Today was my first time flying in a month. And it was a stage check. The weather has been so bad over the past 2-3 weeks after Christmas and I haven't been able to go up. Needless to say, I was a little rusty.
I started the flight with a soft field takeoff, and then I intercepted my course towards Zanesville, OH. I was about to reach my top of climb checkpoint, and I went to check the time, and crap. I forgot to start my time on takeoff. I even spent a lot of time trying to remind myself to do that. I tend to forget about starting the stopwatch on takeoff. so I invented an acronym for myself- FLTT like flight- flaps lights transponder time. In spite of that, I still forgot. I remembered the flaps, lights and transponder, but not the time.
I flew to my first couple checkpoints, then I was diverted back to Clarksburg. I did power on and off stalls, and then went to the airport for a soft field landing, and short field takeoffs and landings. I got fours on everything, except departure and soft field technique, for which I received threes. I got a 4.0/5 for my total stage check grade.
Only three more lessons, then I will take my Stage 3 check, and then if I do well, I can take my checkride. I should have my license by the second or third week of February.
