Hank

This is what I do in IMC. When VFR with the Brittain doing the work, I sometimes let go but only sit back with my arms crossed briefly for dramatic effect.

Turn up the volume on the intercom. Try someone else's headset, yours may need work. Make sure your headset volume is turned UP and not DOWN. Clean wax out if your ears. Im all out of possibilities . . .

I descend the easy way in my C--push the yoke for 500 fpm, trim it away and every now and then reduce throttle to my selected cruise MP, and push the mixture forward to the cruise EGT. This generally puts me right at 170 mphi. When I level,off (whether an intermediate IFR level or pattern altitude), then I reset power and lean again. I like to have ~3 nm to slow down to my downwind speed of 90 mph with Takeoff flaps. My yellow arc starts at 175 mph, and Vne = 200 mph. It can be more challenging in the older models with lower speeds.

True, but our "mediCal exams" don't require investigating our prostates, only a visual anus inspection. Poor doctors. . . .

Once you hit age 40, the "every five years" bit becomes "every two years" anyway. So you really aren't losing much now, but are gaining much later. Besides, the whole anus thing specifically says "without digital examination," which is a reference to the doc pushing a digit into the anus [digit = Latin for finger], not anything to do with electrons and color monitors instead of wiggly needle-thingys. Not quite what we were hoping for, but still an improvement. Huge? You be the judge. Those with an SI, especially those whom the FAA requires repetitive, medically-unnecessary testing per their own doctors, will certainly think so.

Good luck with your search, J. Don't forget to include the Encore, an improved K model with more useful load. On the other hand, it will be easier to find a J with 1000 lb UL. Even my lowly C has 970 lb, and everything on your required list except Altitude Hold and Engine Analyzer. But it makes up for that with Carb Temp gage, two localizers, one glideslope and PS Engineering PMS8000 4-place intercom. And she's only ~15 knots slower than a J. Options, man--you've got more options than you know!

The Feds have 180 days to write the regs. But they have a history of missing deadlines, so the Bill was written that after one year, if the new regs aren't issued yet, we can fly under the Law as written and passed, and the Feds cannot take action against anyone for doing so. The old Medical regs are supposed to go away in 180 days; if they don't, they effectively disappear after a year while waiting on the new regs to appear. What will the new regs say? That's anyone's guess, but the Bill tells them what it must contain. I think if they try to go overboard, they will get reined in. Time will tell . . . . . . .

Go new places, and make sure to get the required XC hours. You don't want to come up 0.2 short . . .

Young Eagles is the program for kids, 8-18, and the main reason I joined. They also have a pretty good magazine. Their email came out at 6:52 PM yesterday; AOPA sent one out with we links to clock for the details at 11:03 PM. Guess it takes a while to get the announcement all glossy and we linked, instead of plain text in the actual email. But hey, I'm a happy member of both, and they worked together to get this done. Yippee! But I still need to renew my Class III this fall. $100 and an hour waiting at the Pediatrician's office an hour away from home . . . All those feverish, sniffling little kids running around, blowing snot on everything . . . Just like I did at their age.

My understanding, without reading the actual Bill, is that it applies to any pilot who has had a medical any time within the last ten years. My first ever medical was in Oct 06, less than ten years ago. And the look-back period started yesterday, when the Bill became Law. Yep, found it in cnoe's thread with the full text, way up at the top: (2) the individual holds a medical certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on the date of enactment of this Act, held such a certificate at any point during the 10-year period preceding such date of enactment, or obtains such a certificate after such date of enactment;

Yep, it passed. Thus was my evening EAA email: Third Class Medical Reform Signed into Law Today, President Obama signed the 2016 FAA funding extension into law with third class medical reform attached. After years of effort by EAA advocacy, pilots will finally see relief from the constant hassle and expense associated with third class medical renewals. The legislation allows most pilots who have held a valid medical certificate since July 2006 to fly without needing another FAA medical exam. Instead, pilots can be examined by their personal physician every four years and take an online aeromedical factors course every two years to remain medically qualified to fly. The culmination of EAA's efforts to bring long-sought third class medical relief to pilots would not have been possible without the support of members like you. Thank you for your continued support! For more information, see EAA's FAQ page on aeromedical reform.

Yep! My evening email from EAA: Third Class Medical Reform Signed into Law Today, President Obama signed the 2016 FAA funding extension into law with third class medical reform attached. After years of effort by EAA advocacy, pilots will finally see relief from the constant hassle and expense associated with third class medical renewals. The legislation allows most pilots who have held a valid medical certificate since July 2006 to fly without needing another FAA medical exam. Instead, pilots can be examined by their personal physician every four years and take an online aeromedical factors course every two years to remain medically qualified to fly. The culmination of EAA's efforts to bring long-sought third class medical relief to pilots would not have been possible without the support of members like you. Thank you for your continued support! For more information, see EAA's FAQ page on aeromedical reform.

No idea on the seatbelts. Please post what you find, I may do mine next annual. Hey, Spruce is running Osh discounts right now . . . For the seat pans, either weld them up, or take the time to cut out new ones and replace the old ones. Owner-produced parts and all that. Your plane is eligible, it's more than 30 years old. If you don't want to do it yourself, take them to someone else--sheet metal shop, A&P, a friendly machinist.

Es el stupido . . . Did anyone hear if the FAA Extension Bill was signed today???

My loaded C did well across the Dakotas and Wyoming also. But like the OP, I was worried about DA, not Altitude. Didn't think about it until listening to AWOS at KRAP, said something about Density Altitude around 6600' and to follow the recommendations in your POH. Oh, crap! How do I land in High DA? Sure can't lean for best power, that's all I'd ever heard. So I just landed, a little worried about the left crosswind and very worried about taxiing with a ~30 knot tailwind . . . Had no problems. At takeoff in the morning several days later, it was nice and cool, unlike when I landed at lunchtime.

I'd go for Option #1. You've been training hard, now go reap the benefits of all that training! You now have two "licenses to learn," neither of which requires an instructor beside you. Go out and learn. Fly around, travel, have a good time. File and fly, get comfortable in the system, get to where you know your plane, what it does, and how to make it do what you want to do without thinking about it. Once you've done that, then go back and examine what additional training you may want. But for now, just go fly . . .

Congrats and welcome! You'll love your C, they are great machines.

My wife and I went in vacation for ten days, with multiple stops, loaded to the ceiling from just behind our heads all the way back. We also travel like that at Christmas. Short bodies work just fine. I've also carried three guys on a 1-1/2 hour flight; no one complained, but everyone was glad to get out and stretch. My UL = 969, so Paul's is pretty good. This will be a wonderful, versatile plane for a lucky person!

Good job, Richard. My CFI had me go through the POH and create my own checklist. For the 172, I had one landscape page printed in 3 columns, and I folded it like a letter between columns to keep in my flight bag. Front was everything from Preflight to After Landing, the back was all of the Emergency sections, with headings highlighted (red for fire, yellow for electrical, etc. when I bought my Mooney, I did the same thing but it wouldn't fit on one page, so I did it in Word and printed in Booklet format. Folded in half like a little book, it fits my kneeboard. Having so much room, I retyped much of the Performance Tables so I don't need to check my brittle, browned Owners Manual in flight, just flip through my little laminated booklet.

Yes, at some point there was some rubbing about the 5:00 position looking from the front. Don't have a good photo from that side, and lucky man that I am I get to work this weekend (1400-0200 Sat, then 1200-1600 Sun). Won't be much time to fly other than Sat morning, but that may not work. I'll get some soon anyway.

Guess it's time to dig through my logbooks and see which Hartzell spinner I have on my 3-blade prop . . .

Turbulence is like driving too fast on a bad dirt road. Slowing down makes it less uncomfortable. (Says the man who wasn't bothered by 50' seas between Victoria and Seattle. I paid for the food on that cruise,and on that leg was able to eat more than my share, as the dining rooms were only lightly attended.)

Looks and sounds like a great trip! But I can't imagine going that far with that much dog. I love my toy poodle, but sometimes I begrudge saving half the backseat for his travel crate, although I have been known to stack light stuff on top of it . . . When my wife and I took our C to Yellowstone and back, we left him at home and used the extra cube for baggage and souvenirs. We had no firm reservations, and didn't want to try to find pet friendly hotels from the various FBOs where we stopped. But he does travel well in the plane, and functions as a landing alert (audible through the headsets).

Caitlyn is therefore the perfect name! Bruce can't decide if he wants to be make or female . . . Last I heard, he was talking about going back to male . . . I've had my Mooney nine years and a month, and haven't really thought about naming her. All of my cars up until my current Ranger had names. Hey! My Mooney is also a Ranger . . .

No barfing, no fear of heights, and a love of airplanes and roller coasters. Looking forward to aerobatics, but don't know any instructors down this way.