Lakeshore Flight--Too Easy!

My second flight with Chris was probably too easy and probably a waste of money...but I loved it all the same. After my flight the day before, I could go for easy.

We decided to fly South down the lakeshore and to the city. This was a tricky undertaking because O'Hare takes up a huge amount of airspace at low altitudes and because there was a Cubs game going on. For some reason the FAA doesn't want us "loitering" around Wrigley as if we are the GoodYear Blimp and O'Hare wouldn't think too highly of us in their space. So we cruised over the lake taking care to not piss anyone off. "Please just keep me below 1900 for the first part," Chris said.

I remember how much you wanted a transponder and now I understand why. In Lander, it's pretty much free range...keep your eye out for others and "Squawk" to let people know you're there. In any other area where there is any sort of traffic it's important to listen to what's going on and communicate with nearby ATC. Even for uncontrolled airports it's good to get on their frequency in case anyone is in the pattern. I guess this was an integral part of you being able to make your trips to Casper and Denver. I'm awful on the radio but that's a story for another time.

As we flew down the shore I was just in awe of what an incredible view we had. The top of the Hancock tower had nothing on us. The weather was perfect, the lake was blue green and the skyline was clear. Oh how I wanted to tell you about it. I'm not sure Chris and I said much to eachother. We were too busy taking in the view. The key aspect of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) is to be looking outside most of the time and checking instruments only a small portion of the time. Let's say look out for 15 seconds, check instruments for 5 seconds. On days like today it was easy.

We flew past Meigs, a since closed airfield, that is right on the lakefront near the city. It now houses some of Chicago's attractions but I'm sure you would have known about it when I brought it up. What a cool place to land, right on the lake!

Chris decided to break the zone and push me a little bit. He had requested an altitude of 2600, I was holding at 2700 feet. "I wouldn't normally say anything but you are doing a great job of holding altitude and if you can hold at 100+ you can hold at 0". Yes, sir.

We had struggled through that conversation because I couldn't hear Chris very well, which brings me to my next point.

I also remember how much you wanted your BOSE headset. I'd always known the great quality of BOSE but I'm not sure I really appreciated what a difference it makes. I have been using some of the ones they lend at Windy City...and let me tell ya, I took a punishing. I couldn't hear a word that Chris was saying and the darn thing was digging into my lumpy head. When you're trying to avoid upsetting ATC at O'Hare, this can become an issue. I'm sure you have gone through the same experience and I can guarantee you I will soon be getting a headset that doesn't leave a mark.

The time passed too quickly and it was time to land. As we were on final approach Chris began with "You see those four lights down there next to the runway...". I couldn't help myself I said "yeah, that's the glideslope indicator, looks like we're coming in too high". Chris looked at me in surprise, and I, in turn, was probably looking at him in surprise. I wasn't sure where that came from. And then I remembered...

...We took a couple of night flights and on one of those we did a few "touch-n-gos" at the Riverton airport. This is where we first talked about the glideslope indicator. "You see those lights, we're looking for one to be white and one to be red and then we know that we're coming in just right". Of course I never got to see the alternative because your approach and landing was perfect. That night I know we talked a lot about IFR flights and I only hope some of those tricks of the trade will come to me as my pursuit of flight progresses.

As we landed I also remember you telling me something shortly after I told you I was going to take lessons. I found the email so I will quote you directly:

"also, not to be gender-biased...but i found female students more fun
to teach because they didn't have that testosterone impulse to act
like they knew more than they did. and you have a head start although
you don't realize it yet."

I guess I really had absorbed more than I ever thought and am ever so grateful that I had a head start. I'm not sure I'd be able to do what I'm doing without your help. Thank you.


SIDENOTE: One of Chris's comments in our time together and during a discussion about airspace "Man, now that Obama is President he messes up everything!" I know we would have had a laugh about this because we definitely had discussions about air space when the President is anywhere on the...planet basically. I know you wouldn't have minded re-routing for Obama.