UPDATE: Now that I’ve earned my wings, I’m still flying, still learning and the cameras are still rolling. This blog will remain open and active for those interested in the flight training process. However, if you want to see what I’ve been up to since becoming a sport pilot, come on over to EAA.org/abinitio to watch videos of my most recent flights. - Brady
I love that every flight is different. This time, we didn't have strong winds to contend with but instead several flocks of geese flying above the runway on takeoff.We managed to navigate around them without a problem then proceeded to do seven touch and go's. This was one of those lessons I was fired up afterward because it felt so good to be flying and landing all by myself again.note: You may notice the scenery in my webcam is different in this video. That's because I'm down in Lakeland, FL this week for Sun 'n Fun. We squeezed in one last flight lesson before I left Oshkosh but wasn't able to post it until I arrived down here. If any of you are at Sun 'n Fun this week, be sure to stop by the EAA booth - I'd love to meet you.
Posted by WP @ 01:48 PM, April 19 Welcome to Florida! I hope to make it over to Sun N Fun this week! You should check out Fantasy of flight while your there! I have been enjoying the Vlog since it started, Thanks!
Posted by Jose @ 02:28 PM, April 19 Brandy I just want to let you know that your videos has help me allot. Thank to this blogs I made a good decision 2 months ago to go for my Sport pilot certificate now with only 10 hrs dual I will do this Tuesday my Pre-solo. Thank you again
Posted by BHad @ 06:18 PM, April 20 You know Brady there is one thing that really stands out to me while watching your video. It is the fact that every time you takeoff almost immediately after pushing the throttle forward you remove your hand and place it on your leg. I was taught as a student pilot to keep my hand on the throttle throughout the takeoff for a couple of different reasons. In case you need to abort takeoff and also to make sure the throttle remains in the full open position on climb out.Has anyone else noticed this and if so what is your take on this?
Posted by JohnG @ 02:48 AM, April 21 Sorry Brady "BHad" is right.Nice to see some good landings there, also remember solo is'nt solo until the instructor steps out. ,)
Posted by Garrett @ 09:33 AM, April 21 What software are you using to do your video editing?
Posted by Brady Lane @ 10:55 PM, April 21 Jose: Thanks for your encouraging comment and I'm glad this blog helped inspire you to start lessons. Be sure to let us know when you solo. It's an incredible feeling of accomplishment! BHad: You're right—it makes complete sense to keep my hand on the throttle throughout the entire climb out. Thanks for picking up on that detail. I will start working to correct that habit. Garrett: I am using Final Cut Pro for video editing.
Posted by Garett @ 12:15 AM, April 22 I have really enjoyed watching your progress and have started to document my own as well. Thanks for the inspiration! Looking forward to seeing in the future maybe at some fly-in. Here's my site..www.mypilotchronicles.comThanks Brady!!
Posted by Rob H @ 01:34 PM, April 22 Brady, I discovered your Vblog 3 weeks ago. I had 2 hours toward my sport cert. I have 5 now. You have help me alot. Keep up the good work
Posted by Robert Van Meter @ 06:01 PM, April 22 Dear Brady,Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed following you on your path to becoming a pilot. Because of your blog and the positive experiences you have shared, I decided to go forward with my own flight lessons. I just completed my second flight and can't wait to get in the air.Thank you again and I look forward to your next post.
Posted by Bryan Blazek @ 06:28 PM, April 22 Brady-Everything looks like it is going well. It is such a joy to watch your flight training videos. I myself am a pilot and it is a joy to watch another pilot join the ranks.Also, if you are back to oshkosh by April 25th, there is a pancake breakfast at Fox Valley Tech that would be fun to go to.
Posted by Ken B @ 12:12 PM, April 23 Brady,What do you have left until your checkride? You appear to need some solo and cross county time, is there anything else?
Posted by Chris Neuok @ 07:18 PM, April 23 Everybody should be able to video thier flight. Awsome.
Posted by James @ 09:03 PM, April 23 Hi Brady,Can you post what kind of camera/recorder and/or other equipment do you use for you video recording? (I noticed that you use more than one camera)Also, it will be great if you will post some photos and some article as to the best way of setting up some video recording in a plane. Oh, btw, I have and fly a Cessna 150.Good luck,James
Posted by Garrett @ 07:41 AM, April 24 Hey James, If you look back a few post, Brady has a page on all his recording equipment and how he sets it up. Look to the right under the progression of his training. Between flight 16 and 17 there is a link to all this information. "Video Recording Equipment"
Posted by Buddy Harrison @ 02:26 PM, April 25 Brady, good to meet both you and Jason at Sun'nFun today. I look forward to your XC flites and check ride. You will do well. Thanks for sharing your adventures with all the rest of us. CAPTBee
Posted by Randy Epstein @ 06:30 PM, April 27 That'll teach me to not check the site. I'd have certainly stopped by to see you had I known you were at Sun n Fun. It'll have to wait until OSH I guess. Keep up the great work. No doubt you'll have your certificate by Air Venture time.Randy
Posted by Gilbert Pierce @ 11:57 AM, April 30 Hi Brady, I enjoyed meeting and talking to you at Sun'N Fun last week. I just watched your cross wind landing video. You were doing great. It me a lot longer to master that art. Lots of sweat, adrenalin and tire squeals.
Posted by charles @ 08:50 PM, April 30 your videos are a great refresher for someone like me who's not flown all winter but who is getting ready to resume my training. Is there any way we viewers can make a copy of your videos for storage on our PC so that we can play them long after EAA has removed the series from their website?
Posted by Paulina R. Smythe @ 06:41 AM, May 05 Needless to say, what a fantastic video series. I'm C172 pilot. Just one thing though, I would have been more than willing to drop off the instructor and go solo even with taxi, I mean, how else are you going to go solo without that taxi time? I assume it would work out cheaper to do 10 mintues dual + 10 minutes solo taxi time than 5 landings dual. Anyhow, all the best with your training and a very high standard achieved with your production.
Posted by Frank @ 07:22 PM, May 05 Did you quit flying Brady? Did those cross winds scare you?
Posted by Brady Lane @ 07:39 AM, May 06 Frank: I'm having way too much fun to stop flying - crosswinds especially. I've been out of the state for a couple weeks covering some assignments for EAA. In fact, just yesterday Jason and I got back in the air and did my first cross-country. The video will be posted later this morning.
Posted by Captain Dennis Kirk @ 02:31 PM, June 01 The aircraft (and pilot license) is the door to world- not bound by land nor sea! I have had my license for almost two years and, like you, look forward to EVERY flight!It only gets better! Keep up the good work! Dennis
Today we had a crosswind component of about 6-9 knots (gusting 12-14) and that was enough to give me a good workout.I heard Jason say, "Aileron into, rudder away" about 600 times today. It started to sink in and I started to enjoy the challenge of the crosswind. Toward the end, the wind picked up a little more and I started getting tired, so you'll want to buckle your seat belt before watching the last two landings. I learned you really have to be sharp and on top of your game when handling a crosswind. Flying five to six crosswind approaches is exhausting, but there will be times that I'm going to come back from a two hour flight and have to land in a crosswind when I'm tired. So, I'm thankful for this training.I've learned to respect the crosswind - but also enjoy the challenge. I'm sure as I get better at landing in crosswinds, all my landings will improve.
Posted by Jessica @ 03:00 PM, April 13 I had a crosswind day last week and you are right, it is a workout. I've never been so exhausted after a lesson. What Jason said about how the last ones get a little sloppy because your just fighting your way through them is SOOO true. Good thing in real life I'd only be doing one, maybe two, in a day.
Posted by Ron H @ 05:45 PM, April 13 You'll get to where crosswinds are second nature for you.One of our instructors here and I went up a couple weeks ago in a 172 in nasty crosswind conditions just to get in some practice for both of us. We picked the runway with the worst quartering headwinds.Had one approach where the rudder was hard to the floor, the wings rolled to the left and even crabbed into the wind a little but we were still sliding off to the right. When crosswinds exceed the capability of the airplane, go-arounds are our friend!Even if you don’t get it on the ground the first time, don’t hesitate to go around try it again. Your instructor is absolutely right in having you handle challenging conditions when you’re fatigued. You will be faced with it at some point.
Posted by John Giot @ 01:56 AM, April 14 Crosswind landing are cool.Sounds like youre up for more solo flying, maby even some solo GF flying. (GF = General Flying Area). My training here in SA is in a Jabiru SP looks similar to the remos.
Posted by Peter @ 10:02 AM, April 14 Hey mate, im really enjoying this video blog! Im learning to fly at Jandakot airport (Perth, Australia) in a Cessna 152 and currently have 19.5 hours in the logbook (only 0.3 solo!). cant wait to get more solo hours, but the weather keeps getting in the way (too much breeze here in perth!). its really good to see someone go though this aswell, and by watching your videos ive picked up quite a few tips for my flying.for me, the best lesson so far (apart from my solo) has been spin recovery! also loving trying to get that perfect landing (clocked 60 touch and go's, and 20 full stops so far).Ive tried looking but cant find which airport your training at? could you give me the heads up, i am interested :)
Posted by Erik @ 12:14 PM, April 14 Back in February I watched the first 13 or so flights, got motivated, walked into one of my local flight schools, and am now 15 hours into my private. Thanks for a great video reminder of how this can all be done if you take the first step.
Posted by frank @ 03:32 PM, April 14 I fly a challenger 2 and slips to a landing are a natural to loose altatude and good practice for crosswind control since you have to enter and exit the slip before landing while keeping your centerline
Posted by Bill van Ast @ 12:05 AM, April 15 Well done !I have been following your progress,its great to see someone improve all the time.Keep it up,it is well worth it.
Posted by John Werner @ 07:02 AM, April 15 Brady,It was great to meet you last week in IOLA. I thought you did a fine job with your crosswinds!! Just remember the three P's pitch, patience, and power through the round out, and you will maintain control of you aircraft. I look forward to seeing you at Sun N Fun!!John Werner
Posted by Brady Lane @ 11:48 AM, April 15 Erik: Glad to hear this blog inspired you to take that first step. That makes all the work that goes into this blog worth it! Sounds like you will also soon pass me in hours. Peter: Thanks also for your comment. I'm training at KOSH in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (home of EAA AirVenture each summer).I love reading everyone's comments. It helps knowing that other people face the exact same things I am. It's also helpful hearing other people's experiences and tips on ways to practice and get better.
Posted by Paul Riley @ 10:30 AM, April 16 Like the wind there. Come to Oklahoma and play in the wind. We have CFI that worry about soloing anyone on a day with no wind, never been trained for it. I have been out in winds as high as 25 plus the other day we had 40 plus. It does take it out of you and man want a workout.
Posted by Manoel Luiz Vargas Silva @ 06:00 AM, April 17 Very nice.I´m a solo too, and my plane is a Brasilian Bravo 700.You can see in www.aerobravo.com.brCongratulations for your videos quality.And sorry, my English is so bad.Manoel Luiz
Posted by Terry @ 08:29 AM, April 17 Got my pilot training in Appleton and Oshkosh on crosswinds. Now based in Appalachian mountain airport in Elizabethton, TN. When the wind swirls over the ridge and down on to the runway, crosswind training is used to the maximum. Never want to forget that the go-around is a good friend also.
Posted by Brett Campany @ 07:56 PM, April 17 G'day mate, I've just watched your two last video's back to back and you're doing really well!! I love crosswind landings to, nothing like a good challenge! There's no such thing as a perfect crosswind landing but you're were great!!Hey good news from Down Under as well, I passed my flight test! Now have my cross country Nav's to do over the next month!Keep it up though and I'm looking forward to the next series of videos!
Posted by John Bugni @ 10:34 PM, April 17 Brady, just discovered you video blog and watched the cross winds. I am 58 and started flying just over 2 years ago. Got my private certificate last May. I would like to have had your experience to view while I was learning. I have an interest in Sport Pilot thinking I might want to become a Sport Pilot CFI some day and share the joy of helping someone else learn to fly. Nor sure if it is doable this late in life but I just keep going up and building hours and experience and having fun. I plan on viewing your earlier videos as a review. Keep up the good work.Fellow aviator,John
It's coming back to me!Today we practiced slow flight, stalls, an emergency, then came back in for a few touch and go's. The last two landings felt great!
In the video I mention that Jason and I are going to try to fly to Iola on Friday for a lunch fly-in and encouraged you to also find something like this to fly to - just for fun. Flight training requires a lot of work and concentration, so don't forget to have fun. You can search EAA's calendar of events for something in your area. Or, even better, plan a trip with your instructor to Oshkosh this summer for AirVenture. If you've never been before, I can't even describe to you what a treat you're in for. As far as you can see...airplanes...surrounded by hundreds of thousands of pilots and people who love aviation. And if you want, you can camp under the wing of your plane. There's air shows, workshops, forums...it's truly incredible.
Posted by Douglas @ 12:34 PM, April 09 You're absolutely right, Brady. Most of us do this for the fun and thrill of it. Training can be stressful and repetitious, and sometimes we need to remind ourselves how much fun it is just to go somewhere and hang out with other aviation "nuts"!
Posted by Joel Beyer @ 07:39 PM, April 09 Its good to see you are up in the air again. Coming back after that much time off can be frustrating to some students. I have on thing that I have found helpful for many students on the emergency procedures. My checklist for a failed engine in ABCDE. Still very easy to remember. A-airspeed, B-best landing spot, C-cockpit check and checklist, D-declair (squack 7700, talk to ATC or anyone who can hear you), E-execute. The last is the one that most people fail to do and what causes most non fatal injuries in an off field landing. Execute includes securing things in the plane, shutting off unneeded components and opening a door. These little things can do a lot to prevent further injuries in off field landings. Those last two on the checklist I added after my own experience with a couple off field landings. Nice job. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Bob @ 10:00 AM, April 10 Glad to see you flying again. One question I have is about the stall horn. I never hear it go off when you are practicing your stalls.
Posted by Bob @ 10:01 AM, April 10 Glad to see you flying again. One question I have is about the stall horn. I never hear it go off when you are practicing your stalls.
Posted by Dan @ 05:06 PM, April 10 Brady - I have been getting the EAA E-Hotline Newsletter via my email for some time now. I have seen your blogs posted in them and never taken the time to watch them. Today though I needed a diversion and I watched your latest. I must say I enjoyed watching! This is a wonderful tool to introduce new pilots to the joy of aviation….and a wonderful tool to prod an old student pilot who gave up flying many years ago to get married and start a family. Heck… who knows…your video here may one day motivate me to get back in the cockpit and fly again. It is amazing the options a student has now over the cramped old C152’s I used to fly. Keep up the good work! Kudos to you and the EAA Team for starting a great series that will attract new pilots to aviation.
Posted by Dennis Kirk @ 09:14 PM, April 10 Good work! It looks like you have been flying for years! Next__-Cross country fun! Enjoy yourself, that is exactly what light sport is about! Dennis
Posted by Ben T @ 09:04 AM, April 12 I agree w/ Bob - stall horn noise would be nice. I mentioned engine noise in an earlier post but, actually, all outside sounds would be useful (engine, stall horn, wheels hitting pavement, etc.).BTW, the Cessna 152 I flew when I was a kid had a stall horn but the Piper Cherokee I recently flew did not have a horn - only a light on the dashboard. I really prefer the horn.__ Ben
Posted by Brady Lane @ 11:49 AM, April 15 Bob: Good question about the stall horn. The plane we're using doesn't have a stall warning horn or light. Since this is the only plane I've trained in, I've never missed it. The newer Remos GX might have one - I'm not sure. Do other LSAs have stall horns or is this one of the extras that is eliminated in most LSAs?Joel: I like you're addition to the emergency procedures. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Pete @ 12:01 AM, April 18 nice flying RE ABC AIRSPEED BESTFEILD COMMUNICATE NOT CHECKLIST
Posted by Pete @ 12:08 AM, April 18 You could add checklist to your ABC CDE but after the engine blows up i am going to let some one know before i dig out the checklistbecause due to people fixating on the checklist instead of FLYING the plane. good job keeping comen
Posted by John G. Salisbury, Esq. @ 02:39 PM, May 12 I am just learning about sport aviation and private pilot training, but really enjoyed watching your professional (no music playing)manner of advice and not too technical. The plane looks great too. Here in Washington, D.C. we have a lot of restricted airspace - like all of it now. But I love the UTUBE help from pilots who don't just but poor comedy flights with no real training. I will be working with the inevitable Cessna 172 out of Montgomery County Airpark (9/11 waiver executive airport). Keep posting on UTube your excellent training videos.Sincerely,John G. Salisbury maritime lawyer who orginally started his career from an FAA lawyer buddy from lawschool who was aready a PP when I met him at lawschool. He got me the job at Dept. of Transportation. He worked at FAA with ultra-light regulatory law. I am sure he is an expert on this new "Sport Pilot" certification concept. Certainly gives one a chance to fly without having a lot of expensive aircraft to deal with. GeorgetownWashington, D.C.
After two months of being on the ground, I can't tell you how good it feels to get back in the air! There's no doubt the aviation bug has bit me.I was surprised with how natural everything felt in the plane. I wasn't expecting that. Thanks to your comments and suggestions on previous posts I learned that doing mental exercises - going over flights in your mind - really does help keep you sharp if you're not able to fly. Once I was back in the plane, all the controls felt just like I remembered. As you'll see in the video, though, my landings are going to take a little work to smooth out again, but I'm sure I'll get it. As Jason says, I have all the pieces, now we just have to put them back together again.Hopefully I'll never have to take two months away from flying again, but if I do, I now know what to expect. And I'm definitely glad Jason was there in the right seat on those landings.Even with the bad landings, it's good to be back flying again! I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Posted by WP @ 12:54 PM, April 04 Congrats Brady on getting back in the air! Can't wait for the NAV and X-country. I am just starting navigation, it would be a big help to see you go through it. Keep knock'n it out. ThanksWP
Posted by Edward @ 02:23 PM, April 04 Welcome back Brady!! I envey you and can`t wait to start my lessons here!! Happy landings from SW FL. :-)
Posted by Douglas @ 03:32 PM, April 04 Glad to see you fyling again, Brady. I think you did well, considering the 2 month break. Keep practicing those x-wind landings, and they'll get better!
Posted by Brett Campany @ 06:57 PM, April 04 Good to see you back in the air mate, it's a good feeling after such a long break!
Posted by dj willis @ 10:18 PM, April 04 hi this is dj willis from canada again. i havent got to go on a eagles flight yet cause the closest one to me isin nova-scotia when i live in newfoundland so.. but anyway i got to go to gander intl. with cadets a couple weeks ago i got to go into the gft (gander flight training) so i got top see the realistic flight sim and got to in a meda-bac and a lot of other cool stuff. so ya. and i check in daily to if you have new videos. thanks
Posted by Dennis Kir @ 09:24 PM, April 05 Good job in gettng back in the air! I would like to congratulate you as well as Jason, your instructor, on a great learning video! I got my Sport Pilot Ticket on 2007,and I am now working on Sport Pilot CFI. This flying stuff is cool! Keep up the good work, I look forward to your next video, Thanks, Dennis
Posted by John Giot @ 07:55 AM, April 06 Nice getting back in the air, dont be too hard on yourself with the landings, also if you can, try to have another lesson asap. I find that sometimes having another lessons within 1 or 2 days after the first can really boost your learning.Have Fun.
Posted by steve mach @ 04:08 PM, April 06 Great to see you back in the air! I just got back up in the air after FOUR months away. With only 10 hours in my logbook, I felt like it was lesson one with my landings.Watching your 'arrivals' gave me hope that it's normal...we can both be assured the skills will return with regular practice.
Posted by Paul Brown @ 11:46 PM, April 06 Good job for taking so much time off. Like any other skill you need to practice, practice, the practice some more. As a new sport pilot from Sept 2008 I get rusty between flights also.
Posted by Jason @ 07:28 PM, April 07 Thanks for all these great videos. I started working towards my sport pilot certificate about a month ago and have been flying a Legend Cub. It has been great watching your progress and seeing what I have to look forward to. Thanks for the inspiration and have fun!
Posted by Chih-chieh,Yang @ 10:09 AM, April 09 hello ^^i am a junior student who majors Aeronauticall engineering and live in Taiwan,it's a small country near China ,and i have read all of your articles ^^ it's awesome !!my classmates and i went to canada as an exchange student last summer vacation for one mouth, and then we went to Oshkosh to see the most amazing air show in the world.we stayed there for three days,i can still remember the spectacular movement of F-22~and i saw so many airplanes i've never seen before. from then on, i knew i probaly can have a chance to be a pilot, and i got more confidence after i saw your flying blog, it's a precious source to me,i just wanna ask you , if i can get a LSA license like your after i gratuate from college, and how about the tuituion , because i am a foreign .it's much expensive for a foreign student,right?i'll be really appreciated if you can give me some suggestion,or some information^^can you just send me a e-mail, thank you^^
Posted by Sam Murphy @ 06:01 PM, May 06 Great stuff Brady, this is a good way to learn all about learning to fly. I hope you turn the whole training eposides into a CD. In fact, it would be interesting in the future to keep filming every time you fly giving more insight as to the life of a private pilot and his.her hobby.
Posted by Robert Van Meter @ 07:10 PM, May 06 Brady,I have been dying to see your next video. I am actually deliberately not using any of the high tech gadgets in my lessons and sticking with old fashioned steamer gauges. I plan on using "glass" when I start instrument training. My feeling is that if I need to rent a plane that doesn't have GPS, or it fails, I can rely on pilotage and charts to get home. To me GPS is like using a calculator for a math problem that you don't understand yet. Yes you get the answer, but you don't know why the answer is correct. If that makes sense.
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