A milestone and a couple of firsts in the Arrow today

1) I received my complex endorsement. Whoo hoo, I can not go out solo
in *my* airplane. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to do so this week.
I'll probably go out and just focus on landings for a bit. It will be
my first time flying solo since last July. It's going to seem very
different with nobody in the right seat, especially since it will be my
first solo in a Piper.

2) I was able to carry my first passenger in the new plane as my wife
rode along with me and my instructor today. It was her first time in a
low wing and her first time flying in the Arrow. She liked it a lot.

3) I was able to legally touch some clouds on our way back to our
temporary home field (MCC, McClellan, CA). There had been a broken
layer hanging around the area as we departed and on our way back home,
we decided to do a practice VOR approach back to MCC. As we get closer
to home, we're looking right at the broken layer hanging around the area
so decided to get an IFR clearance. We were only in the clouds for a
minute but it was good practice to go through the procedure. It's been
a long time since I was in actual IMC conditions so I was able to
experience the "Gee, this is way different than being under the hood"
thing all over again. It's also been three weeks since I've had an
instrument lesson so just doing a practice VOR approach was a good thing
to get back into. Throw in a minute of IMC in the new plane and it was
even better.

4) I experienced washing and waxing a plane for the first time in my
life. Fortunately, my other two partners were present. It's
interesting the details you see while crawling around on a creeper under
your plane...not to mention how tired your arms can get when you work
the buffer on the bottom of the wings. It's nice to have N2104T all
clean and even shiner than before. We also worked the interior over
with some leather cleaner.

All things considered, not a bad way to spend a Sunday. I spent from
8:00 - 5:30 between three different airports and was able to make three
flights. A good day of aviating and enjoying the pride of ownership.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Student Arrow Owner, N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

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