Is the fruit sweeter for the effort to grow?

[Jeff H.]

The first milestone in an endless journey.

Started taking lessons on Oct. 14, 2013. Encountered first hurdle in getting the medical certificate. After paying the pilot forum medical guru for his time, he looked at my records for 15 minutes (have the sent time stamp and the reply message), he said I'd never get a medical of any type.

Being stubborn and persistent, I kept my chen (cough) up and went forward. 7 months later I had a medical certificate. Went overseas for business, came back and my CFI had taken an airline job.

One short detour to a new CFI who was -- I keep forgetting the clinical definition . . . oh yeah -- batsh*t crazy, I found a great CFI who was willing to take me on mid-stream.

Time for the checkride and the preferred DPE loses his ticket. Futile efforts to find another known quantity DPE. Original DPE gets authority back which leads to what can only be one of the most unusual circumstances for an oral exam ever. That story will be left untyped. Day of the oral exam a week ago is a biblical deluge. Continued to this morning.

Checkride complete. Temporary ticket received. Sometimes through this process I wondered if someone was trying to tell me something or if the endurance race would just make it all the more sweeter when complete.

We're sticking with the second thought for right now. Looking forward to continuing to look, listen, learn and experience something I truly love doing. Thanks to everyone here for being willing to share their experiences and knowledge.

Jeff

[jnisley]

Congratulations, don't quit now!

[fantom]

Just fate making certain you really want to fly....seems you do. Well done!

 

An original licence to steal around here is being a 'cash only' DPE. Never heard of one losing his ticket.

 

Fly safe out there!

[N601RX]

We had a few DPE's around here loose their authority a few years ago.  They were simply told that the FSDO had more than they could manage and they were cutting back on the number in this area.

 

Did you take the checkride in the Rocket?

[Jeff H.]

No Rocket checkride. :-) However, another flight and I'll be checked out in it and then really become a danger to everyone else.

[Andy95W]

Nothing worth having is easy.

Congratulations.

[rbuck]

Makes it sweeter. The medical certificate and BFR every so often are about it as far as this type of thing unless you go for another rating. Flying on your own or with your own family and friends is a whole different thing. 

Congrats!

[Danb]

Jeff..sweet way to hang in there..happy and safe flying for yrs..

[carusoam]

Other people would have given up...

You, are not like other people.

Now, watch AOPA regarding their efforts to eliminate the class III medical. Because, it makes sense.

You may be called upon to write your Representative. They will make it easy to help you get it done.

You are not like other people, because a Mooney chose you to be her pilot.

The FAA has invented the class III SI (Special Issuance) as a work around for non-standard people.

Proof that even the FAA wants us to fly.

Proof that the FAA uses logic.

When do you start your instrument training?

Best regards,

-a-

[RocketAviator]

Jeff, would love to hear the "Rest of the story" sometime! But for now a well earned congratulations to you!

Also welcome to the Mooney Rocket world, there is nothing like it in my humble opinion!

Fly safe

[Piloto]

If you can drive a car on I-95 these days you are certainly fit to fly an airplane. It only takes a few seconds of incapacitation to get in trouble when driving.

 

José

[PTK]

Congratulations Jeff.

“What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do”...Aristotle

[rbridges]

The license is all well and good, but congrats on the Rocket!