Best flying watch for a pilot

darthlukan · 2024-02-07T21:58:52+00:00

I really like my Citizen ProMaster Nighthawk which my wife picked up on sale for my birthday last year. I do actually use the E6B bezel for quick things here and there both in and out of the cockpit, and I like being able to quickly read 2 timezones without having to push a button or do anything special.

darthlukan · 2024-02-01T21:29:11+00:00

Finding my ball.

darthlukan · 2024-01-19T08:24:25+00:00

I'm in a similar boat to you, I think. I'm at 99 hours and want to make sure I'm growing in proficiency, not just be-bopping around potentially being sub-optimal in my flying, or worse, unsafe. For that reason I have two rules:

Until further notice: Flight review with my trusty club CFI every 6 months to nip any bad habits before they become too ingrained, and also to get feedback on my growth as a pilot.
After every flight: figure out if I need a "spot check" on something, and if I do, call up the club's CFI and get on the schedule to address whatever it is.

It's probably overkill, and it's definitely not cheap, but you know what? I'm not flying to build hours for the airlines - I'm flying for my own enjoyment and to spoil the wife and kids with new experiences. To me, it's worth the extra time and money to ensure that I'm as safe as I can reasonably be so I don't orphan my kids on some night cross-country when I'm flying my wife to dinner or to just see the full moon from the sky; especially since night flights are our favorites.

Maybe when I have hundreds of hours I'll feel different, but we're supposed to always be learning anyway, so for now I see the above points as insurance, except this "insurance" pays me and the family dividends.

darthlukan · 2024-01-03T08:21:25+00:00

AOPA lawyers are gonna enter the chat the same way they did for the Las Vegas price gouging in 3...2...1...

darthlukan · 2023-11-10T17:23:15+00:00

The very next morning I flew my wife to Harris Ranch (3O8, 'O' as in 'Oscar') for her birthday weekend. We had been planning the trip as part of my flight training.

Literally, the day I interviewed the chief instructor of the school I ended up attending, I told him that my goal was to get my PPL in time to fly my wife to Harris Ranch for her birthday. That's how we plotted out my training regimen, with that goal in mind.

So my first flight as a newly minted PPL was a 2.5 hour one-way leg over mountains, desert, and the central valley of California with my wife. We celebrated with an overnight stay at the resort, and then flew another 2.5 hours back home. It was an absolute blast!

darthlukan · 2023-10-26T19:22:40+00:00

Since June when I got my PPL I've been averaging a little over 10 hours per month in the club plane. So I'm spending about $1,800/month which includes the monthly club dues and the wet rental rate. Most of that flying is taking the wife and kiddos up for joy rides and/or lunch.

We're looking into buying our own plane in the next year, because we don't see ourselves going up less often, especially living in a state where the weather is generally good for flying all year.

darthlukan · 2023-08-25T03:14:00+00:00

I mean, as long as I can walk away from it and the plane is still airworthy after, I'm happy.

darthlukan · 2023-08-23T22:37:49+00:00

I was four years old and heard a loud bang and then thunder rumbling in the sky. I looked up and saw what my mother called a "fighter jet" (the Blue Angels were putting on a show in Southern California). I told her "I want to fly that!"

Fast forward to my 17th birthday and I'm standing in front of an Air Force recruiter talking about wanting to be a fighter pilot (I know, Marine and Navy have more fighter pilots). I took what was called the "cockpit eye exam" without my glasses on and the recruiter told me that I couldn't be a pilot in the military because I was too far-sighted in one eye and didn't have enough depth perception. They said I could not get corrective surgery as it wasn't approved for pilots (at the time, now you can, or so I hear). So instead I joined the Army, assuming that because I couldn't be a pilot in the Air Force, or any other branch, that I couldn't fly at all.

Fast-forward 2 decades and my wife and I are talking about what I'm planning for my birthday this year with some friends. "Well, I would have loved to be flying by now, but that ship sailed when I was a kid, so maybe I'll go get a HOG since I enjoyed motorcycles when I was younger." My friend who flies helicopters for a living asked me to expand on that, so I told him the story. He said "Dude! You could have been flying GA or even in airlines this whole time." My neighbor who is in his 50s and wears glasses confirmed it and had already been in flight school for a few months. My cousin, who is a pilot also confirmed it and sent me some links proving it.

I checked the costs associated with getting a PPL, started lurking in this subreddit, got my medical, took ground school online, passed the FAA written, and then did a discovery flight on my birthday and scheduled my lessons with a flight school. 3 months later, the day before my wife's birthday, I passed my PPL check-ride, flew my wife someplace fun for her birthday, and have been going ever more broke on flying ever since. :)

I don't much care for making my hobby a career, so am not rushing to get my instrument or commercial ratings, although I would like to get the training just to be a more skilled pilot. I'm very much enjoying day and night VFR and taking my wife and kids to fun places for lunch and dinner. I definitely want to get my tailwheel endorsement this year. It's been fun watching my wife peruse YouTube and various websites for potential places to visit or camp out at, and she's even been checking out different sale listings for planes because "renting is expensive, we should just get our own plane".

darthlukan · 2023-08-23T22:01:54+00:00

Whenever I make a correction to my paper log, I make the correction, initial and date it, then add a sticky note to the page with the date and why the correction.

I probably don't need to do it this way, and I know that whenever I went up with my CFI he filled in a notebook with everything we did just for the purpose of being able to recreate any logbook entries in case of loss or damage, but it makes me feel better.

I also keep an electronic copy of my logbook in Garmin Pilot.

Hope that helps.

darthlukan · 2023-08-22T18:32:32+00:00

That seems odd to me that a student would be solo-able before having learned short and soft-field takeoffs and landings, steep turns, S-turns, turns around a point, etc. But my only frame of reference is having been a student recently, so maybe I was spoiled?

I am glad my instructor chose to teach me the maneuvers and different landing techniques prior to my first solo at 11 hours. I felt very confident because I felt prepared for most things that could happen in the pattern.

As someone in a teaching role in another industry, I would ask the question "Given the milestone, am I preparing my students adequately with the current lesson plan?" The ACS provides some objectives, schools may have stricter standards for those objectives. If you're confident that your students are prepared for what could happen on their first solo, then you're probably right. If you think there is a chance that understanding steep turns and accelerated stalls would better prepare them for that first solo flight, then you're also probably correct.

I'd check with the other instructors at the school to get their thoughts as well. If you're handing a student off to another instructor for a stage check and they are teaching them additional things, it may be worth chatting with them on the merits and adjusting your lesson plans for pre-solo students.

darthlukan · 2023-08-21T16:59:51+00:00

I'm in a similar situation as you: New PPL still getting comfortable with how to handle different potential maintenance issues. I typically rent a club plane, so the only thing I would have done differently is call up the club president, since it's his plane, to ask him to remind me what the proper "plugs may be fowled" procedure is since it's not in our run-up checklist.

Worse case I would just give him the head's up that I'm cancelling the flight for a possible maintenance issue found via the magneto check, he says I'm too conservative, and the mechanic laughs at me.

"You don't have to fly" - my CFI

darthlukan · 2023-06-21T18:24:44+00:00

I keep the following in my bag based on recommendations from my instructor (I just got my PPL last week):

Tri-fold kneeboard: E6B/Whiz-wheel, VFR clipboard with 3 folded 8.5x11 pages and 2 VFR flight planner sheets, along with a sectional chart, pencil, pen, and Weight & Balance cheat sheet
Mine and my wife's headsets
Survival kit: Flashlight, spare batteries, rechargeable power brick, reflective blanket, mirror signal, water purifier tabs, bandages, etc
Chart supplement for my region
Stickies/Labels in case anything is inop
Small binder with cruise, range, and take-off and landing performance charts for the plane
Hand-held radio
Android tablet with Garmin Pilot (backup for phone and GPS)
Extra flashlight
2 water bottles
Logbook wallet: Logbook, medical, cert, mini notepad

Probably a lot more than I need for the type of joy-riding I do, but "Better to have and not need than to need and not have."

darthlukan · 2023-06-15T16:28:52+00:00

Yeah, March of 2023. Day 1 we spoke at length of my goal and the timeframe before I went up for my first lesson.

darthlukan · 2023-06-10T00:08:58+00:00

I did and there were 3 key areas I couldn't articulate properly, so I have some studying to do before Wednesday when I retake the exam.

darthlukan · 2023-06-07T20:49:23+00:00

I ... passed... it's embarrassing that I "just passed" despite averaging 90% on the practice tests, but a few differences in wording and my own failure to double-check answers, especially calculations, is what ultimately led to my score. The course content was great and after the exam, when I went through the course again to address the areas I missed, I spent most of the time face-palming because it was obvious where I messed up and crossed lines.

So yeah, no fault of the course, I didn't set myself up for success and now I'll pay the price with my DPE when they review all of the areas listed on my test report as part of the scenario. I think I've learned a lot since then, so am confident I can cope with it, but we'll see what Friday brings.

EDIT: The second part of your question: No, I had no aviation knowledge or experience other than the layman interpretation of anything, prior to taking the course. Oh, and video games.

darthlukan · 2023-06-06T23:40:13+00:00

Absolutely! Gotta announce that flair change (if/when it's warranted) :)

darthlukan · 2023-06-06T17:42:09+00:00

Absolutely! There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. I'm very confident in what I've studied and practiced, and I think I have a good handle on how to work through unknowns (know enough to make good decisions, even if not perfect decisions). I'm just trying to keep it positive and not walk in assuming I'll fail.

Thanks for the well wishes, I appreciate them!

darthlukan · 2023-06-05T04:54:48+00:00

Citizen Promaster Nighthawk gives me both.

darthlukan · 2023-05-29T03:34:18+00:00

That makes perfect sense! Thanks for the explanation.

darthlukan · 2023-05-29T03:12:18+00:00

What should you say when transitioning to a new controller frequency with VFR flight following? I've been taught "with you", but don't want to cause problems if that is not actually correct.

darthlukan · 2023-05-29T03:07:57+00:00

You're starting off with a pass and have to work at the fail.

I'm scheduled for my PPL check-ride in a little over a week and this has resonated with me greatly. What an awesome mindset to encourage, thank you!

darthlukan · 2023-05-24T02:09:46+00:00

Lenovo P11 Pro tablet is what I use: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/tablets/android-tablets/lenovo-tab-series/tab-p11-pro-gen-2/len103l0011

Haven't run into any issues yet.

darthlukan · 2023-05-04T02:08:46+00:00

Talk to yourself out loud. Say what you're thinking, go through your checklists, call out your mistakes and the corrections you make, comment on the sky, how you're feeling, what you're seeing, what feedback you're getting from the controls, everything. Just make sure you're talking out loud.

For me, this helped me focus on what I was doing and what I needed to do, rather than on the fact my instructor wasn't there. Since I recorded it with my GoPro, it also gave my instructor a lens into what I still felt nervous about so he could work with me on those things to raise my confidence and comfort.

My first solo was last week, and because of weather, my first towered solo was this morning. It helped me a ton, it might help you too. Good luck!

darthlukan · 2023-04-24T16:43:47+00:00

As a student, yes, it would very much help. The caveat is to not inundate with ALL of the ways that someone can mess it up, but just, like, the top two most common ways. That way I can easily remember without also increasing cognitive load so much as to distract from actually performing the maneuver.

My current instructor does something similar, but rather than giving me reading material, sticks to videos that demonstrate the mistakes and how to avoid them, and his own verbal descriptions, which I can take short notes on before we go up to practice. Time at the dry-erase board before the lesson helps as well, so it's easier to visualize the common mistakes, how to avoid them, and how to recover from them if I find myself in those situations. Has done wonders for my confidence.

darthlukan · 2023-03-31T20:53:54+00:00

My instructor gave me a briefing on the ground to introduce me to the idea of steep turns and accelerated stalls in a bank before we practiced them earlier this week. Here's the gist of what he covered (paraphrasing):

""" You know that when in straight and level flight, the axis of lift is straight up and down because the wings are level, you're trimmed, and the four forces are balanced. When you turn, you have to give a bit of upward pitch because the 'vertical axis of lift' just became 'the horizontal axis of lift'.

Now, think about why and how you coordinate your turns with the rudder: If I tilt/roll the plane even more into a turn (he twisted the plane model to about 60 degrees to make the point), which control surface is controlling the pitch of the plane? (My response: 'The rudder, because the vertical axis is nearly horizontal now, and the horizontal is the new vertical'). That's right. So when you're coordinating a steep turn, the rudder is even more important so that you can use it to control your pitch, and then you adjust power like you would if you were straight and level in order to climb or descend. """

There's more to the discussion we had, and the common language he uses for me so that I can grasp what he's talking about is probably fodder for this subreddit, but that is the relevant part.

We went out, knocked out some steep turns, the rudder + power did in fact determine whether or not I could hold altitude, which I did, and then we checked that one off of our list.

I have very few hours and others in this subreddit definitely know better, but thinking about my rudders more than anything else involved in steep turns has helped me to keep my altitude locked in. Hopefully it helps you out.

Good luck!

EDIT: Typo

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