Winter Time

Hello friends,
Please forgive me for not posting in a while. The main reason for that being that I have only managed to fly once over the last month or so. It's been frustrating, but also a learning experience, I suppose.

Apparently 125 horsepower engines don't like starting up in -15C temperatures. One day last week that was a relatively clear day, I went to the airport with every intention of flying. I did my walk around, check the airplane, etc. I should include here that in winter time, in freezing temperatures, a pre-heater machine has to be used on the airplane's engine before it can be started up. A pre-heater is basically a big blow-dryer with two big hoses that you insert into openings located on the front of the airplane. It should be left on for around twenty minutes. The maine problem with this being that the pre-heater has to be minded at all times of operation. I suppose the reason being for that is fir hazard. Anyway, at below freezing temperatures, it's not a fun experience standing there, waiting for the engine to warm up.

Getting back to my story, after the pre-heater was working for about 20 minutes we finally got into the cockpit, and tried to turn the engine on. Over and over again, the propeller wouldn't catch. We tried for about ten minutes, and called it a day.

Yes, winter flying in these old airplanes can be frustrating. The only time I did get to fly in the last month was this Saturday. We got up and did some circuits. Unfortunately, I felt like everything was new to me. I felt like things were being thrown my way fast, and I had trouble staying on top of things. I liken it most to playing an instrument. It's kind of like when you put your musical instrument down for a prolonged period of time, and then pick it up again. One can still play the instrument fine, but the feel is off, you're worrying more about moving your fingers to the right notes than actually feeling the music, and being "in the groove". Same with flying. I haven't flown in about a month, and my feel was off. Trouble being, when You're paying about $200/hr for lessons, every second counts, and regressing proved to be a frustrating feeling.

It came at an unfortunate time as well. I was relatively close to doing my solo. Right now, I feel further from being able to do my first solo than I did a month ago, when I was flying regularly. Fear not though, I will get there.

I suppose that with the nature of flying, updating this blog will not tell of a positive experience. I suppose the best thing I can do here is be honest to myself and the two readers of this blog. So yes, it's been frustrating, it's been slow, it's been cold. Having said that, every time I get to fly is still a wonder for me, and I won't let anything get in the way of reaching my goals right now.

Keep warm and safe. Thanks for reading.