Ty Ewup

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.