Dang, there's a lot of stuff to keep on track!I think I need to add the words "reset timer" between checkpoints.Also landed after sunset... Once the daytime visuals you're used to seeing and using disappear, well.. that's a whole different thing right there. And - as a bonus - learned the 20/20 heading trick. Just sayin'.

You just wait until you fly actual IMC. Now that's where it gets entertaining!

You just wait until you fly actual IMC. Now that's where it gets entertaining!

I'll go further and say wait until your first actual IMC without your instructor!Congrats turner, the first few x-countries are a lot of fun. I remember my first night x-country--that was quite an experience!

thanks guys-It got pretty hazy around sundown... I found that no matter what you experience in Flight Simulator, in changing conditions, with decreasing visibility, at dusk, with the other aircraft between you and the sunset, its lights are HARD to spot. :)BTW I hope you mean -purposefully- fly into actual IMC. It's hard enough when you can see where you're going.Andrew

Congrats on your first dual x-country.I know how you feel about not being able to see or spot something.My first 3 legged solo x-country took me from Apple Valley, CA - KAPV to Palm Springs - KPSP for the first leg. I started the flight off great with perfect weather. The problem didn't start until I contacted KPSP and they gave me a squak code. I entered the squak code and about a minute later they contacted me again and told me to squak xxxx again. I told them I was squaking xxxx. Apparently my transponder had gone in-op. No problem though, they told me to plan on entering the pattern on a right handed downwind and to contact when I had visually sighted the airport. According to my map the airport wasn't too far south of I-10 freeway but I couldn't spot it. After flying in circles over the freeway for what seemed like hours try to spot the airport I finally spotted another large a/c that looked like it was on approach. I contacted the tower and they verfified my sighting and instructed me to mainting my current which ended up being the base leg and follow that a/c that was on final. Sure enough I spotted the airport quickly after that. Fortunately the rest of my x-county went off with no problems.It's amazing how much harder to spot things, even large things like airports can be in clear VFR, compared to the sim. Although the sim can be great for preflying a route, especially if you have photoscenery for the area.

Good for you, I am enjoying reading about your progress. In LSA it's not allowed to fly at night, but I remember my dentist told me he gave up flying because night flying is so challenging. He said it's like flying into a bottomless pit, it is very unnerving. I guess he got caught up on a flight where a night landing was the only option, and that spooked him enough to quit flying. I have had some suspenseful moments in the sim where I have tried to land at night (if you set the date just right Microsoft will grant you a sky with no horizon at all). In the sim most of my flights are daytime only.Regards,John

Heheheheh,I went to visit my Grandmother in long beach, and ended up staying a few hours extra since nobody else was going to use the plane that day. Anyway I came back at night, and the landing light was Inop.Normally - this would be okay, I've done plenty of Landing light off landings at night, but it was particularly dark. When it gets dark like that you truely do feel like you're flying into a bottomless pit really the only guidance is the lights on the edge of the runway, otherwise the runway looks pitch black, - it becomes a game of Guess when to flare. And that really, really, sucks. It was a hard landing - Not the hardest, but hard none the less.Landing lights should be mandated, I don't fly at night with one Inop anymore since on dark nights like that - it's a necessity for safety.Turner,Congrats! I bet you can taste the license (I could at that point!).Best,Ryan.

Good for you, I am enjoying reading about your progress. In LSA it's not allowed to fly at night, but I remember my dentist told me he gave up flying because night flying is so challenging. He said it's like flying into a bottomless pit, it is very unnerving. I guess he got caught up on a flight where a night landing was the only option, and that spooked him enough to quit flying. I have had some suspenseful moments in the sim where I have tried to land at night (if you set the date just right Microsoft will grant you a sky with no horizon at all). In the sim most of my flights are daytime only.Regards,John

it becomes a game of Guess when to flare.

And you always lose that "game" :(

False alarm... oops... did not realize that x-country was 50 nm or more. it was about 40... fun, though. It's not exactly feeling like the ticket is just around the corner yet - got plenty of x-country work to do. The great part is I got the OK to fly to a number of different airports now. We did three touch-and-goes in Class B and then on to another airport, and transitioned through the B on the way back. I think I'll get the OK to do that next. Also finished up my req'd simulated instrument flight, which was one of the easier parts for me - I could do that all day!Maybe I should do a blog or something. Might get myself into trouble with some of the stuff I want to say though ;)cheersAndrew

Oh the things that happen on night flights that would never EVER happen during the day. I love it!Congrats on the XC! My first XC was the first time I truly left the nest! I flew from CHD to TUS, and had a blast! I remember it was really windy at Tucson too, so we didn't use any flaps. Fun stuff!Congratulations! Where'd you fly to?

Hey protzler-N14 > KMIV (Flying W to Millville, NJ).Weather permitting, This evening I'll be going dual N14 > KWWD, which is Cape May, NJ.Fingers crossed.

Dang, there's a lot of stuff to keep on track!I think I need to add the words "reset timer" between checkpoints.Also landed after sunset... Once the daytime visuals you're used to seeing and using disappear, well.. that's a whole different thing right there. And - as a bonus - learned the 20/20 heading trick. Just sayin'.

So,what,s the "20/20 heading trick"......Getting ready for my 1st dual x-country and night flight training..Lou

20/20 trick (or, 200/20 trick), to find reciprocal headings...Either add 200 then subtract 20 or subtract 200 then add 20.Heading is 145; 145 + 200 = 345... -20 = 325.Heading is 325... 325 + 20 = 345... -200 = 145.

20/20 trick (or, 200/20 trick), to find reciprocal headings...

Ohhh, I was wondering which trick was that. I learned it as the "+2/-2" trick.For instance: Heading 170 +2 370 -2 350It works the other way around too "-2/+2", for greater headings.