with a jet coming in the land on the same runway.

I was also thrown runway to runway (18L to 18R to 18L to 18R) because I was 2nd priority to the jets. haha.

When I came back to Riverside airport, it was still busy. but I landed alright.

After reporting to Chief Pilot Training, he told me to go for a crosscountry by myself, and be back before sundown.

For a new destination, I made sure I was extra prepared, made a good flight plan, filed it, checked the weather, etc. And finally departed at 1705 local time.

I hadnt considered sunset time. This is what killed me.

I already departed late, and inflight, I got a bit lost, but when I used radio navigation, I realised i was off track and the winds changed slowing me further, so this took up some time. When I landed, I went to the loo, and took some pics, bought snacks…

Then when I departed, I had the sun setting under my left wing. Since I didnt pick up fuel at Ardmore, I elected to fly slower so that the engine burns less fuel, means I have more on landing, and wont run the risk of fuel tank emptied inflight.

It became dark shortly. The lights were pretty, but I was shit scared, because I wasnt prepared for a night flight. My checkpoints were all visual checkpoints, and at night, they are all not visible. I used radio navigation again, to return. I know where I was going (by following the VOR radio aid), but I really couldnt tell where I am on the map that I could hardly even see.

When I came back to riverside, I couldnt find the airport runways. The airport was surrounded by lights, so you couldnt really tell runway from streetlights. I requested assistance to the runway. Tower was extremely helpful. Jacenta, on the same radio frequency, talked to me, telling me not to worry, and that I will find the runway. Its comforting to hear someone addressing me by name instead of N94268.

eventually, I found the freaking runway, it was SO FREAKING bright, I was actually so amazed why I couldnt find it. When I told them I had the runway in sight, they dimmed the runway. I landed uneventfully. But…

When I landed, there are some instructors waiting there for me, saying Yuri (the CEO of the flight center) wanted to talk to me. I thought I was in for butter. I check my fuel remaining and found there to be 5 gallons of fuel left. I required 30mins of cruise fuel at day on landing to be legal and 45mins for night. That makes to about 3 gallons and 4.5 gallons respectively. I landed legally.

But when he came, he explained his concerns for returning at night. I was cause for worry. He added that the Chief Pilot of Training was furious and that I have to meet him first thing the next morning. Yuri went to check my fuel remaining too, thank goodness I had enough.

OK, tomorrow, I await more butter from chief pilot training. At worst, I get grounded for a week. But because of good behaviour (macham prison like that), since I study hard, get good grades, no nonsense, I may be let off.

What an exciting day. Chua4 Gua3… hahaha.

OK, now for some pics.

See the toilet so nice! Have aeroplane pictures!

This is the me, whos quite tired.

Theres a BBQ grill place at Ardmore. Too bad its closed.

Nice jet. See the moon above it?

The little spots on the ground are ponds.

The sun set on me!!!!

Crabtree And Evelyn !!

2009-04-05T14:57:00.001-07:00

Guess what I discovered!

Crabtree and Evelyn items are SO MUCH cheaper in USA than Singapore!!!

i was just browsing online, and realised that a Nail and Cuticle cream is USD12 (SGD18) in USA, while in Singapore is SGD30 (USD20)!!

And look at the handcreams 100ml! In USA, USD14 (SGD21) while in Singapore its SGD33 (USD22)!

Talk abt cost of living of Singapore to be slightly lower…

Online purchase will require shipping cost of USD4.95 for purchases up to $75. Above $75, its free!

Hmmm, but the shipping charges from USA to SGP would apply and ranges with weight and size.

Hey, you guys, if you want to buy anything from C&E at around August, let me know, I consolidate a list, order one shot, and have it sent to me, then i fly back to SGP with it.

Hmmm… now I wonder if there are online shops for LV, etc… haha.

Sudden Slowing of Study Steam

2009-04-03T20:01:00.001-07:00

Hmm, groundschool for Instrument is ok so far, except that with the information overload, I am starting to buckle under my own laziness.

As with PPL ground school and the first 3/4 of this instrument ground school, I would get home every evening, take a nap, and start my studies. My method of studying would be to read every word and understand every concept in the entire chapter, thence to attempt the MCQ assignments. So far it works very well. I could answer the questions with little flipping of the textbook and even if I do, I roughly know where to find the answer so answering it is pretty fast.

However, to pour through the textbook would take me more than a few hours. About 3hrs per chapter depending on the number of pages and complexity. By then it would be 10pm or later and I still would not have started on my assignment.

By the time I finish my assignment, it would be 1 or 2am. Needless to say, i would be tired the next day and I could pay little attention in class. Then when I come home, I would be so shacked out that I would need a nap and the cycle goes on.

Two nights, I became lazy.

I decided to start right away on my assignment so that I could sleep early. And hence starts the assignment with lots of page flipping. Mostly looking at the brown boxes containing in-a-nutshell notes from which I would pluck out my answers. Not vry good, since I may not have made sense of the concepts behind it.

So that starts my string of laziness.

And now, I am reluctant to catch up on my revision because the backlog is quite great... I need a good spanking. Wait a min, I might like it…

Oh well… I am now gonna go do my 178 MCQ assignment on Meteorology. Sian…

Some comments before I go.

Hmmm, before I go. Today I saw two cool looking planes, one silver, one yellow, possibly stunt planes flying in formation into Riverside Airport. They were close together and in high speed, and the propellers made a loud cool rumble. They did a low pass over runway 13, and then they split up at the end of the runway, one turning right slightly early. Then they lined up to land separately. Quite cool.

I am putting on weight.

I am now drinking Minute Maid Low Acid Pulp Free Orange Juice with a splash of Tequila… err, yeah, before I start studying. But its just a bit of Ethanol.

I am hoping that weather on Sunday would be so bad that I will not be able to go flying. So that I can stay home, rest and study. Otherwise, it would be an at-least 10hr cross country from RVS to Dalhart or Cape Girardeau… the latter is nicer to fly to, and has good food in the vicity airport… so I want to go there!

The Ice Cream Van

2009-03-30T18:09:00.001-07:00

OK OK… I am behaving like a kid, but hell its for the fun of it.

The ice cream van came by, sounding its ice cream man chime (The Music Box Dancer), and I promised myself that one day, I would buy icecream from the van. so today would be the day.

It was rare that I could catch the van, because it moves around. But today, I actually.

I came by the truck, said hi. Asked him what he has. He points to the side of the van which shows the various types of ice creams he has. Its all packaged kind. On sticks, cups, or as a sandwich. Not something he could prepare or scoop out or cut for you on the spot.

I asked for a recommendation. Yes, I did it. And he was nice, he asked what I like and if I like chocolate. And finally pointing to a few choices (possibly the more expensive ones, haha). I chose the choco taco, which is icecream wrapped in a wafer bent together like a taco, and covered in chocolate fudge. Its nice, except that….

Its FREAKING expensive!

USD 2.50! GOODNESS GRACIOUS! That ice cream wasnt all THAT fantastic, not of a home made flavour nor special in any way, and 2.50?!?!?!? Are they targeting adults or kids?

But yeah, it was for the hell of it, the fun of it… Haha.

The Snowman

2009-03-30T17:37:00.001-07:00

On the afternoon of the snowing Saturday, I did upgrade the snowman I made. Below are the video and pictures…

The finished product! People say it looks like a pig…

Look! I am a snowman killer! This picture was taken on Sunday afternoon, after my flight. See the background how much snow has already melted off.

Anyway, just to update. The snow came in a day, and was all gone in another. By Sunday evening, all the snow were almost melted away. With Monday’s temperature as 19 deg C. The snowman was melted to the size of an ice cube by 7pm Monday. I was amazed it lasted so long.

The First Flight After PPL

2009-03-29T15:04:00.001-07:00

Yup, on a Sunday, I flew to build hours to qualify for CPL.

And it was amazing, because there was snow cover and all. When we arrived at the airport, most of the area around RFC was covered with snow and ice. I was grateful to the airport management to have cleared the runway and main taxiways of snow, although taxiway Delta which connects RFC to a main taxiway, was still covered with snow.

Could you see the taxiway centerline under the snow? Thank goodness it was not a thick cover. In an hour, most of it melted away and we proceeded with the flight.

Have you seen a plane seated like a dog? There are some that does!

Apparently, the tie-down ropes are not strong enough to hold the plane down… nah… the tie-downs are just to make sure the plane is not blown away.

I call it an aircraft doing a wheelie! The snow accumulation on the horizontal tail stabilizer put so much uneven load on the tail that it tiled backwards.

The culprit.

The wheel off the ground. Pitched up attitude.

This is a taxiway light located off the taxiway on the grass, and covered in snow. Maybe thats why they uses elevated lighting, so that snow could cover around it, but still visible when used for taxiing (thats if the taxiway is cleared of the snow).

My footprints. I intended the curved path. By tis time, the C2H4OH was already (mostly) out of my system.

There was a thin sheet of ice covering most of the asphalt floor. I could skate on them, and the thin ones would crack when I step on them.

Check out the video of me walking over the ice and cracking it under my weight. Note that you could hear bird chirping sweetly in the background.

So the flight proceeded, and it was so beautiful from above. Snow covered land which made navigation A LOT easier. Roads and rivers are dark, almost black, contrasting easily from the snow.

I wasnt alone this flight. I was with Maksim. Hes a baby-face guy, who is 26 but looks less than 23. Hes a Russian in USA, but hes very much American.

The road system.

Below is Tulsa International. Which i passed by twice. This was on the first leg. You could see the runways quite clearly.

On our return leg, Maksim took me to Tulsa Intl and did something fun. We did a zero flap landing on 18L, the longest runway there. Its a new thing for me with zero flaps because the speed is very hard to slow down with (the usually used flaps cause much drag, so it slows easily.). And because of zero flaps, I need to land with higher speed, so this results in a significant amount of floating before actual landing. I did well on this one.

And when we took off, he showed me something fun too. We lifted off and leveled off in ground effect, accelerating in it till speed built up to abt 80 or 90kts. Then in one swift smooth move, we pitched up, and climbed up in a very steep angle, like as if I got shot up into the air. Then when the airspeed bled to 67kts, we leveled off just as (almost) abruptly. This pulled a few Gs and was quite thrilling. This is the Viking’s Take Off. I noted that as speed increased, I needed to push down more on the nose to keep the plane in the ground effect. This is because, an increase airspeed will tend to noseup the plane naturally.

Another shot of TUL.

This is Richard Jones Jr Airport (Riverside KRVS) as we took off. We took off to the South, but the destination was at the North, so we made a 180 turn and pass the airport before proceeding on.

Here a video that Maksim unintentionally took (which trying to take pictures), that actually look quite good… We just took off, and he mentioned that I should take some pics. I handed him my handphone because I was trying to concentrate on the climb.

Doesnt this look like Russia? The land is covered in snow… and the grids…

Below, could you see where the snow ended? Beyond which, there was no snow at all? This is the “path” of the snow clouds. Its really odd. Its like a rain cloud passing over a road, and half of the road is wet, and half is dry.

BTW, USA is gridded up in North-South and East-West lines. Each line 1mile wide. Which makes distance estimating and keeping to a cardinal heading, rather easy.

Yup, another shot of the distinct snow stop line.

The PPL Celebration Gathering

2009-03-29T14:06:00.001-07:00

I invited some of the closer schoolmates to my place for a drinking gathering, sort of as a celebration for my getting the PPL.

I bought a bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, 1 Coke, 1 Sprite, 10lb Ice, 3 bags of family size potato chips, Peanuts, and 20 bottle box of beer (of which 6 is housemate’s) and OJ.

But we consumed SO LITTLE of what is bought. The potato chips, half bag was left, 2 bags were not opened. Calculating the rate at which I eat potato chips (3mths for 1 bag), this will last me till Xmas!

It was nice to have them over for a chat. Housemate was helpful in making sure that the guest who finished their beer, gets a new bottle. I was a little less sensitive in this area.

Nash and Larry came by too, but they left early because of prior engagements.

I invited Nikesh, but he dint turn up… :(

Below pictured, from L to R, Jacenta, Michael, Stephen, Andres, Paul.

The Last Hoorah of Winter

2009-03-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

Yes, its supposingly SPRING, but lo and behold, it was forecasted to have 4-6inches of snow over this weekend. It started raining in continuous waves over yesterday and this morning.

And this morning, during the Instrument groundschool stage 1 check, it snowed… and snowed the heaviest ever! After the test, I came out to take a look and was amazed. I have never seen such heavy snow. Its like large clumps fall fast and in such great volume!

I stood in the falling snow, just for a short while and snow accumulated on my hair.

To enjoy the moment, I stood into the strong wind, closed my eyes for a short while and enjoy having the snow splattering into my face, eyelids… I enjoyed the sensation of having something cold, wet, poking into my skin because of the winds.

I had a little snowball fight with my classmate. We picked up snow from the car (imagine, half hr of snow and so much accumulated), clump it up and threw at eachother. Quite fun.

Came back to the apartment and took some pictures and video…

Made a snowman! Actually, pictured here is my THIRD model. I made two small ones and placed them on the balcony railing. When I completed the 2nd one and placed it with the 1st one… the latter jumped off the railing. I supposed it got jealous.

Look at this. Doesnt it look like ice kachang? Like some dessert with Gula Melaka, yeah?

Its actually housemate’s cigarette bowl. Hahahhaa… we are BOTH amused abt it looking like dessert.

Overloaded

2009-03-26T18:21:00.001-07:00

just a quick blog before I go off to TRY to cram more stuff in my puny head.

Last night, I slept at 4am because I had to complete my Chapter 2 assignments consisting 245 MCQ relating to Principles of Instrument Flight. Three major sections Flight instrument Systems, Attitude Instr Flying and Instr Navigation.

Its quite tough and challenging because it takes a significant amount of mental work to analyse instrument questions…

I am proud to say that I completed the whole assignment in my own power. Most of my classmates copied from one another who copied from previous instrument groundschool batches.

But the lack of sleep ruined my whole day today. I woke up at 8.15 instead of 6.15am, and therefore missed by 7.15 bus, with the next at 9.15. I would be more than 1 hr late for class if i were to take that bus, but I asked around for a ride to school and followed an Indian classmate’s car there.

After lunch, my mind was practically gone. I was there and awake, under the strong influence of coffee, but I have little attention available to absorb anything.

Man, I was SO tired.

And I even thought tomorrow is gonna be Saturday, which I would have to go to school also.

Buddy Teresa suggested potluck as a celebration for the PPL. Its an excellent idea because its is a cheap option for a celebration, and the guests get to enjoy food from various countries.

Maybe this Saturday will be drinking day (also suggested by Teresa, man, shes a party planner!). As an immediate celebration plan.. haha. I can go buy a bottle of rum or vodka and some mixers, get some close schoolmates here and drink drink drink!

OK, i’ll try to sleep earlier today.

Private Pilot Licence Obtained !!!

2009-03-25T16:05:00.001-07:00

I am now a Private Pilot! Yay!!!

So happy…

Started actual flying on 4 Dec 2008 and PPL obtained on 25 Mar 2009.

Elapsed time: 16weeks or 112 calender days or 96 working days

Total flying days: 45 days
Total flying time: 85hrs
Avg flying time per flying day: 1.9hrs/day

Equivalent time taken based on continuous daily flying: 7.5 weeks

Unproductive days: 67 (calendar days), 50 (working days)

Mostly due to weather, I’ve got (not including Sundays):
5 day lapses: 4 counts
4 day lapses: 2 counts
3 day lapses: 4 counts

On Thursday 19Mar, I was supposed to go for the checkride, but due to strong crosswinds, I opted no-go. Friday was a good day to fly, the day that my batchmate got his PPL , but my check airman was off on Friday. The next slot was to be on Saturday 20Mar, but again winds picked up.

Mon and Tues were bad days to fly, rain and thunderstorms.

And today, Wednesday, I am glad to have obtained the PPL today. I was supposed to be 2^nd in queue, but because The 1^st guy is a big sized guy and made the (unusually heavy N65551) aircraft exceed its limits. So I was pushed up to do the checkride first, to burn some fuel off. I had to discount 1lb off my measured weight to have the aircraft within limits.

After I did the flight, the big sized guy took over, but alas, at the run up area, he assessed the weather condition and opted to return to ramp. Clouds were rolling in faster than forecasted.

I Have Never Before…

2009-03-22T22:32:00.001-07:00

- drank so much milk on a regular basis
- drank so much orange juice on a regular basis
- consumed multi-vitamin pills on a regular basis
- cooked so much meat for myself to eat
- showered in a bathtub so many times in a year
- bought a USD40 shampoo
- watched so much TV
- eaten so much curry
- eaten so much pizza
- worn so many layers of clothes
- worn hats so much
- washed so much of my own clothes
- used so much butter to cook
- snacked as much
- eaten so much ice cream
- carried my passport around as much
- eaten so much ham / cheese / tomato
- jogged on treadmills
- applied so much body lotion
- wasted so much time waiting around
- and the list goes on…

Wind Mill / Vane

2009-03-22T16:40:00.001-07:00

Its a Nice Beautiful Sunday, as you probably have read from my earlier blog. After my laptop batter ran out and I had to bring it in to recharge, I got bored, and started to amuse myself, again.

I made a windvane crossbred with a windmill.

I used a plastic drink cup cover, cut it at the quadrant lines, and folded it, so that its a rough propeller.

I couldnt continue making it, unless I have disposable chopsticks to hold it up. So I went downstairs, bought a packet of Kung Po Chicken with fried rice, just so that I can get a pair of chopsticks from them. Yes, I really did it.

So with the chopsticks in hand, I proceeded to install the propeller to the end of one chopstick, and glue on the other end, a $20 Skype card which was cut slightly to give it a vane look.

Then I proceeded to use the thumbtack obtained from the wall holding up the Riverside Flight Centre student accomodation Rules and Conditions (and replaced it with staplers), to “drill” a hole on the line of center of gravity on the wind vane/mill strut. Took me quite a long while.

With the hole in place, I could install the windvane/mill on the post (another chopstick) by pinning another thumbtack through the earlier made hole onto the end of the post. The post was stapled onto the balcony’s wooden pole.

Voila! Now without needing to refer online, I have a wind direction and windspeed indicator.

Kidding, its too rough to be able to give accurate readings. Besides, its installed low-level, and the wind is disrupted by buildings, trees, balconies, etc etc etc. You can see from the below video how unstable the wind is.

Total cost:
$20 Skype card (Can buy cheaper Skype card)
$5.30 Kung Po Chicken Fried Rice (for the chopsticks)
$1.50 Drink (For the drink cover)
Free Thumbtacks
Free Staplets

Total cost of a windmill/vane: USD $26.80

A bit expensive ah? Maybe I can make it recharge my laptop battery.

The Homemade Wind Vane / Mill

Another Beautiful Day

2009-03-22T13:53:00.001-07:00

OK, Spring is IN!

There are some very warm days within the past two weeks. Temperatures as high as 29 Deg C. Which didnt last quite long, as the cold front from the North Pole flowed down. Giving strong and cool winds. These cold fronts are capable of bringing in snow too, which happen just last week.

Flowers have started to bloom all over the trees here. Not on the one in front of my balcony though. I am looking at it, at least its starting to be green and leafy. Yes, I am out on my balcony again, on the plastic outdoor chair, with my laptop on my thighs, and a cup of warm milk tea on the floor.

I see bright yellow little flowers dotted over the grass at some places. Its pretty, but I think those are weeds. I come across a few of the ball fluffy lalang things too, like that one pictured on earlier blog. I SO want to pluck one out which is fully round and beautiful, and record a video of it losing its feathered seeds as I blow them.

The wind being blown on me now, feels almost just like home. I am trying to imagine it to be seabreeze, and its hard because its unsteady, in short gusts, and lacks a saline scent. It has a different kind of smell. One that is fresh and unique in its own way.

There are clouds in the sky. Some are high high cirrus clouds.

I love the sound of the bird chirping here. I have a lot more time than before, to stop my walk on one spot, and just look and listen to bird chirping in a way that I have never heard before. A flock of bird would sweep across the sky at another time. Or a goose would squawk continuously with each flap of its wings as it flies over me. Almost as its crying in agony becaouse of how hard it has to flap to carry it weight. If I am with some schoolmates, I would usually ask them in jest, “Hmmm, I wonder how it taste like…” or say, “Hey look, that will take care of dinner!”. I realised that I have been saying this since a long long time ago. A mark that I havent changed much.

Hey look! A squirrel just scuttled across the carpark! Yes, I wonder how barbequed squirrel taste like…

I look forward to the opening of the estate swimming pool in summer so that I can work on getting a tan and even an upside down triangle swimmer body.

I am starting to like Tulsa a little bit more now. Maybe because the weather is a little bit more like Singapore now. Or am I just getting accustomed and comfortable with the slowness of life as a flight student. If I am not flying, I would be just sitting around and enjoying life. Sleeping late, waking up late. Watching TV, online drama, etc. Boring no doubt. But relaxing. It feels like a resort here, now. With some resort activity which are included in the vacation price of $45,000 USD. The resort activity is what I call flying. And also the coming Instrument “Seminar” which is coming up next week.

Its amazing how beautiful life can turn out to be when perspectives change.

Recently, i was looking at the mirror and I realised that I have a few new lines of crows feet at the corner of my eyes. I am both pleased and disappointed. Pleased because I see it as an evidence of growth and a mark of maturity. Disappointed because I am moving on from my forever young, with smooth flawless facial features notion. Despite daily application of Garnier facial moisturiser after showering, these lines are still showing, is it because of the drying climate? Or could it just be because I am getting old.

Nonetheless, every week, I get the pleasure of thrilling some indian school mate by revealing my true age when they ask. “Oh really 29? You look 24 (or the youngest I have heard, 19)”. I add that I have a kiddy face, which is not good for a guy. But they are amazed all the same. I hope I dont give them the impression that all men from Singapore are like this. Most of the students here are below 23. Most on their 18-20. Fresh out of school.

Oops, my laptop battery is weak, and I am starting to run out of things to blog about. Time to go!

Okmulgee VOR Radio Beacon

2009-03-21T23:47:00.001-07:00

On my final cross country, I needed to fly slow to burn up 3.3 hrs, the normal trip would take 2.6hrs.

Despite flying slow, I was still flying too fast. So I decided to do a little sightseeing. I tracked to the Okmulgee VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) Radio Beacon, and when I was over head (I know it when my VOR indicator swings from “TO” to “FROM”.), I started to fly circles around it, and while at that, took pictures of it..

fluffy thing

2009-03-21T23:32:00.001-07:00

A Cute Mole Found Near the Fence of Riverside Airport

2009-03-21T23:14:00.001-07:00

View Full Album

Test Test With Windows Live Writer

2009-03-21T23:04:00.001-07:00

Test Test Test Test

Argh!

2009-03-20T15:43:00.001-07:00

Resist!
Save that $169!!!

Dont get the absolutely seemingly wonderful ANR Retrofit kit thing!

You dont need it !!!!

RESIST !!!!!

You wont be using that thing much after flight training!!!!!!!!!!

You can live with a little noise!

Thoughts / Muses

2009-03-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

Everyday, some silly thought, feeling will float through my little mind, making me want to blog about it. However, every of these little blog-worthy muse will go forgotten.

Today, some flooded in too. Here's a memory of the memories.

1. I cut my hair at Supercuts this morning again. Second time since entry into USA. I hated both haircuts, yet I go back. Weird. I look like a Dork now. My fringe is STRAIGHT, despite being "textured"...

2. Americans may be nice people, but when it comes to dog keeping, they are rather lazy. Spring is in, and as the weather is more conducive for dog walks, more dog poo is found on grass all over the estate. I have to look where my next step is if i were to walk on grass.

3. Shaver refills here are as expensive as in Singapore, except that its in USD. So it would cost 50% more if converted to SGD. For that, I bought the Gillette disposable razers at $4.50 for 4 err... sticks. As compared to $13 for a box of 4 or 5 razer refills for the razer series handle which I brought along for this trip. Think this $4.50, can last me about 4 mths more, if I use it at the rate of 1 stick per month.

4. I finally opened my packet of raisin biscuits which I bought on the Asian Grocery Shopping day. early this year. It felt like a long time had passed since then, little did I just realised that it was merely 2.5 mths. I enjoyed the Sultana biscuits, something I used to indulge myself with when I was a kiddy.

5. Screw weather! Screw winds! Yesterday could have been the day I took the FAA PPL Checkride, except that the clouds were low. And when the clouds lifted slightly, the wind blew from the side of the runway, making the crosswind more than desired for a checkride. I hope the weather on Saturday will be better. And I could make an attempt at the checkride.

6. There are things I did in this life, that I regretted. Some things stupid, some silly, mostly due to stupidity. And its really bad that I will remember these events, and suddenly feel embaressed and stupid all over again, while knowing fully that its past, and I would never be able to correct the error again. Perhaps this is living in guilt? How do I "move on" from this recurring emotions? This should not be what being sentimental means.

New Thoughts

1. I love my David Clarks. They are such comfortable things. So pleasing aesthetically.. haha. Although I have no basis of comparison, I believe they have a certain quality standard and would aid in my hearing ATC to an appreciable extent. I could improve the quality of the hearing much much further if I were to invest in the ANR retrofit upgrade.

This kit, purchased online (Review is here, product website is here.), is installed by the end user (my Mr-fix-It instructor has generously offered to help me install it, should I purchase it.), and it involves removing the original speakers from the headset, and install the one included in the kit. The new speakers has an inbuilt mic to detect the noise around the ear after wearing the headset, the onboard computer will then play back MORE of the same noise albeit in the reverse frequency, thereby cancelling out the ambient noise.

Sounds cool, but this is at the cost of about USD$169. Which I am sure I wont be using much of, anymore, after flight training. It would be something I would invest in, IF i were to go into General Aviation career or flight instructing which will require more use of the same headset (Airline cockpits are usually quieter as the engines are further away. Hence the communication devices they use are smaller, lighter, much like hook-on earphones.). But otherwise, after flight training, I almost wont ever use the headset. Maybe once in two years, to fly just to keep the licence current.

A nice temptation nonetheless, and a sweet christmas wish gift. Should I go for it?

2. I will be joining next week's Instrument Ground School. This is despite possibly not completing the PPL. I could attempt the checkrides after class, if needed. Yay, happy. Theres progression!

Overstocked!

2009-03-16T22:14:00.001-07:00

Below is my list of food which I have inadvertantly stocked up motivated by desire, but have little chance to eat as I do not have a usual habit of snacking. I have to MAKE myself snack to finish these foods!

1. Beef Pot Pie (Could be used as a meal)
2. Mash Potato
3. Macaroni Cheese
4. Pad Thai
5. Cookies (Must bake)
6. Raisin biscuits
7. pop corn (Bought long long liao)
8. prata (Frozen)
9. Waffles (frozen)
10. Hello Panda
11. Oats (Bought since I came to Tulsa, 3-4mths liao)
12. Instant Noodle (One packet left, korean kimchi flavour)
13. Muesli (yoghurt coated. Usually a couple in bag as backup meals)
14. Cans and cans of Vanilla Coke
15. Cans and cans of Slim-Fast 180 calorie Meal replacement shakes.

Oh shit... While at that, I still have various type of marinades and meat sauces!
1. Indian Curry Powder (the big metal can, not so nice, stains the pots)
2. Kurma Curry Powder (paper packet, transfered to a ziplock screwcap container, not bad)
3. Black Pepper Sauce for Steaks
4. Korean BBQ Marinades (Goodness, which I just used to marinade 4 servings of chicken and 4 servings, can last me more than 2 weeks!)
5. LKK Curry Paste (the sourish kind of curry, nice!)
6. Chicken Rice Mix
7. Wanton Soup Powder
8. Oyster Sauce
9. Taiwanese Dry Noodle Seasoning (Shiok! Individual servings satchets)
10. Taiwanese Soup Noodle Seasoning (Also shiok, also individual servings packets)

Jialat, I have MORE than I need for the rest of the (estimated) 4 months here. No more buying unnecessary stuff from Walmart!!! Not even if its exotic!

I Need Some Fun!

2009-03-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

YES! I need some Chee Cheong Fun!!!

Someone please volunteer to go for Chee Cheong Fun with me!

http://www.sbestfood.com/tengyucheecheongfun.htm

: )

Lemonade

2009-03-16T15:19:00.001-07:00

With reference to my past blog about the Special Lemonade:
http://stephen-choo.blogspot.com/2009/02/special-lemonade.html

I have REALLY tried to make it.

I bought 3 lemons, squeezed it juice out. Added like 5 tablespoons of sugar and set it in the fridge.

I couldnt do the lemon skin blended because i dont have a blender. (I disposed the used lemon skin in my toilet bin because I like the citrus smell in the toilet. Haha, I do this with orange peels too.)

Nonetheless, the sugared lemon juice, i added milk to it and then added soda water. Its an interesting concoction. Which I would expect to have better zinge with the lemon peel.

There was a little problem with precipitation. When milk and lemon juice is mixed, the acid and alkali will react and result in ppt. and when the soda is added, thankfully, the ppt floats to the top.

A bit yucky, but when parted away. Its not too bad.

Ok, now we wait...

... for a stomachache.

HAHAHAHAHA!

By Popular Demand...

2009-03-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yes... By popular demand, I have decided to blog... (actually also because I am bored to tears).

I am not far away from my FAA PPL Checkride. However, I feel unprepared for it. But, I quote from Jeff who did the same from Teresa, "The tested will always feel unprepared." or something like that.

And yes, I must admit, I fall prey to that now.

But the bad part is, as I got off the aircraft with Maksim (the test instructor preparing me for the checkride), he said he expected more from me. I agree the same for myself.

He picked out many rough edges that I would have to improve over a single weekend. Its really odd because I have over 80hrs of flying time, yet I am no where near refinement of skills. Does that mean I really suck at flying?

I am inclined to blame my instructor for not having imparted what i SHOULD know. But I could also be blamed for not reading up on the maneuvers which i erred in.

Namely, S turns and Turns around a Point. I didnt know that these maneuvers should be entered downwind. All along, we would just pick the nearest road or point and entered from any freaking direction.

S-Turns (notes)
1. Entered downwind along a prominent road intersection
2. Pick out small road intersections (1/4 mile mark) to make turns around
3. Cross the main road at the 1/2 mile small road intersections
4. Do step 2 for the other side turn
5. Roll out even back at mainroad

Turn Around a Point
1. Entered downwind on a prominent road intersection
2. Pick out 1/4 mile mark (small road intersections) to fly to while in a turn
3. Look faraway from extended 1.4 mile roads as reference
4. Divide attention between looking outside, and inside
5. One turn nia, then exit liao

Steepturns
1. Outside outside, AH, outside outside, altitude, outside outside, airspeed, outside outside, AH...
2. Add power if descending
3. When rolling out, roll out level, and pull power to 2300 (without looking, by hearing, duh...)

Slow Flights
1. Commence the 10 deg bank, 90 deg turn when roughly established
2. Correct the imperfections while turning, the sooner this maneuver is completed, the better

Power Off Stall With 20 Deg Bank
1. Bank the 20 deg before pulling power to stops
2. When break to the side, rectify with rudder

And unusual attitudes, where I must look down and hands off while the tester moves the yoke all over and shortly presents me with an unusual attitude, to which I must recover from by instruments. This is something new to me. I have NEVER done this before.

Nose low unusual attitude - will notice a fast increase in airspeed, so recovery by:
1. retarding throttle
2. leveling wings (by attitude indicator)
3. pulling nose up to artificial horizon
4. throttle as needed

Nose high unusual attitude -will notice a decrease in airspeed, recovery by:
1. full throttle
2. pushing nose down to AH
3. leveling wings
4. pull back throttle when desired airspeed is reached

OK, so these are not that hard to rectify, provided I put it into a strong mental note. Throw in a generous amount of mental flying to ensure that the procedures stick.

Oh well...

Will fly with Maksim again on Monday. And possibly the FAA Checkride will be on Tuesday.

I will likely be the first 2 on my class to attain the PPL.

Solo Cross Country!

2009-03-01T21:47:00.000-08:00

Today, I did my solo cross-country flights. A total of 5.2hrs on N4711H.

Heres some pics:

This is an ox-bow lake, something I learnt about in Secondary school Geography. Most water ways in Singapore are man made, so it didnt really make sense. Now I see it.

Heres me, trying to handle a camera and a map at the same time.

See? I was so alone!!! Boo hoo hoo...

Cool shot.

Some bush fire... Someone, put it out, please!

This is Holdenville airport, which is in extremely terrible condition! This is a taxiway, with grass growing tall on both sides.

Tall grass!

This is the closed runway, looks ok yeah? But the far end, grass grows very very tall...

This is the runway end, stopped my aircraft there to take pictures. See the grass! Like maize!

Aiyoh, can you see the cracks in the runway? Jialat, so dilapidated.

I Love Screwpine...

2009-02-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

No no no, its not "I love screwing Pine." or "I love to screw pine." Whoeve Pine is...

Screwpine is the non-asian name of pandan leaves.

And I realised that its use is indeed almighty.

Prior to Nasi Lemak day tomorrow, I made a test run on the rice cooked with coconut milk. The can contains 400ml of coconut cream, and I used 100ml for 1 cup of rice. That leaves 300ml for 2 cups of rice for tomorrow.

Today's rice tasted fragrant because of the cocounut, however, something is very very very missing.

All the web pages for Nasi Lemak recipe says that pandan leaves is needed. A few Pandan Leaves, knotted and boiled together with the coconut rice.

However, with all my resourcefulness, I still have no means of obtaining any Pandan Leaves in time for tomorrow. Pandan leaves are just very hardly available in USA.

At best, I could order extracts of Screwpine in a bottle at USD4.85 a bottle, adding $6.55 for UPS delivery. But NO WAY am I paying SGD15 for Pandan leaves, which costs a few mere cents for a few leaves.

Or I could ask my parents to post to me a bunch in a ziplock bag... but it will take 1mth to reach me, by then i would have to boil the ziplock bag together with the rice to extract the fragrance infused in the plastic.

Argh. Its frustrating. Such a simple plant, such amazing use, but not available at all!!!

There is a high possibility that the Wonderful Pandan Leaves would be available at the Asian supermarkets at Oklahoma City, which Housemate may be going either today or tomorrow (his Jap rice depleting). However, I m reluctant to ask him to help me get it because I declined his invitation to go with him there (I would save USD25 on the shared rented car if I didnt go).

I guess, I would just have to cook the Nasi Lemak without the Pandan Leaves...

What Would You Do?

2009-02-27T22:27:00.001-08:00

I was chatting on MSN to a friend who complained about a certain discomfort, and the friend shared that he/she feared that it would something drastic. He/she named a certain disease.

I told him/her to go see a doctor, and he/she gave an adament "NO!".

To which, I reply, "So you think it would be best that you dont know and let it get worse?"

Thence, that friend logged off MSN. I must have struck a raw nerve. Perhaps what I advised him/her, maybe to him/her, equates to confirming that he/she has the certain drastic disease.

If you have a certain discomfort and you suspect it could be something bad, what would you do?

Do you scare yourself further and not see a doctor (possibly because of the scary potentiality that the doctor could confirm the certain drastic disease, in which case, it would be BEST to get treatment early)?

Or would just go to see a doctor and get ur fears allayed.

Such is human psychology. Ahh...

For me, I would go to my favourite doctor, Dr Ko who operates in my neighbourhood. I go to him for any small little problem.

I saw him for my nasal problem, which I thought and feared was nasal cancer. But he assured me that its just a sinus problem. He prescribed some nasal spray which worked beautifully and I have less nose problems now.

I urge you, my friends, to have a doctor whom you trust and believe in. Please try not to be the kind of people, who avoids the doctor and prefer not to know about a certain condition, just because the doctor is capable of diagnosing the certain drastic condition.

Not knowing doesnt mean that you dont have the suspected condition.

Visiting a doctor could confirm that you are NOT a victim of the suspected condition.

If by visiting a doctor, and the suspected condition is confirmed, wouldnt you be glad that its discovered early and treated timely (while its probably still benign)?

Rather than not visiting the needed doctor, and let the condition fester further or needlessly scaring urself silly.

On the same note, my lady friends, please visit a doctor for a pap smear test at least once every 3 years, and perform a breast check monthly.

Live well.

My Balcony

2009-02-26T13:09:00.000-08:00

Today, temperature outside was 27 deg C. Its actually highest since I arrived (I think).

Indoor temperature felt high, and was a little stuffy. So I opened the balcony to let some fresh air enter the apartment.

And what came in was not just fresh air, but sounds and sights. School students were just alighting from their school buses, and they were running around, talking, some screaming, while going home.

I decided to take a seat outside in the balcony to take in the sights and sounds. Being in the moment.

The sky is a bit dim due to the thick and low cloud cover. Winds are not too strong. And the temperature is very comfortable (slightly warm).

I could hear the traffic on the distant road, trucks and buses passing. A variety of birds chirping, children in the neighbouring balcony playing. And even a distant knocking of skateboards on the floor. I also hear a faraway rumble of a helicopter or a small aircraft.

Its really wonderful sitting out here. It feels like I am sitting on the balcony of some holiday resort. Its the same carefree, relaxing feeling. Also similar to just sitting on the beach and enjoying the sea breeze.

Maybe tonight, I will do the same with a beer in my hand. Temperature permitting.

Daylight Donuts

2009-02-25T12:45:00.000-08:00

After I completed my Stage 2 test as earlier blogged, I was in time to go back to the apartment on the 11am bus.

On that bus, I passed the Daylight Donut shop, and saw its "OPEN" sign flicker off. I walked past this donut shop before inthe afternoon and wondered why its closed. It closes early!

Duh... then it dawned onto me. Daylight Donuts... duh...

http://www.daylightdonuts.com/index.asp

Daylight...

When I passed it earlier this morning, before I got to school, there was a queue of 3-4 customers. Are the donuts THAT good?

So good that its sold out at 11am?!?!?

Dang! I MUST try it some day.

Its Over

2009-02-25T12:12:00.000-08:00

Stage 2, that is...

I went to school on the 9.15am bus, arriving at 9.30am. Saw Jitin who told me that he preflighted the aircraft, engine started, then on hearing the ATIS (Automated Terminal Information System), had to terminate the flight as the cloud ceiling fell down to 1300ft.

All in a matter of 15mins. Before the bus ride, it was all bright and Sun shiny. After the busride, cloud obscured the whole damn place.

So I thought, ok, maybe later this afternoon then. Butwhen I got into the office, the tester Mr Maksim, a young lad, told me to preflight N94505. Maksim thought it was ok to do pattern work in the cloud ceiling.

Ok, so i preflighted the aircraft, and check the ASOS (Automated Surface Observation System) via a telephone call, and hey the cloud ceiling was reported to be SCT016 and BKN022. Good.

I was glad that the wind was very much down the runway, and was only 12kts. So it was extremely easy.

Did a few of the required short field landing and soft field landings and it was done, completed. It was nice that Maksim was more gracious, and allowed another shot of the soft field landing immediately after one was not satisfactorily performed.

I am glad to have practised some landings with Instructor yesterday, in the strong crosswind. It made it easy today.

So now, I am qualified to do some solo cross country flights! Probably doing it with Jitin again, going to the same places, at the same time, in two different planes. Solo buddy.

Special Lemonade

2009-02-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

Shall try this someday. Although I dont know how milk and citrus juice can go together. Maybe what you get is just a salty solution. Perhaps milk from a cow that drank lemon juice?

INGREDIENTS
2 medium lemons
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups milk
3 cups club soda, chilled
2 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
Additional sugar

DIRECTIONS
Remove ends from lemons and discard. Remove lemon peel with a knife; set aside. Quarter lemons; squeeze juice into a bowl. Remove and discard white membrane. Place the peel and pulp in a blender or food processor; cover and process until coarsely chopped. Add peel mixture and sugar to lemon juice; mix well. Let stand for 30 minutes.
Stir in milk. Strain lemon mixture; add club soda and food coloring if desired. Serve immediately in sugar-rimmed glasses if desired.

Sunday is Nasi Lemak Day!

2009-02-24T16:00:00.000-08:00

No no, I didnt cook the above. The above picture was extracted from Wikipedia. I think its pretty easy to cook it, except that I cant find Ikan Bilis (Anchovies), and Pandan Leaves (Screwpine). Nvm, I can still make it.

I have bought
- a can of luncheon meat. Just cut into slices, and fry in oil.
- Peanuts - Bought the one with shell, because they dont have it unshelled. They have all the nuts unshelled, but peanuts. Screw it, I will shell them myself, and roast them.

I already have eggs to cook omelette, and coconut milk from the asian supermarket visit for the rice.

I could deepfry chicken, but it would use a lot of oil...

However, I dont have the MOST MOST MOST important ingredient. The chilli paste. No dried chilli, no tamarind, no assam, no sambal... darn.

Argh! I forgot cucumber!

Nows the hard part, how much water and how much coconut milk to pour into the rice to cook. Shall I try it once before Sunday?

约定

2009-02-22T22:10:00.001-08:00

Casio Watch

2009-02-18T21:33:00.001-08:00

I must have been here too long, or too bored. My memories of my past seems to be fading.

When it came to navigation in flight, I am required to take note of my departure time, and times of arrival over checkpoints. I found it quite time-taking to note the times off an analog watch.

No doubt, I love my Seiko Worldtime white face silver bracelet watch, many of the ang mohs here commented that its a very nice watch. But its just slightly more difficult to use, because it shows both local and UTC time on analog faces, the nice part is that the UTC time is shown in a 24hr dial.

I started wondering about my previous watch that shows local time in analog, and another time in digital...

Then I realise... I dont remember what my previous watch look like!

I remember the previous previous, blue face, with the digital time large over the back. But the previous... no impression.

I went online to search.

Finally found it.

http://www.casio-intl.com/wat/g_shock/cockpit/gw-1701d.html

I wished I have this watch with me.

It would be a lot more suiting my purpose being here. I could:

1. use the digital time as the UTC time, and hence, easy to write down the time fast and correctly.

2. use the analog as the UTC time, and the digital portion as a stop watch to capture elapsed time, which will make it easier as I need not make minute calculations in the cockpit.

The alternative functional solutions to improve the current situation:

1. Buy a tabletop timer/stopwatch and continue to rely on analog watch for time.

2. Download plug-in for handphone to show on screen time and stopwatch. Subject to existance, and depends on how relaxed the examiners are at allowing me to use offline handphone in the cockpit.

3. Buy a cheap digital watch.

4. Ask my family to post me the old watch. And risk losing it in the mail. Not too sure if I can remember where it is too.

Vanilla Coke...

2009-02-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

I love Vanilla Coke... reminds me so much of Billy Bombers...

But hey! I AM in America... but hmmm, find no such sorts of restaurant...

HOWEVER, vanilla coke keeps me up... sounds like a good thing to be kept up at night, yeah? Not when its vanilla coke!

Argh! Slept at about 4am!!!!! Cant tahan!

Aerial Pictures

2009-02-16T20:56:00.001-08:00

This are some pictures taken from the cross country flown on Saturday.

Took a long time to upload. Paiseh.

At McAlester, theres a museum in the facility. Popped in for a look. Mainly military stuff.

The inside part of the facility, lounge, restrooms, weather briefing rooms are.

The weather briefing room! On the black board, theres prices of fuel, oil, etc.

Another angle of the same briefing room. There are clocks for all the times in USA. The last clock is UTC. Heres my model (my instructor), looking for an operating PC to check the weather for the night's weather. It turned out that cloud bases are too low for flight.

The outside ramp area. You can see a fuel truck, and an adjustable airstairs.

The aircraft with the tail pointing at us is the aircraft we flown in with.

ASOS Automated Surface Observing System. This nifty system can give automated surface weather observation pretty accurately, without a need for a human to stand outdoors to observe.

Yup, Stillwater... then on to Guthrie and back to Riverside.

Saw a Cessna Citation parked... went over for a peek.

This is called a tetrahedron. It tells wind direction. Such a large object, gets blown by the wind...

Departed for Guthrie, just do a touch and go nia. Asked instructor to take the control while i take a snap.

How many degree bank? Can you see the runway?

Teresa will love this pic... Oil tanks!

This airport is called Cushing! We flew overhead. I used it as my landmark for navigation.

Random picture.

Did a night flight today (Monday). Good weather to fly. Had it knocked out, and also did some circuits for some night landing practice... Man, its really hard to gauge height at night. The pictures at night dint really turn out well...

Just after the night flight, I was told to go for Stage 2 oral test on Tuesday. I am so not prepared! Looks like i will study till late, after this blog.