Mooney IFR Students' Thread

[TonyPynes]

Quote: txbyker

Austin, I noticed you did the weekend school, was that American Flyers by chance?

[ReggieM]

Quote: AustinPynes

 Nope. It was a local examiner who also gives training on knowledge tests.

[TonyPynes]

Quote: ReggieM

 Nope. It was a local examiner who also gives training on knowledge tests.

[ReggieM]

Quote: AustinPynes

Hi Austin,

Was Zinda (sp?) the one who gave the class?

- Reg

[DaV8or]

I'm back at it myself. I went for my first lesson today to get in shape for an IPC. Logbook shows I was last current in 2006. Lot of rust and a lot of things have changed. Soon I will cloud busting again!

[DrBill]

When I had a friend on board and we were flying into a cloud  I announced "HANG ON WE"RE GOING IN".

Got some chuckles out of him with that.

Dr Bill

 

[TonyPynes]

My instrument experience to date has been the requisite Instrument time for PPL and some time in "Marginal VFR" where I was actually able to enjoy spatial disorientation at 7500 in my first hour of solo in my Mooney. I had just picked up my M20 after my transition training and left Texas to head east. I had to wait out a fast moving storm cell and took off in clear but damp conditions.

45 minutes later rain started but visibility was still fine. Then it was mostly light rain showers with clear skies mostly around me. Then it was hazy and the ceiling dropped down around me. Then some nice turbulence just to make sure I was paying attention.

I focused on the instruments, let the PC keep my attitude, found the nearest airport(4 miles) on the 430 while looking for a way out. A 180 was not going to work as the clouds and showers had closed in and down around me. I was headed east and the weather had been moving NW to SE.

Before I knew it visibility started to drop. It was moving as fast as the earlier storms. I dropped down to 5500. The ground was visible but hazy.

But I did see a lighter area on the horizon NE and turned toward it. Was soon out of the drizzle. Soon the sky was clear. But for awhile there at 7500 it was difficult to know which end was up.

Glad I had the little bit of instrument training I had. Btw, my Stormscope showed no strikes around me. When I finally arrived over the Smoky Mountains at 11500 five hours later and listened to Greensboro ATIS there was storm cells over the airport. With my first weather fun experience behind me I decided to stop early for a break and to let things clear. An hour or so later I arrived at home base with my new Mooney and first experience that convinced me I need the IR.

[DrBill]

Nice story Austin and a good example why to get the rating.

[Ron McBride]

When I took my Checkride about 2 1/2 years ago, The examiner asked when I scheduled the apointment, What equipment do you have? When I told her a 430, KX155, she said great. We knew what airports were close to her home base. Plan on an ILS, GPS and a VOR approach. She did not cover up my GPS's, and allowed me to use my 496 also. She was very impressed with the panel in my 69F.    She also had me do a DME arc of off a VOR.  All approach's except the last were missed. If you have an autopilot, you mus toperate it on 1 approach. My last approach was the GPS, using the autopilot and a circle to land.   I sure bounced that landing, but recovered nicely.   After the debriefing, I walked around the airport o relax before flying home.  If you have an ADF, dissable it, or be ready to do an approach, your choice.

Ron

[thinwing]

I am very impressed with your examiner....kpc

[flyboy0681]

I guess nobody has taken the written recently. I'm thrilled that this subject has taken flight again but I was wondering what to expect now that the FAA has updated the test. From what I have read in other places, the pass rate has fallen dramatically because (as we all know) applicants memorized the answers to a lot of the questions and I suppose didn't know the underlying knowledge (which isn't good).

I also read that the new test has arrived in the 21st century and is more GPS centric and has dropped MLS and Loran questions.

Hopefully this will force John and Martha to update their material. A refresher video I just watched on obtaining weather contained a DUAT screen from 1990 and featured a new way of receiving weather in your home via FAX.

 

[ToddDPT]

Quote: N9154V

When I took my Checkride about 2 1/2 years ago, The examiner asked when I scheduled the apointment, What equipment do you have? When I told her a 430, KX155, she said great. We knew what airports were close to her home base. Plan on an ILS, GPS and a VOR approach. She did not cover up my GPS's, and allowed me to use my 496 also. She was very impressed with the panel in my 69F.    She also had me do a DME arc of off a VOR.  All approach's except the last were missed. If you have an autopilot, you mus toperate it on 1 approach. My last approach was the GPS, using the autopilot and a circle to land.   I sure bounced that landing, but recovered nicely.   After the debriefing, I walked around the airport o relax before flying home.  If you have an ADF, dissable it, or be ready to do an approach, your choice.

Ron

[rob]

I took the written about a month ago, I guess. There were some questions that I didn't recognize from my preparation; mostly dealing with icing, the operation of boots, etc. I think the FAA has released some information about the subject matter. At a minimum, they are very clear about what knowledge you are expected to have. The written is not difficult, new questions or old.

[N1026F]

For those of you within Mooney range of south Texas, the instructor that I'd reccomend for the practical test is Dylan Foley of foleyaero.com.  He's a former Mooney factory test pilot and at 25 years old, one of the most level-headed and mature people I know. We became close friends during the process, but don't hold that against him.

I told Dylan I had no maximum limit on the number of hours to get me there, I wanted real IMC and all of the procedures plus some Mooney specific procedures to know the limits of the Ovation and that I wasn't up for just passing the practical test; I fly with my wife and daughter. Dylan told me he refused to work with anyone that wanted to be done within a set number of hours because the people are different, the planes are different and the number of days between lessons are always different.

Several people told me to not use Charlie MacDugal of San Antonio, as an examiner for the IR because he had a high fail rate. Again, I told these folks that I wasn't interested in just getting a rating. Besides, Charlie tested me on my private ticket and seemed entirely predictable if you knew the PTS.

Dylan called Charlie when we felt we had covered our tracks with sufficient redundancy, and set up some times. Charlie and I met for the oral exam and made ourselves comfortable at the local FBO lobby. Charlie pulled out his notebook computer with the IACRA link and took up where Dylan left off (the IACRA information required by each is prescribed by federal law).  After several hours of questions designed to determine whether you get the big picture along with the details we discussed the flight plan. Then we were ready for the practical test--or so we thought. I made an approach planning error and told Charlie about it and discontinued for several days. The error was minor and Charlie was very accomodating, signed me off on the oral and rescheduled.

Several days later, Charlie signed me off and said I was over-prepared. Not perfect, but over-prepared. Just what it takes to be ready. I'll keep working towards perfecton because that's what IFR really means.

Thanks Dylan!

PS: I used the King online IFR course and was well prepared for the practical. I also recomend the Sporty's IPC video lessons on the iPad because it provides a good summary.

 

[orangemtl]

Exactly my experience, overall with Dylan.  Just an all-around great kid, and a SOLID pilot/instructor. I will gladly burn the fuel from AZ to TX and back to train w/him: whether it's an hour, or 100 hours.

[Apollo]

Quote: rob

I took the written about a month ago, I guess. There were some questions that I didn't recognize from my preparation; mostly dealing with icing, the operation of boots, etc. I think the FAA has released some information about the subject matter. At a minimum, they are very clear about what knowledge you are expected to have. The written is not difficult, new questions or old.

[flyboy0681]

Quote: Apollo

I took the written two weeks ago. I TOO missed the icing/boots questions.

Also, I passed my checkride last saturday and this weekend I flew in actual IMC!

[Apollo]

Yes originally I wanted to do the written far in advance of the actual checkride. However, I studied up for the written quit a bit and then found myself lacking the extra cash to do the cfii/dual part. So I just kept studying and then finally took the written the weekend before the practical part.

 

I think it paid off well since it was all fresh in my brain. However, I don't think I would do any worse on the checkride if I did it much further in advance......

Different strokes I guess.

[Ron McBride]

Ron,

Who was your examiner?  Was she out of Castle or E45?  My checkride for my PPL was a female out of Castle and she lived at Pine Mountain.  She was really good and most importantly, realistic so I was most likely going to use her for my IFR checkride.

Todd,

Linda Monohan out of Pine Mountain. She was great.

Ron

[ToddDPT]

Thanks Ron.  That's who I was hoping you would say.  She is GREAT!  I had heard nightmares with friends during their checkride, but not with Linda.  She was awesome!  I'm looking forward taking the IFR from her!  By the way, what approaches did she have you do?

[FlyingAggie]

I started this thread at the beginning of my training and wanted to make at least one more post to say that last Friday (1/6) I passed my IFR check-ride and am now instrument rated.  It took me much longer than I expected, but having to travel for work (i.e. I unfortunately made both the Marriott Platinmum Level and United 1K in 2011) really impacted my training.  This was the most challenging but rewarding effort I have done in flying.  

It seemed the last 10% took 50% of the time.  I had to reschedule the check-ride five or six times.  The joke with my instructor became that I had learned a lot about weather in my IFR training.  I could predict with 100% accuracy when we would have winds greater than 50 mph or blinding blizzards----it was any day on which I had scheduled my check-ride.

[fantom]

I read the good news on the Mooney list, Alan. Congrats again!

Now you can get lots more utilization out of that 262.

[231Pilot]

Congratulations Alan!  Hard work and perseverance pay off.

[flyboy0681]

Quote: FlyingAggie

I started this thread at the beginning of my training and wanted to make at least one more post to say that last Friday (1/6) I passed my IFR check-ride and am now instrument rated.  It took me much longer than I expected, but having to travel for work (i.e. I unfortunately made both the Marriott Platinmum Level and United 1K in 2011) really impacted my training.  This was the most challenging but rewarding effort I have done in flying.  

[sapientia]

I am beginning my IFR training this Saturday; my plan is to get it knocked out by mid-April. That being said I am a new pilot, just got my PPL in November.  My hope is to buy a Mooney sometime later this year after I have gotten my experience and hours up a bit.  Ideally I would have waited to do the IFR training in my own plane but my work schedule is very conducive for the training at this point and at the same time I'm not ready to take the plunge and buy a plane.