Mooney IFR Students' Thread

[FlyingAggie]

Several Mooney Space members are currently working on Instrument Ratings in their Mooney's.  I thought it might be of value to start a thread where we could share our training experiences, discuss what working well and/or not so well,  interesting observations and lessons and perhaps learn from comments from those who are already instrument rated.  So please post how your training is going. Below is my summary.

My New Year’s resolution is to obtain my IR in 2011.  This will be my third try.  The first time was in 2007 while in VA, I did about five lessons in a Warrior, before my training was totally disrupted by a relocation from VA to CO in 2008.  I attempted a restart my training after we moved to CO and did a couple of instrument lessons in a C172XP, but put that on hold when I decided to wait until I bought own  Mooney so I could do most of my training in it.    So all totaled I have had about 7.5 hrs of simulated instrument conditions, before starting again on Jan 17th, 2011.

So in the last three weeks, I have done the following lessons.

• 
  
• 17 Jan, Simulator,  Pattern A &B, timed turns, climbs and descents.  (1.0 hrs)
  
• 21 Jan, Simulator, Preflight checks, IFR take offs prep, constant A/S climbs/descents, unusual attitudes, Emergencies: electrical, gyros, AI, mag compass turns, climbing & descending turns.  (1.3 hrs)
  
• 23 Jan, N262MB, Pattern A, constant AS climbs & descents, turns.  (0.9 hrs)
  
• 29 Jan, N262MB, Pattern A, constant rate turns, VOR orientation & tracking, ILS BJC 29R. (1.1 hrs)
  
• 30 Jan, N262MB, Pattern B, config table, DME arc, ILS34 GXY missed, ILS 29R BJC. (1.4 hrs)
  
• 5 Feb, Simulator, sim power config table, steep turns, timed turns, holding patterns, VOR time, speed and distance, BJC VOR/DME approach (X2). (2.1 hrs)
  

At the conclusion of yesterday's lesson, my CFII said she was pleased with my progress, that I was performing within PTS standards and we were done with Stage I.  She gave me my study assignments for next week when we start Stage II.

FAA Written Test:  I passed it in 2007, but it expired in Dec 2009, so I will need to take it again.   Studying for it is like re-reading a novel: you kinda know what’s going to happen, but have forgotten a lot of the details.  It was more fun the first time.  So while on travel last week, I downloaded ASA's Test Prep Software and have been using it to test how much I remember from 2007.  I am studying Rod Machado's "Instrument Flying Manual" to bone up on my weak areas.  My goal is to complete the written by the end of February. 

My biggest problem so far has been the weather and trying to schedule lessons in the airplane.  The 500 fpm up and down drafts made holding altitude very interesting during my first session in the airplane and that was the best day in weeks.   Fortunately using the simulator has given us the options of training in spite of the weather and the simulator is a better learning environment for some lessons than the a/c.    I am using one of the simulators at Advanced Aviation Simulators (AAS) at KAPA (http://prosimtraining.com/pr/airportjournals200704.php).  The simulator can be configured as a Mooney 231, runs the FAA certified version of X-Plane and is equipped with an actual Garmin 430.   Although AAS is on the other side of town and quiet a drive,  they allow you to  use your own instructor in their sims and with block rates their sim costs $33/hr, which is less than just fuel cost in my Mooney.

Amazingly there are students who do most of the 40 hrs of IR training in these simulators and even take most of the check ride in them.  The only part of the check ride that they do in the a/c is recovery from unusual attitudes. I plan to do about 15 hrs in the sim.

One other activity that I have found very beneifical and recommend is serving as a safety pilot for other instrument rated pilots needing to fly in simulated instrument conditions to meet currency requirements.  So far I flown as safety pilot in a 201, Bravo and Bonanza.

Please share how your training is going.

 

 

 

[AustinChurch]

I've been working on mine off-and-on the last few years and life just keeps getting in the way.  I'm up to 21 hours IFR with 7 of those being actual and none on a simulator.  I was going to go to GATTS but it's hard to take time off from work that isn't a vacation with the family, so after a very short talk with the wife (she did not want to vacation in Manhattan, KS), she agreed to let me book the next 4 weekends with a CFII friend of mine that owns a flight school.  We have set up 8 hours per day to get this finished.  Yesterday, I went and shot 2 VOR approaches with an IFR certified safety pilot and actually felt pretty good so I'm cautiously optimistic! 

[jpusser]

If you are not going through a 141 school, I think you can only use 10 hours in the sim.  Might want to check that out.  Even if you are a 141 school the max is 20. 

[74657]

I've got my instructor flying in Wednesday night.  Thurs-Sunday this week and again on the 24-27.  Hopefully the checkride will on the 28 or March 1.

[rbridges]

that's great progress.  mine has been extremely slow.  I only have Friday AM with my CFII, and several of those have been cancelled due to weather. 

[FlyingAggie]

Austin,

Your plan sound good and I bet you will be successful. 

I thought long and hard about the benefits of an an accelerated course vs flying two or three times a week over a period of three or four months.  Everything I have read from those who have done the accelerated training, say you need to regularly fly instruments immediately after the course to retain those skills. The latter approach takes longer and is more suceptible to lifes interruptions.

Maybe the best approach is a combination of both.   If my current plan doesn't work and I have accumulated the required hours, I may undertake an intense two or three day finish up session to finish-uo the rating.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Quote: AustinChurch

I've been working on mine off-and-on the last few years and life just keeps getting in the way.  I'm up to 21 hours IFR with 7 of those being actual and none on a simulator.  I was going to go to GATTS but it's hard to take time off from work that isn't a vacation with the family, so after a very short talk with the wife (she did not want to vacation in Manhattan, KS), she agreed to let me book the next 4 weekends with a CFII friend of mine that owns a flight school.  We have set up 8 hours per day to get this finished.  Yesterday, I went and shot 2 VOR approaches with an IFR certified safety pilot and actually felt pretty good so I'm cautiously optimistic! 

[FlyingAggie]

Quote: jpusser

If you are not going through a 141 school, I think you can only use 10 hours in the sim.  Might want to check that out.  Even if you are a 141 school the max is 20. 

[Frosty]

Quote: AustinChurch

I've been working on mine off-and-on the last few years and life just keeps getting in the way. 

 

Doesn't it ever!!!  I've had that same experience.  Each of the last 3 years was going to be the year I got my instrument.  I was making good progress in Sept before the doctor told my wife she has cancer.  She finished Radiation and Chemo at USC Norris Cancer Institute (impressive capability, great service) the end of Jan.  She spent  4 days in the hospital last week but things are slowing down.  Yesterday was the first time since Sept I had time to go to the airport.  Get my battery serviced and a through preflight and I'll be ready to knock the rust off and get back at it. 

[fantom]

Remember, the dual requirement is 20 hours, I believe. What you guys can do is fly under the hood with a pilot friend/safety pilot whenever possible. May wind up to be less expensive, keep you on top of the learning curve, and give you buddy some good experience.

[MooneyMitch]

Frosty.

I know the quality of service from Norris.  Superb!  Wishing you two a postive outcome for this.

We are enjoying using each other as the safety pilot while the other goes under the hood, every chance we get on a flight.  It is some cost savings and we are gaining good experience doing so.

Happy Mooney flying to you and your wife!

[fantom]

Quote: Mitch

We are enjoying using each other as the safety pilot while the other goes under the hood, every chance we get on a flight.

Given the right circumstances, that could be most enjoyable, Mitch

[MooneyMitch]

I love my KFC150 and flight following!!  Ha.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Attention to detail, attention to detail...keep that in mind, execute properly, and IFR is safe.

[thinwing]

Woo Hoo Mitch!!

[Seth]

Get the written out of the way as soon as possible.  Do not let the written not being complete cause you to push off a checkride.  I passed my written and the next day took my practical.  I did finally get to my IFR after life getting in the way, but when I did train in ernest, I finished it in just under a month.  Had I not passed the written, I would have had to push off the IFR practical.  However, I probably should have spent the day before the practical chair flying.   Working on the commerical written now.

[Magnum]

I did the written IR and CPL two years ago, last November I decided that I don't want it to expire. I took two weeks off, flew to Florida and had the IR check ride after 8 days of flying. Two days later I had the CPL. I really like to fly, but sitting in the cockpit 4-6 hrs a day starring at the instruments and preparing for the oral in the evening wasn't that much fun. Another german pilot was with me and he finished after 6,5!! days. I tried to beat him, but I had no chance. As he was there for two weeks, too, he did the PPL and multi engine in the remaining time.

So if you think it takes to long, take a few days off and I can recommend a good CFII.

[trjymr]

Well Im determined to get my IR in 2011 too!  Dont have much time in the plane, but I did buy the DVD set from sportys for $265.  Im not really a good book learner so I thought this would be better for me.  So far im about 1/3 of the way through and seems to be going good.  I'm hoping to have my written out of the way soon and hit the sky...

[FlyingAggie]

I used the Sporty's IFR package and supplemented it with information from books. I did very well on the written the first time and it must have sunken in, because over two years later, I am able to pass practice FAA exams with high scores.  I am also reviewing the parts of the DVD before each flying lesson.

My last lesson in the plane covered DME arcs. So to prepare, I watched the Sporty's video on DME Arcs, flew the next day as a safety pilot for a Bravo owner and he flew the DME arc as part of the ILS GXY approach and then flew the same approach on MicroSoft Flight Simulator the morning before actually flying that approach with my instructor in my plane.  Talk about  being  well prepared.   and feeling double deja vu!   I wished I could be as well prepared for each lesson. 

Quote: trjymr

Well Im determined to get my IR in 2011 too!  Dont have much time in the plane, but I did buy the DVD set from sportys for $265.  Im not really a good book learner so I thought this would be better for me.  So far im about 1/3 of the way through and seems to be going good.  I'm hoping to have my written out of the way soon and hit the sky...

[mooneygirl]

As Mitch posted we are working on our IR.  We have the Sporty's DVDs and they have been the basis of our 12 week ground school we are finishing up next week. I do have to say that we also have the King DVDs. I feel they are superior in terms of explanation and details that will be on the test.

Of course we have a bunch of books, Gleim, ASA, Machado and King.  The King DVDs for me are much better than Sportys. They give detailed examples, and helpful aids for the questions.  That is my two cents.

Mitch and I have about 1.5-2.0 of time with our CFII, and 3-5 hours of time with each other as a safety pilot.  It does help to be married to your safety pilot, well most times! HA 

[markeg1964]

I recently traded a Cessna 170A for a Mooney M20B and have started training for my IFR.  I’m a CPA with a tax practice so I’m not expecting to get too much done until after April 15^th but I have managed to do some hood work, fly some holding patterns, flew one VOR approach, and tracked some VORs.  I’m hoping to fly once every other week until after tax season when I will try to fly as often as I can – probably two or three times per week.  I purchased the King’s IFR course and am about 20% through it.  I have also been reading when I can find time.

My goal is to finish everything this year.  It took over a year and a half to get my private in the 170A due to work, family and scheduling so there is a good chance it may take longer.  I’m having a lot of fun!

[FlyingAggie]

Jole/Mitch,

Haven't seen the King DVD's, although that is what my wife is using for her PPL.  When are you taking your written?

I remember from your FB post that you taking your lessons in a 182 instead of your Mooney.  Are you planning to continue that?

Quote: mooneygirl

As Mitch posted we are working on our IR.  We have the Sporty's DVDs and they have been the basis of our 12 week ground school we are finishing up next week. I do have to say that we also have the King DVDs. I feel they are superior in terms of explanation and details that will be on the test.

Of course we have a bunch of books, Gleim, ASA, Machado and King.  The King DVDs for me are much better than Sportys. They give detailed examples, and helpful aids for the questions.  That is my two cents.

Mitch and I have about 1.5-2.0 of time with our CFII, and 3-5 hours of time with each other as a safety pilot.  It does help to be married to your safety pilot, well most times! HA 

[mooneygirl]

We only got one lesson in the Cessna, then we were back in Maggie, my E model. 

[Skyatty]

I'm planning on pursuing the IR this year too.  I have started with the ASA IP Trainer and ASA Instrument Flying book.  So far seems like a pretty good program.  I've been grounded by weather for awhile (such is life in a mountain environment in Utah) so the IP Trainer program lets me fly a little each day and start experiencing some of the IR procedures before I start burning fuel.  I found an instructor that seems very competent so I hope to get in the plane and start that work in another 4-6 weeks.  Wouldn't this be so much easier if we all had the Redbird full motion flight simulators in the basement?

[AustinChurch]

Quote: Frosty

Quote: AustinChurch

I've been working on mine off-and-on the last few years and life just keeps getting in the way. 

 

Doesn't it ever!!!  I've had that same experience.  Each of the last 3 years was going to be the year I got my instrument.  I was making good progress in Sept before the doctor told my wife she has cancer.  She finished Radiation and Chemo at USC Norris Cancer Institute (impressive capability, great service) the end of Jan.  She spent  4 days in the hospital last week but things are slowing down.  Yesterday was the first time since Sept I had time to go to the airport.  Get my battery serviced and a through preflight and I'll be ready to knock the rust off and get back at it. 

[AustinChurch]

Quote: FlyingAggie