1.4hrs – Solo PracticeI lifted off at 7:30am into a bright spring morning, with temperatures in the high 40’s, and turned towards Hillsboro airport to complete my remaining two solo landings at a towered airport. Three solo landings at a towered airport are required for a Private Pilot Certificate, and my first was completed at Redmond during my long cross country solo.
I was a bit nervous, since Hillsboro is the second busiest airport in Oregon, but was cleared to land on 30 in response to my initial call to the tower. I made a small turn east, and then back to line up for 30. Looks like it won’t be too bad.
My two full stop landings went very well, and I have no problem working with the tower while in the pattern, but once on the ground, I seem to struggle a little with taxi instructions. Likely because I haven’t had many full stop landings at a towered airport, and still not sure what to expect.
After the second stop a Hillsboro I departed to the south to practice some steep turns (a turn with a 45 degree or more bank angle).
I lost count of how many steep turns I did in total, but did at least a half dozen in each direction. Some were better than others, but nearly all were improved. I do seem to struggle a little more with steep turns to the left.
After nearly making myself dizzy watching the horizon sweep by so many times, I just flew around on somewhat of a wandering course enjoying the spring weather, and air so smooth that any sense of movement was nearly removed. One of those “this is why I’m learning to fly” moments.
The time I had available grew short much too soon, and it was time to head home to 7S3.
I got back to work feeling relaxed, and happy with the start to the day.
As I was about to leave 7S3 and return to work, I stopped and took this photo. How cool a place is it where they park a plane in the front yard??
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