First dual cross-country today.
Did a flight plan on a trip to Danville, showing a -10 degree course correction for the wind. In the air, I needed about half that, so the weather was a little off.
I picked a first checkpoint that was within view as soon as we climbed out, so I was able to make the correction quickly, and didn't have any problem after that
correction.
There was enough turbulence that I had to stay pretty much on the controls the whole way. We made all our checkpoints within a minute of my figures, and
arrived over Danville to see the windsock sticking out... perpendicular to the only runway (11-29).
I made a good pattern entry and approach, and my ground track brought us directly to the runway, where Mike helped me land. Yeah, the wind was a bit over
my limits at this point.
On the way back, to get a little practice with the GPS, and some of my IFR time, I strapped on the hood and took us D> Petit Jean, which we knew to be closed...
just wanted to see whether they'd marked it properly. Then, while under the hood, I reset the GPS for ORK. While setting it up, I held my heading/altitude pretty
well.... until Mike told me I was doing it pretty well. Then, while hitting ENT a couple times, I lost 200 ft.
Figures.
I recovered my altitude and changed course for ORK. About 10 miles out, Mike pretended to be ATC and instructed me to descend to 2000 on 012, which I managed
pretty well under the hood, then within 5 miles he called for 1500 ft. The course had me right on. He let me take the hood off as soon as I reached pattern altitude, and
I finished the flight as normal.
There was a milder crosswind on runway 23, and I handled it much better than before. I think I have a mild fear of the direct-coupled nose gear, after straying pretty
severely once on landing. I'll just have to get over that.
We have another dual scheduled for Thursday, and if all goes well, my first solo x-c may happen on Friday.
