100 Hours!

Today, a friend and I flew to Ryan Field (KRYN) in Tucson for breakfast. The flying was great. One thing that was significant about my flight was that I now have over 100 hours as a pilot. Since I started flying last December, I have accumulated over 100 flight hours. I really don’t think there is any significance to this fact other than it was sort of a personal milestone. In my honest opinion, I’m always going to be a “low-time” pilot because there will always be people with more hours.

There was a low pressure system coming in from California and there were high cirrus clouds at FL250 but visibility was greater than 10 miles and winds were light and variable. The air was smooth and the temperature was right around 60 degrees at altitude. Not much to note about the flight except that my friend with whom I flew was also a pilot.

There is something funny about flying with other pilots – other than flying with a CFI or DPE, flying with pilot in your right seat is always nerve-racking. It probably keeps me on my toes to an extent; but, I feel like all of my actions are being scrutinized. Unfortunately for my fragile ego, there is no VASI or PAPI on RWY 6L at KRYN - my approach was high and subsequent arrival (not necessarily a landing) was firm (at least, that was the excuse I made for the arrival). My pilot passenger was politely quiet as we taxied to the restaurant.

I know that the times when I’ve ridden shotgun in some of my friends’ planes I compare their actions to my own –whether it’s the way they pre-flight, run-up, when they put the flaps in, how wide they fly in the pattern, their radio technique, etc. Maybe it’s a case of, “what goes around, comes around.” Maybe it’s paranoid. Anyhow, it doesn’t detract from the experience of flying. Lest I forget that there are few people in this great country who have earned the privilege of being a pilot.

Wisdom from a 100-hour pilot.

Flight time: 2.0

Total time: 101.6