Joy and Frustration in the same day.
Just landed after one more trip with the instructor and I've been given the thumbs up for trips to local airports withing 25 NM of Lakeland. Until today I could only do pattern work, which was cool, but now I can actually go somewhere. The frustration came though after the last landing and noticing that the artificial horizon has lost it's damn mind, indicating anything but level. A quick glance across the panel located the problem, or at least pointed toward the culprit, the suction gauge was reading an absolute 0. Damn! Looks like the pump might be kaput, the cowling is coming off this afternoon to find out for sure, but I might be o the ground for a few days. Highs and lows, take 'em as they come.
KW