The Student Pilot Cast (mp3)

Latest Episodes:

Solo1 — **SPC #006-Look, Ma. No Instructor!** May 19, 2008
Show notes

In this episode we catch up in my training through my phase 1 phase check, a change of my CFI, and of course, my first solo. This is a big episode, and includes an event that I will always remember. I’m including a couple of pictures from the big event that I asked my instructor to take.

This is just seconds before my first ever touchdown as PIC.

This one is on rollout for my full stop/taxi back. See, I’m alone.

This is after my three landings back at the ramp. That’s a happy pilot.

I hope you enjoy the episode. Thanks for listening, and please give me any feedback by clicking on the “contact” link on the top/right of the homepage.

SPC #005-Coyote Ugly May 09, 2008

Show notes

Another episode in the cast is released! In Episode 5 I start to include much more in cockpit audio, by popular demand. This makes the cast a bit longer than usual, so I hope you don’t mind. We cover several lessons, up to but not including my Phase 1 Stage Check.

There’s a couple of interesting tidbits, and some good information on some changes in my training…or at least my trainer. As for the title, you’ll have to listen to find out.

I mentioned an accident that happened here locally in this episode, and promised to post a link to the NTSB preliminary report. The fatal crash referenced is here. I mentioned a previous accident from which the student pilot and CFI walked away. That link is here.

Thanks for listening. Please leave feedback or click “contact” in the upper right corner of this page to send me an email.

**SPC #004-Grooving with 6.6 Hours** Apr 23, 2008
Show notes

In episode 4 we talk about the continuation of training after my vacation, some things my wife and I saw in Seattle. We also cover recording in cockpit, landings, and where I’m at with training. I’ve got 6.6 hours now.

I apologize for the long delay of over two weeks, but I was on vacation, and then work had me slammed. My wife and I went to Seattle, and I wanted to include a couple of pics from that…some of this is discussed in this episode.

First, one of my favorites. Look at the little guy in front of the brand new 777 before a test flight out of Paine Field. The scary thing is…compared to what I’m flying, that little plane is big…and in this photo is a good 300 feet or so closer to the camera, so its really even smaller than it looks relative to the jumbo.

Here is the same 777 on its takeoff roll, and lifting off.

Here is a giant freighter being loaded…that was quite a site.

And a nice shot of the Seattle skyline from the water.

Thanks for listening. Please leave feedback or click “contact” in the upper right corner of this page to send me an email.

SPC #003-The First Week Apr 06, 2008

Show notes

In episode 3 we talk about my first week of training. Two flights and some ground work. I’ve got 2.2 hours, and two more flights this week before I have to go out of town. I also talk abou a B-17 that came to our local airport.

Thanks for listening. Please leave feedback or click “contact” in the upper right corner of this page to send me an email.

SPC #002-Where to Spend your Kids’ College Fund Mar 30, 2008

Show notes

…or, How to Choose a Flight School or CFI

Okay, on to the second episode. Its been over ten days since my last episode because I had a snag starting my training. Because the school I chose was so busy, I had some scheduling issues, but we’ve worked those out, and I have my first lesson tomorrow. So before I formally start my training, I wanted to do an episode on how I chose my flight school, and what criteria I used. This is that episode.

I mentioned in episode 002 several of the sources of information that I used to develop my criteria for selecting a school, and some of those are listed here. First, two podcasts were very influential…and those were the Finer Points, by Jason Miller, and the CFICast, produced by the PilotCast guys (which unfortunately doesn’t seem to work well with at least the latest version of Internet Explorer, but the link directly to the feed is here). Also, the AOPA forums were helpful as well.

Once again, music in this episode is from Uncle Seth.

Enjoy…and please leave feedback as comments on this episode, or click “contact” above to send me an email.

SPC #001-The First Flight Mar 20, 2008

Show notes

Here it is…the first real episode…you know, with planes involved. Listen to a bit of our first flight, some funny stuff from my friend, Trent, and more.

As promised in the audio, here are the links to another show from the student’s perspective, the Student Pilot Flight PodLog by Will Hawkins. And here is his latest efforts, since becoming a pilot, the Pilot’s Flight PodLog.

Again, music in this episode is from Uncle Seth.

Enjoy…and please leave feedback as comments on this post, or click “contact” above to send me an email.

SPC #000-Kickin’ it Off Mar 12, 2008

Show notes

This is the first episode in the endeavors of a regular guy getting his private pilot certificate. I’m starting flight training next week, and I’ve decided to chronicle this thing for the enjoyment of anyone who cares…and me. Take a listen to the introduction, Episode Zero.

Music for this episode is provided by Uncle Seth.