Run-in with Chicago Center

(BTW, I do have
weather detection on board--a Strikefinder).

So, what do you avoid using your Strikefinder? Clusters of hits, obviously.

But what about "static"?



I have never picked up "static" to my knowledge. I set the radius to 100 nm
and if I see activity, I close it to 50nm, and keep watching. That gives me
plenty of time to make the calls to FSS or ATC to figure out what's going on,
and to land or divert as necessary.

Sometimes the electrical activity is up in the flight levels and has no effect
down where I am.




www.Rosspilot.com

Rosspilot wrote:

I have never picked up "static" to my knowledge.

By "static", I mean a collection of "hits" spaced relatively far apart.
That is, a dot here, a dot there, a dot somewhere else, with perhaps 10 or
20 total in a fairly wide area.

- Andrew

I have never picked up "static" to my knowledge.

By "static", I mean a collection of "hits" spaced relatively far apart.
That is, a dot here, a dot there, a dot somewhere else, with perhaps 10 or
20 total in a fairly wide area.


Well, maybe I have and just didn't recognize it as such. What I look for (in
order) a

1. How close to my airplane is the activity?

2. How fast are the stikes occurring?
(sometimes I clear it, and watch it from a clear screen just to see how fast
the orange dots are appearing)

3. Is it in my flight path?

What I do next depends on what these 3 items are telling me.



www.Rosspilot.com

Not universally true. It certainly will if you start right after
getting your private, hell any flying will make you better. But if
you're sitting there with about 1000 hours of VFR time and then get your
rating you will gain nothing for VFR purposes and actually lose some
skills as the two are different types of flying.

Interesting comment, Newps -- one I've never heard before.

I did not find that my VFR skills deteriorated during my IFR training --
although I did discover that my ability to maintain altitude and heading
precisely certainly improved. In fact, I became a sharper pilot all around
during my training.

What aspects deteriorate, in your opinion?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I did not find that my VFR skills deteriorated during my IFR training --
although I did discover that my ability to maintain altitude and heading
precisely certainly improved. In fact, I became a sharper pilot all around
during my training.

I can honestly say that if I fly IFR most of the time. My VFR skills
deteriorate.
IFR flying is so much easier. I get vetors and clearances, if clouds appear I
fly through them. If it is convective I ask to deviate.
One reason why when going for my $100 hambuger on sunday I fly VFR. Other times
I file IFR.
Just my thoughts.
Hank 172 driver

Jay Honeck wrote:


I did not find that my VFR skills deteriorated during my IFR training --
although I did discover that my ability to maintain altitude and heading
precisely certainly improved. In fact, I became a sharper pilot all around
during my training.

Everybody's different I guess but when I fly VFR it is almost totally
seat of the pants, which is nearly the exact opposite of flying IFR. I
fly final to dirt strips beneath the stall horn, fly below the tops of
the mountains up against the downwind side for lift. I fly by sight and
sound. The sound of the air and the engine, not by any numbers on the
airspeed indicator. I can maintain any airspeed, altitude or attitude
to fairly precise limits, but why?



What aspects deteriorate, in your opinion?

Flying IFR gets you out of tune with the plane. It simply becomes a
transportation vehicle because it is drilled into you to never get
anywhere near the flight envelope edges. Othen than popping out and
having the runway right in front of you where you expect it to be IFR
flying sucks all the fun out of flying

With my WX 10 Stomrscope, I have sometimes seen "lightning strikes"
immediately behind me, in CAVU air I just flew through. Nothing
like the cluster a real storm creates, of course.

I always assumed the SS was picking up some ionization in the
atmosphere.

vince norris

I did not find that my VFR skills deteriorated during my IFR training --
although I did discover that my ability to maintain altitude and heading
precisely certainly improved. In fact, I became a sharper pilot all
around
during my training.

Everybody's different I guess but when I fly VFR it is almost totally
seat of the pants, which is nearly the exact opposite of flying IFR.

I have to jump back in G

OK . . . I agree so far. Totally different kind of flying. IFR is "in
addition to" not "in lieu of". One can do both--just not simultaneously.

I
fly final to dirt strips beneath the stall horn, fly below the tops of
the mountains up against the downwind side for lift. I fly by sight and
sound. The sound of the air and the engine, not by any numbers on the
airspeed indicator. I can maintain any airspeed, altitude or attitude
to fairly precise limits, but why?


One reason is because to do so (well) is a flying skill. And once in a while,
one likes to demonstrate mastery of his skills. And like all skills, it
deteriorates unless it is practiced.

Sometimes a musician will pick up the sheet and play the piece exactly as
written . . . and once in a while, he'll just jam and improvise. Different
skills.


What aspects deteriorate, in your opinion?

Flying IFR gets you out of tune with the plane.


Completely not true. Me and my plane have more than 700 hrs together, both VFR
and IFR. We're damn tight.


It simply becomes a
transportation vehicle because it is drilled into you to never get
anywhere near the flight envelope edges.


Only during IFR flight. And for sound reasons having to do with human
physiology, and the precision required
of good IFR skills.

If you are VFR, you can do all the steep turns and loops and aerobatics that
your aircraft and skills allow.

Othen than popping out and
having the runway right in front of you where you expect it to be IFR
flying sucks all the fun out of flying


Oh, Lordy! My poor ears :-(

Dude, it sounds like you just don't enjoy the cerebral exercize of flying. The
intense concentration and focus, the ability to multi-task and stay ahead of
things, the self-discipline required . . .
It's like meditation in a way. It's a very cleansing experience for me. It's a
mental challenge, and I like the stimulation.

Yes, it's work. And it's fun. Nirvana.



www.Rosspilot.com

Rosspilot wrote:

It simply becomes a

transportation vehicle because it is drilled into you to never get
anywhere near the flight envelope edges.



Only during IFR flight.

Yeah, that's what the it is.


And for sound reasons having to do with human
physiology, and the precision required
of good IFR skills.

If you are VFR, you can do all the steep turns and loops and aerobatics that
your aircraft and skills allow.

Skills that stay much sharper the more VFR you do. IFR flight does
exactly nothing for these skills except to allow them to deteriorate.



Othen than popping out and

having the runway right in front of you where you expect it to be IFR
flying sucks all the fun out of flying



Oh, Lordy! My poor ears :-(

Dude, it sounds like you just don't enjoy the cerebral exercize of flying.

Different strokes for different folks.



The
intense concentration and focus, the ability to multi-task and stay ahead of
things, the self-discipline required . . .

I get 40 hours a week of all that at work in the tower.

The
intense concentration and focus, the ability to multi-task and stay
ahead of
things, the self-discipline required . . .

I get 40 hours a week of all that at work in the tower.

Maybe that's it, Newps.

We both spend our time in high stress (though for totally different
reasons!) environments, and IFR flying is simply too much like work to be
fun.

I spend a zillion hours agonizing over every aspect of the inn, working
contacts, paying bills, assessing opportunities -- the LAST thing I want to
do is subject myself to more "intense concentration" and "self-discipline"
in my off hours.

For me, flying is a true release into the realm of absolute freedom, a place
where I can completely lose myself in the glories of flight. I am 100% in
the moment, feeling the wind, the engine, the controls, wheeling and soaring
as I wish. When I'm flying, all stress simply evaporates. Getting
somewhere is almost a by-product.

Working under the hood, tracking a VOR, reading an approach plate -- those
are all things that have there place, but perhaps not in my life.

At least not now.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"