Following C Andreychek's lead, I'll tell you guys all about my mid-phase check ride today. It won't be quite as exciting as his stories, but I'm excited about it so I'll send my excitement your way...
I'll preface by saying that flying hasn't been going spectacular for me the past few rides, and I ended failing the last ride in the block before my mid-phase check ride, which meant I would have to do the ride over again before I went to check. Well, right then (which was before Thanksgiving) the weather crapped out and I went 10 days without flying, got one re-intro flight, sat another 11 days, got another re-intro flight (after a 7 day break in training they do that just so you can get back up to speed without having to fail anything), then redid the previous ride yesterday (yup, we're so behind we're flying on Sundays now). So this morning I went on my check ride still a bit nervous about how I would do after such a big break after an Unsat performance.
To make a long story short about the pre-flight brief, my IP was MIA until 20 minutes into our brief time, the radar capabilities went out so we couldn't go fly, but then they came back online and we stepped 20 minutes late to the jet. Disorganization like that usually throws me off anyway, but I managed to take off only 10 minutes late. Score 1 for me.
On the departure Vance Departure instructs us to change to the Area Control frequency. We use the call sign of the IP we are flying with, and since I'd never flown with him I had a complete brain fart and missed VD calling me at least twice (I think) to change frequencies, even while I was sitting there wondering when they would get to us. -1 for me.
We got to the auxiliary field, and it was so hazy I almost missed a radio call finding my ground references. - 1/2 for me
My first approach was planned to be a go around, and I did it correctly (didn't overspeed my flaps, go me!) +1 for me
My next pattern was a single engine, and I remembered to note the winds when we entered the pattern and had the appropriate wind correction. Landing was so good we had to call tower to make sure we had touched down. (J/K, of course<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) +1 for me
Next pattern was planned to be a break out, and it went smoothly but I almost forgot my speed brake. -1/2
Departure to the areas on the break out, got vectored all around and managed to repeat back all headings and altitudes without sounding like Elmer Fudd even once. +1 (it was a moral victory if nothing else)
Climb into the high area for spins took what felt like forever! But thus far I had not forgotten any inflight checks and I was assigned an area that I was very familiar with, so it's looking OK. Got established, pulled a good G-strain warm up, and set myself up well for the spins. neutral
Spin prevent was great, dropped the nose enough to break the stall but didn't dump it. Spin recovery* was not so good. I delayed removing the anti-spin rudder too long and it snapped into an opposite spin for just a moment. -1/2
* The T-37 and the T-6 (which is replacing the T-37) are the only planes in the AF inventory that are intentionally spun. We bring the nose up and stall the plane, and just before flight control is lost, we kick in rudder to induce the spin. Then we perform either a prevent or recovery and return to coordinated flight. It's really cool. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
The rest of the area work goes great, and I don't bust my area or even get a work call. I remembered that this IP is a fighter guy so to retain my area orientation I rolled to 90 degrees on either side to check my ground references. It doesn't have to be so drastic, but those types really like it when you are aggressive with these poor little underpowered planes. +2
He flew the recovery back to Vance, and I took it from the entry point to the pattern. My first pattern back in was too close and I overshot the runway but was able to correct quickly and I got two clicks on the radio from the RSU. + 1/2
He flew a pattern, and then we had to go around the outside pattern for spacing. Here's the really exciting part: When he pulled up into outside downwind we pulled right into someone who was already established. I mean we pretty much rejoined on them. I have never been so scared in the plane. I am NOT form qualified, and formation flying when you least expect it is NOT COOL. We both just about pissed our pants, he broke out, and then he gave me back the plane to land. Landing went great, but don't really remember the rest because I was still seeing stars from our near-midair collision.
By the time we got back to the parachute shop, I was pretty sure I had failed the check. I just didn't feel like it was my best flying and could only think of the things that didn't go well. But I chanted "Don't grade yourself" over and over to myself back to check flight and kept a positive mentality through the emergency procedure and general knowledge questions, mostly in hope that he would have pitty on me and pass me at the last minute.
In the end, it was a great flight and I got an Excellent, one of 3 in my flight for mid-phase. And it also turned out that the guy we rejoined on was one of my IPs, who figured I was flying (it <i>was</i> my checkride) and assumed I had hooked right then and there. So everyone was surprised when I came back all smiles and full of stories.
So that's what a UPT mid-phase check is like. <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
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