Sunday, January 21, 2007
Playing Catch Up
Im not even sure how to begin. Traditionally, one starts at the beginning, so naturally I will start with the end.
I passed my ICHT! (Initial ClearHood Test) Don't let the name fool you, I won't be doing clearhood again until I fly Choppers. It is test number 2 of 5, I have completed 62 of 100 flying events. New Math says thats 38 to go! I began this this course as a snowflake, now as I tumble down the snow laden roads, Im a dirty giant snowman...wait...where am I going with this...Ive forgotten.
About the Flight Test, I literally squeaked over the line. Imagine a pint of beer, about half full. I like this analogy already! Moving on, imagine the heavenly amber liquid is failing the test (cause face it, you drink before a flight test, you ain't passing) and the empty part of the glass is passing. I was literally the meniscus, for the chemistry impaired, I was the foam. I could not have done one more thing (no matter how small) wrong and still passed. In the end though, P is for Pass, and P is for Pilot! The tester said, and I quote, "any other day, any other snapper, it would not have been a pass". It was as if God himself gave me a stay of execution, I was so relieved to have finished that damned flight.
It was the end of a two week marathon of flights. I had monday the 8th off, and that was it. I flew every other day, atleast once. After my two weeks off with turkey and bon bons (so much chocolate....sooooo much chocolate) I was starting to get drained. Last night, to celebrate my success (however marginal), I played poker and consumed the Devil's Brew. Work hard, play hard right?
What else happened? Oh ya, I GLOCd. Thats when you don't get enough blood to your brain and you take a wee nap in the plane. No big deal, I was flying less than 24 hours later (this was...tuesday, the 16th), but it was an interesting experiance. Anyday you get a free ride in the ambulance is a good day! That is unless you were actually hurt, which I was not so GO ambulance ride! I had to have my blood taken, to test for illegal/unusually substances, and pee infront of the med tech (paramedic/nurses aid). You ever try to pee infront of someone, while they are WATCHING? I don't want to ever GLOC again, if only for that reason.
GLOC (gravity induced loss of consciousness). What does it feel like? The best I can explain it is with yet another analogy. You ever have a dream where you show up to work/school/in-laws completely naked? Then you wake up in a flash and say to yourself "golly Im glad that was just a dream!" Well it was like that, only my dream was flying the aircraft, and when I woke up, I WAS ACUTALLY FLYING THE AIRCRAFT! Actually the instructor was flying the aircraft by then, so no big deal. I was pretty freaked out for a few moments after coming to (I was only out for a few seconds). Once I realized what had happened, I mostly felt foolish. Only guy on course to GLOC and I put myself into it (only at 4.5 G too, embarassing!)
My instructor, bless his soul, was trying to settle me down when we were flying back. My instructor has all the personality/charisma of a Vending Machine, but I appreciated the effort. Lucky for him, I wasn't freaked out, just completely annoyed.
So in Recap: I passed my test, passed out, and didn't pass on the beer last night. I hope this helps.
I passed my ICHT! (Initial ClearHood Test) Don't let the name fool you, I won't be doing clearhood again until I fly Choppers. It is test number 2 of 5, I have completed 62 of 100 flying events. New Math says thats 38 to go! I began this this course as a snowflake, now as I tumble down the snow laden roads, Im a dirty giant snowman...wait...where am I going with this...Ive forgotten.
About the Flight Test, I literally squeaked over the line. Imagine a pint of beer, about half full. I like this analogy already! Moving on, imagine the heavenly amber liquid is failing the test (cause face it, you drink before a flight test, you ain't passing) and the empty part of the glass is passing. I was literally the meniscus, for the chemistry impaired, I was the foam. I could not have done one more thing (no matter how small) wrong and still passed. In the end though, P is for Pass, and P is for Pilot! The tester said, and I quote, "any other day, any other snapper, it would not have been a pass". It was as if God himself gave me a stay of execution, I was so relieved to have finished that damned flight.
It was the end of a two week marathon of flights. I had monday the 8th off, and that was it. I flew every other day, atleast once. After my two weeks off with turkey and bon bons (so much chocolate....sooooo much chocolate) I was starting to get drained. Last night, to celebrate my success (however marginal), I played poker and consumed the Devil's Brew. Work hard, play hard right?
What else happened? Oh ya, I GLOCd. Thats when you don't get enough blood to your brain and you take a wee nap in the plane. No big deal, I was flying less than 24 hours later (this was...tuesday, the 16th), but it was an interesting experiance. Anyday you get a free ride in the ambulance is a good day! That is unless you were actually hurt, which I was not so GO ambulance ride! I had to have my blood taken, to test for illegal/unusually substances, and pee infront of the med tech (paramedic/nurses aid). You ever try to pee infront of someone, while they are WATCHING? I don't want to ever GLOC again, if only for that reason.
GLOC (gravity induced loss of consciousness). What does it feel like? The best I can explain it is with yet another analogy. You ever have a dream where you show up to work/school/in-laws completely naked? Then you wake up in a flash and say to yourself "golly Im glad that was just a dream!" Well it was like that, only my dream was flying the aircraft, and when I woke up, I WAS ACUTALLY FLYING THE AIRCRAFT! Actually the instructor was flying the aircraft by then, so no big deal. I was pretty freaked out for a few moments after coming to (I was only out for a few seconds). Once I realized what had happened, I mostly felt foolish. Only guy on course to GLOC and I put myself into it (only at 4.5 G too, embarassing!)
My instructor, bless his soul, was trying to settle me down when we were flying back. My instructor has all the personality/charisma of a Vending Machine, but I appreciated the effort. Lucky for him, I wasn't freaked out, just completely annoyed.
So in Recap: I passed my test, passed out, and didn't pass on the beer last night. I hope this helps.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Oh Dear, Not Again.
So Im back in Moose Jaw. A horrowing dread tumbles over me as the dust of Saskabush returns to my skin. You wash, but it doesn't clean it off. I want to be back Home. I miss Home, and I was there this morning.
Home was great. I ate lots of great food, I saw oodles of people, busted a bit of a groove, and tried to rest up.
I also go engaged, which Im sure you all heard about. If you didn't hear the "Eeeees" from the Leg, I would be shocked. Carol blogged about it over a week ago, I was too busy enjoying my vaction. The wedding isn't til the summer of 08, though Im sure she and I will discuss flower themes before long.
Tomorrow I have much flying scheduled! The weather tomorrow calls for PBBTTS with chances of UGGGGH later in the day. Blowing Snow well...blows...really no good joke there.
Hopefully I dont forget so much that I hurt anyone, the instructor most of all. Any of you that were familar with this blog will know that Killing the Instructor is Frowned Upon.
Once More Unto the Breech!
Home was great. I ate lots of great food, I saw oodles of people, busted a bit of a groove, and tried to rest up.
I also go engaged, which Im sure you all heard about. If you didn't hear the "Eeeees" from the Leg, I would be shocked. Carol blogged about it over a week ago, I was too busy enjoying my vaction. The wedding isn't til the summer of 08, though Im sure she and I will discuss flower themes before long.
Tomorrow I have much flying scheduled! The weather tomorrow calls for PBBTTS with chances of UGGGGH later in the day. Blowing Snow well...blows...really no good joke there.
Hopefully I dont forget so much that I hurt anyone, the instructor most of all. Any of you that were familar with this blog will know that Killing the Instructor is Frowned Upon.
Once More Unto the Breech!
