Intros - Student Pilot new to the NG

[Gemini]

Greetings!

I started lessons in March 2010 and had first solo on 7/4/2010. Haven't
started X-Country yet, but looking forward to it.

July activities caused a slowdown in lessons, so, hoping to finish before
the 2010 flying season is over here in S. Indiana.

I've wanted to fly since I was only ~6 years old, and finally, after years of,
"I'll learn next year.

Well, 30 years after that initial desire as a kid, I FINALLY started.

I spent years playing MSFS, and it just doesn't compare to the real thing.
Its actually hard to play the game any more! There's no feedback from the
control surfaces! No actual 3D preception, etc. Its still fun, mind you, just
hard to emulate the real thing. It does help me keep procedures fresh, though.

Anyway, looking forward to continuing my lessons for PPL. Any words of
wisdom, suggestions or URLs regarding learning to fly woulds be greatly
appreciated.

Sincerely,
Scott Zielinski
Student Pilot

[a***@gmail.com]

        Anyway, looking forward to continuing my lessons for PPL. Any words of
wisdom, suggestions or URLs regarding learning to fly woulds be greatly
appreciated.

Welcome to the wonderful world of flight Scott!

Assuming you live in the USA, if you are not a member of AOPA, you may
want to consider joining as they have a plethora of training material
on their website.

Shameless plug for my own flight videos that I hope give you incentive
to continue your training, you can find at http://www.youtube.com/user/BeechSundowner
covering from stalls and falls, slow flight, various takeoffs and
landings to the magic of IFR flights in actual conditions.

I hope you do post your progress of your training!

Allen

[Gemini]

Post by a***@gmail.com

        Anyway, looking forward to continuing my lessons for PPL. Any words of
wisdom, suggestions or URLs regarding learning to fly woulds be greatly
appreciated.

Welcome to the wonderful world of flight Scott!
Assuming you live in the USA, if you are not a member of AOPA, you may
want to consider joining as they have a plethora of training material
on their website.
Shameless plug for my own flight videos that I hope give you incentive
to continue your training, you can find at http://www.youtube.com/user/BeechSundowner
covering from stalls and falls, slow flight, various takeoffs and
landings to the magic of IFR flights in actual conditions.
I hope you do post your progress of your training!
Allen

Thanks, Allen!

Yes, living in Southern Indiana, USA. I joined AOPA right away, even
getting renters' insurance from them. I've gone through all of their material
appropriate to my current progress. Their Flight Training magazine (FREE!)
has been quite the enjoyable read. It was soon after I paid for full
membership (I think their flight planner alone is worth it).

I have ~30 of your vids marked, and watched your vid of the panel during
ILS 16 HKS approach. Also you vid on how you setup your cameras, and audio.
Looking forward to watching more.

I tried in cockpit vid of my first solo w/ a flip, but alas, I couldn't
mount it anywhere. :(

My wife did vid me arriving at my first "other" airport, and my second
solo. Editing has been slow going. :(

Your vids have reinvigorated me to get more vids of my training - I only
wish I started sooner - as I'm ~15 hours in right now :/

Reagrds,
Scott

[a***@gmail.com]

        Yes, living in Southern Indiana, USA. I joined AOPA right away, even
getting renters' insurance from them. I've gone through all of their material
appropriate to my current progress. Their Flight Training magazine (FREE!)
has been quite the enjoyable read. It was soon after I paid for full
membership (I think their flight planner alone is worth it).

I like their flight planner too myself though to be honest, I still
stick with the flight planner that still survives the test of time
called DUAT. While it's nice to see all the bells and whistles of
pictures sometimes I like "just the facts" and DUAT does that
elequently.

        I tried in cockpit vid of my first solo w/ a flip, but alas, I couldn't
mount it anywhere. :(

Mounting is always the dilemma for renters. I was fortunate to own a
Sundowner before selling it this year. Now, I use the same concept
with the setup video but use expired AFD's and prop it behind the
camera since Cessna glareshield not nearly as deep. I have seen an
even better setup where somebody bought a screw to mount under the
camera but attached a mouse pad to act as a stabilizer, and put the
screw through the mouse pad into the camera. Not sure if the flip has
something compatible or not but food for thought.

        Your vids have reinvigorated me to get more vids of my training - I only
wish I started sooner - as I'm ~15 hours in right now :/

Best part is not to regret starting sooner but be glad you did get
started. I didn't start until I am 40 years old and have no regrets
starting that late.

[Gemini]

Post by a***@gmail.com

        Yes, living in Southern Indiana, USA. I joined AOPA right away, even
getting renters' insurance from them. I've gone through all of their material
appropriate to my current progress. Their Flight Training magazine (FREE!)
has been quite the enjoyable read. It was soon after I paid for full
membership (I think their flight planner alone is worth it).

I like their flight planner too myself though to be honest, I still
stick with the flight planner that still survives the test of time
called DUAT. While it's nice to see all the bells and whistles of
pictures sometimes I like "just the facts" and DUAT does that
elequently.

I like bare bones as well - as possibly evidenced by my use of slrn and
Linux for ng postings. :) I haven't really been able to mess with
DUAT (and DUATs as well, right?) too much, as my Student ID was too new -
so I had to fax in the Med Cert and wait to be manually entered. I do
look forward to the flight planning portion via charts, etc.

Post by a***@gmail.com

        I tried in cockpit vid of my first solo w/ a flip, but alas, I couldn't
mount it anywhere. :(

Mounting is always the dilemma for renters. I was fortunate to own a
Sundowner before selling it this year. Now, I use the same concept
with the setup video but use expired AFD's and prop it behind the
camera since Cessna glareshield not nearly as deep. I have seen an
even better setup where somebody bought a screw to mount under the
camera but attached a mouse pad to act as a stabilizer, and put the
screw through the mouse pad into the camera. Not sure if the flip has
something compatible or not but food for thought.

I was thinking about trying one of those "mats" that you can use on your
car dash - that "sticks" to the dash (really, just friction) and whatever
you put on it "sticks" there as well. Should be useful for a regular camera
in video mode.

The flip does have a tripod mount - so could workl. I have an old Garmin
sandbag mount that I could possibly rig....I really like the mousepad idea.

Post by a***@gmail.com

        Your vids have reinvigorated me to get more vids of my training - I only
wish I started sooner - as I'm ~15 hours in right now :/

Best part is not to regret starting sooner but be glad you did get
started. I didn't start until I am 40 years old and have no regrets
starting that late.

Sorta like flying. I'm glad I got to start - even at 37.

Cheers, and thanks!
Keep the vids coming! I enjoyed watching many of them last night.

Scott

[Mike Ash]

Post by Gemini
I was thinking about trying one of those "mats" that you can use on your
car dash - that "sticks" to the dash (really, just friction) and whatever
you put on it "sticks" there as well. Should be useful for a regular camera
in video mode.

I would be wary of such a thing simply because of turbulence. You don't
want a loose camera smashing stuff or whacking you on the head. Of
course, us glider pilots tend to seek out and fly through much more
turbulence than more sane sorts of pilots.

I purchased this camera mount, which is really just a basic C clamp with
the standard camera screw attached:

http://www.highsierramfg.com/

With the clamp you can attach it to anything sturdy and be sure it won't
fly off, and it's much cheaper than most such mounts.

Here's a video I made with this mount:

http://mikeash.com/glider_first_hd_video.html

Good luck with your training, and please post more updates as you
proceed.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by Mike Ash

Post by Gemini
I was thinking about trying one of those "mats" that you can use on your
car dash - that "sticks" to the dash (really, just friction) and whatever
you put on it "sticks" there as well. Should be useful for a regular camera
in video mode.

I would be wary of such a thing simply because of turbulence. You don't
want a loose camera smashing stuff or whacking you on the head.

Agree Mike. I tried that mat routine and the sticky is not sticky
enough for the camera to remain in one position especially on
takeoffs.

It would be pretty hefty turbulence to move the portfolio or a couple
of AFD's rubberband together. And if it's that rough of weather, I
just keep the camera in the flight bag.

[Gemini]

Post by Mike Ash

Post by Gemini
I was thinking about trying one of those "mats" that you can use on your
car dash - that "sticks" to the dash (really, just friction) and whatever
you put on it "sticks" there as well. Should be useful for a regular camera
in video mode.

I would be wary of such a thing simply because of turbulence. You don't
want a loose camera smashing stuff or whacking you on the head. Of
course, us glider pilots tend to seek out and fly through much more
turbulence than more sane sorts of pilots.
I purchased this camera mount, which is really just a basic C clamp with
http://www.highsierramfg.com/
With the clamp you can attach it to anything sturdy and be sure it won't
fly off, and it's much cheaper than most such mounts.
http://mikeash.com/glider_first_hd_video.html
Good luck with your training, and please post more updates as you
proceed.

That's a really good point. Gotta remember to think in 3 dimendions
;)

I'll check out the mount. Since I'lll be doing more solo work, It would
be great to post and get constructive critisism of my flying. Esp t/o
and landings.

I'll check out the vis tonight. Thanks!

Scott