Solo Texas - Flying Texas Part II

It seems the weather in Texas isn't as stable as I'd hoped. The leftovers from the previous day's storm were still hanging around and I lost the fourth day of flying to some 900ft clouds, which since the pattern is at 1000ft isn't much use.


On the Friday my wife Theresa joined us for a site seeing tour over Fort Worth for my final lesson. Slow gentle turns around the Downtown area provided some fantastic views of the towering buildings we'd been looking at from the ground. Jake directed us away to the west where the airforce base he served at was located. I got to fly over the runway at 2000ft - it was a quiet day.

We returned to Spinks and did a few patterns with Theresa still on board and then Jake called the tower and asked for permission for the two of them to go up there. He gave me some last minute advice - Don't worry, they know what you're doing. They all hopped out and I was on my own. Three patterns was the plan and I was feeling pretty good. My radio work was a bit shabby - calling ground when I should should been calling the tower. That was quickly fixed with a quick Garmin button press. My first two circuits were below average, but I successfully perfomed the touch and goes without breaking anything. A few minutes of excitement came when the tower asked my to fly a right hand circuit rather than the left hand I'd been doing all day. That went surprisingly smoothly once I got over the initial shock - I hadn't heard that request before! My final approach and full stop were much better and before I knew it I was taxi-ing back to the tower to pick up my passengers.

Jake had his own special way of celebrating a new solo pilot - cutting the shirt tails. It seems to stem from his Air Force days. I hope that's a hundred dollar shirt he said! I've had a brilliant few days and Jake and his team have been fantastic teachers as well as excellent companions. I'll certainly have Texas on my mind for future US flying.

So that was it! My first solo. In the USA at least. I still need my UK medical and Air Law exam before I can do it over here, but the confidence and 8 hours practice in Texas have made the world of difference.

Flying Texas - Part I

So here we are on holiday in Texas. One of the reasons for choosing Texas was to get some flying lessons in in good conditions for five consecutive days. I'm learning at Fort Worth Spinks (KFWS) with Jake Huffman's Huffman Aviation in Burleson, TX. I had to jump through a number of legal hoops to be allowed to fly in the US - an application via the Alien Flight School Program from the Transport Security Administration which included fingerprinting and around £200 in fees.

All of that stuff seems worth it now. I've had three days of almost two hour lessons and while there is a lot of stuff that is different the circuit (pattern) fundamentals are the same. I'm learning in a much older PA28-180 N15BC which is in very nice shape, seems smoother than my home aircraft and is a delight to fly. The controls differ somewhat - she has choke style controls and the trim adjuster is on the cabin roof. I've really been getting into the circuit, 14 touch and goes this morning with Stephen. Jake has had me flying with trim and power, Stephen without trim at all.




The Americans are so much more relaxed about flying. We don't seem to do checks while in flight in these simple aircraft, there is a little more friendly banter with the tower and boy is this airfield quiet! In the three days so far I don't think I've shared the circuit with anyone for long. People are using their aircraft to do stuff and there aren't any other students at 7am. There is only one altitude measurement - Qfe so circuits are at 1700ft (1000ft above the airfield)





One of my favourite moments was landing for fuel at another airfield - Cleburne (KCPT). A biggish airfield with no tower or control and a very lonely by-way service station feel. While 5-Bravo-Charlie was refueled we had time for a friendly welcome chat and a look at the curiosity cabinet before heading back to Spinks.

I've just been for an FAA medical (another £50!) since both Jake and Stephen seem to think I will be able to solo by the end of the week. I'm now an official US Student Pilot!

I'm sitting in the hotel in Fort Worth at the moment looking at the rain lashing against the windows. The weather so far has been great - 10 miles visibility and low winds. Hope this clears for tomorrow!

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