Cecil
so do you find yourself staring at the instruments on your VFR flying...

after I was about 3/4 way done with my instrument training, when I started doing
it almost everyday so I could finish, I found myself staring at my instruments
on take off and all my turns were standard rate ... had to keep reminding myself
to look out the window.

"Cecil E. Chapman" wrote:

"Gerald Sylvester" wrote in message
ink.net...

I'm close to completing my PPL (9 days for my checkride) and planned
to go onto to get IFR training in a 6-7 months. The weather
in the San Francisco Bay area has been quite cloudy and rainy and
was thinking about starting my IFR training immediately in order
to take advantage of the IMC conditions. I know most people get
IFR rated without having ever flown in IMC. I want to do it
for real.

What airport do you fly out of? Just curious....

I'm a little over 40 hours now on my instrument training and have been
enjoying the recent opportunites for REAL IMC during my lessons. In fact I
have another lesson Thursday, which is shortly after all the wet stuff is
scheduled to come in again. The only drawback is that my home airport,
Reid-Hillview only has a GPS approach and none of the 172's I currently fly
have panel mount GPS's (supposed to be getting two,, unfortunately they
aren't being added to any of the planes that I fly), so we can only take
advantage of the IMC if it is VFR (i.e., so I get back) at my home airport
around the time we plan returning to RHV.

So a simple question......what items did you find helpful for
IFR training? This is in regards to books (my instructor recommended
Gleim, a book by Dugan (?), and the Jeppeson book), foggles (brands?),
timers, anything and everything. I'm definitely more into quality
than quantity. I'd rather spend an extra money and get best,
easiest and especially the safest.

I've tried a LOT of the various training materials. I REALLY like the King
Instrument DVDs (tried the Sporty's equivallent, but it just didn't 'click'
with me, so I sold it on eBay and used some of the money to buy the King
Instrument). I've used the ASA Instrument written testing software, but
have moved over to Gleim 'cause I just like it better (it's updatable
online, as well). I use a yoke clip with a homemade clipboard made of two
stiff pieces of cardboard taped/glued together (cut so they are kneeboard
size) and that is clipped into the yoke clip. Another thing I've found
useful are three small Bulldog clips - I clip them to different sides of my
approach plates (overlapping each other) so that I can alternately flip from
one approach plate to another with a minimum of fuss. On the horn of the
yoke clip I have the new ASA timer, the one that has a knob for quick set of
multiple approach times. I really like it and would recommend it, highly.

I really was impressed with the government Instrument Manual publication
that they have out this year,,, it is great (quite a departure from the
dubious quality of previous government printed manuals - these are of
commercial quality design). As a supplement (after you have finished the
other instrument manual I mentioned), the Machado instrument book is very
good and rich with great tips (that's where the bulldog clip idea came
from). I also have a kneeboard on my leg with a pen held in place with a
circular coiled spring, with a small yellow writing tablet to copy down
clearances, etc.

What I'm about to throw out here is purely anecdotal from my personal
experiences so weigh it as just someone's opinion,,, not necessarily hard
fact:
In many ways I'm very glad that after getting my ticket that I flew around
as a VFR pilot building up some fun cross-country time with friends and
family. I did this for a little over two and one-half years as a private
pilot. By the time I decided to 'dive-in' into the instrument rating I
already had LOTS of cross-country hours and (I think) even more importantly,
my flying practice made the conversion to the finer tolerances of instrument
flight, easier to attain. In fact, my CFII was most impressed (and so was
I) that I had some very precise plane control skills already when I began
the instrument rating.
Another thing to consider is that the instrument rating is a very
concentrated and different experience that the basic ticket. It is
certainly a challenge, but there aren't many opportunities to look out the
windscreen and enjoy the view. The study is more concentrated that the
basic PPL, but if you are motivated it is not TOO hard.

Please understand that I'm not trying to dissuade you,,, just trying to
present you with another possible approach you might consider.

Either way,, have a great time and study hard!
--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL

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"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
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