T-Flight Experience

[mike.smith]

I just got back from OSH yesterday after spending some quality time in the company Waiex as part of the T-Flight program. What a great experience before my own first flight! Joe Norris was a good and patient instructor, and helped me get my insurance-company-required 5 hours of Sonex tailwheel time... all in ONE day!

We budgeted 3 days, but day 1 was windy, gusty and not a good day for flying. Day 2 was supposed to be cloudy, light winds, but rain late in the day. Day 3 was forecast to be IFR. Hmmm... not good.

So on Day 1 we covered all the ground training and called it a day. We got an 8am start on Day 2. It was hazy with overcast varying between 2,000' and 7,000' depending on where you were. We got in all the basic flight maneuvers in the first sortie, then returned for several landings on runway 9. Got gas, then went right back up for sortie #2. Burned some holes in the sky, saw LOTS of farmland, checked the progress on local road projects, and then returned for a LOT of landings. Stopped for gas and lunch, then right back up for sortie #3. By now the weather was still VFR, but got skunky enough we opted to return to the OSH pattern and do a LOT of landings.

Finished up the requisite 5 hours in 3 sorties in 1 day. That's a lot time in a small cockpit! We returned to the Sonex hangar after the last sortie, went inside, and by the time we came out it was raining lightly. 15 minutes after I drove off, the airport went IFR and remained that way through the next day. Now THAT'S timing!

Many thanks to Joe for hanging in there for a long but productive day! The stick time did wonders for my confidence and I feel really good now about making that first flight... hopefully really soon (gotta' finish the canopy and hang the prop)! If you can make it out to OSH, I highly recommend the T-Flight program!

Oh, and with two 200 lb guys and about 9 or 10 gallons of fuel, the Aerovee did a marvelous job. It felt quite peppy and climbed out great. I feel even better about my Aerovee decision after all this.

Mike Smith
#439

[falvarez]

Thanks for sharing your experience...and glad to hear it worked out (I was curious of how flexible they would be with regards to fitting all that flying into a short trip that's dependent on good weather). I hope to be able to take advantage of this great program before my first flight as well...starting to look like it may be around this time next year.

[Sonex1517]

Excellent! I plan on heading up there when the time is right....thanks for the feedback!


Robbie
Sonex 1517

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[MichaelFarley56]

Thanks for sharing the trip report Mike! I'm really glad to hear that you have the required insurance time, and even more importantly, that you feel comfortable with the way the Waiex flies.

If you have the time at some point, I'd love to hear what you think of how the Waiex flies. What did you think? I'd also be curious to hear what your climb rates and CHT readings were at your takeoff weights.

Thanks for the report!

[Sonerai13]

Enjoyed flying with you Mike. It was a good day! I'm sure your first flight will be a good one.

Oh, and we had 12 gallons on board for a couple of those takeoffs. Around 500 fpm climb and about 290 to 300 on CHT.

Cheers!


Joe
"Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat"

[MichaelFarley56]

Glad you joined us over here Joe! Thank you!

[Sonerai13]

Glad to be here Mike! Thanks for the welcome!

[n502pd]

Wellcome, too, from Texas! Great pleasure meeting you at Crossville!

[daleandee]

Glad to be here Mike! Thanks for the welcome!

Hi Joe,

You, no doubt, are a welcomed asset to the group, We met at Crossville. I was the guy parked next to you in the weird looking Sonex with the Corvair engine.

8~)

Enjoyed talking with you!

Dale
N319WF

[Sonerai13]

Thanks for the welcome guys. Enjoyed meeting you at Crossville. Look forward to crossing paths again in the future!


Joe
"Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat"