Cross Country

So cross-country has come and gone already...and was it fun!

Most of last week was spent doing Instrument rides to get me prepared for the 1800 mile trek.  Most of it was learning how to create flight plans, read charts, and plan fuel burns to make sure we arrive with enough gas.  It's never good to run out of gas in the sky...maybe that's why the KC-10 is so appealing to me.  Lots of gas lol.  Friday myself and 5 other student pilots spent the morning planning out the exact route of flight.  We had to make phone calls to make sure that we could get gas at the airports we were flying to and hotels at the cities we were staying over night at. 

Overflying parts of West Texas heading to El Paso.

We took off later that afternoon with a plan to stay overnight in Tucson, AZ on Friday.  We also planned to stay at Ft.Worth, TX Saturday night and then go back to Laughlin on Sunday.  Pretty good plan if you ask me.  We flew along the border of the US & Mexico to El Paso for gas.  It was so nice to finally get out of the training 'bubble' at Laughlin and see some real-world flying.  We followed the sun as it set while flying to Tucson.  It was such a pretty sight...I wish I had taken a picture.  

We landed at Davis-Monthan AFB which is located in Tucson.  It was quite convenient to stay over night at a military base since they have the services we need and know how to treat transient aircrews very well.  They let us use a military van to get around town which was pretty sweet.  We were all starving when we landed.  When we got to the hotel, we quickly changed and went right to dinner at a popular restaurant/bar on UofA's campus.  As it turned out, my cousin Ruth is a JR at UofA and ended up meeting me out at dinner.  It was very nice to get the chance to catch up with her.  Especially since I do not get the chance to talk to her much.  She seems to be doing very well in Tucson.  

View of our T-6 and the A-10s in the background as we preflight our jet.

 

There was no rest for us...we woke up early that Saturday so that we could get to Ft.Worth at a reasonable time.  It was going to be the longest leg of our cross country.  This leg wasn't all that fun for me since I was sporting a major headache the whole way.  Now I know what your thinking...he must have drank too much Friday.  I must say on the record that I did enjoy a few quality brews, but in no way did I take it too far.  It was just one of those days...

Anyway, we finally landed in Ft.Worth.  My radio work in the airplane is slowly coming along at this point.  It was crazy how quick everything happens once you get close to a VERY busy airspace such as Dallas/Ft.Worth.  Nonetheless we made it and it was nice to get to our sweet hotel rooms and head downtown for some food. 

Midland, TX.  Stopped here for food...

I decided not to bite the bullet that night and go out with the rest of the pack.  I was feeling so horrible that all I wanted to do was go bed.  As it turns out...that was one of the best decisions I had made all weekend.  I woke up Sunday morning very refreshed.  

Our flight on Sunday was very short.  It was that point in the training when most of the Instrument work starts to make sense.  Radio calls are still requiring some work lol...  We landed early in the afternoon and that completed the long trip.  I was very nice to be back.  But no rest for the weary...as Monday I had to report in for work and continue my studying and flying.  

View over the wing of the T-6

We are getting very close to finishing up T-6's.  I only have about 12 more flights and 4 more sims.  Among those flights, however, are 2 check rides which I am taking very seriously since they require a lot of advanced flying and knowledge of the aircraft. 

My mother and Stephanie are coming out next week for my birthday.  That will be a very cool weekend!  And shortly after that Steph is coming back out during her spring break.  It will be so nice to have her around as things really start to warm up here in Texas.

Overall route of my xcountry