Hey, everyone, thanks for the comments you're all leaving! I'll definitely try not to give my examiner a heart attack. As for his age (86) he apparently is a rediculously skilled pilot even at his age. I won't go into great detail about all the stories I've heard of him giving the other ATP students checkrides but the one feat everyone knows about and mentions is that he seems to be the only pilot anyone here knows of that has successfully pulled a twin engine aircraft out of a flat spin.
For those of you who don't know, a flat spin is when the aircraft will fall vertically straight down to the earth but with wings level and spinning about the aircraft's center of gravity. This situation in most any airplane is difficult to get out of but especially in a twin engine. Anyways, I'm looking forward to meeting him and hopefully things will go smoothly tomorrow.
I'll be flying the first leg of the flight tomorrow morning from the ATP location in Atanta KLZU to Huntsville Alabama KMDQ where the examiner is located. That reminds me I need my $350 cash he wants before he starts grilling me with systems and aerodynamic questions. Yeah that's right... 86 yrs old and collecting $350 cash twice a day for 6 days a week for most of the year... you do the math...
Man I wish I was an examiner super pilot.
I'll let you all know if I'm a freshly minted Multi-Engine pilot some time tomorrow night when I get back into town here in Atlanta.
Wish me luck.
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Good Luck Tomorrow!! Give'em Hell!!
ReplyDeleteM Sr.
I was kind of peeved because I had not been mentioned, however, I now after reading all your blog postings I realize that you have been busy 25/8. You will be a terrific pilot a la SULLY. Love- Lela
ReplyDeleteGood luck Mark!! I'm sure you'll do fine. One of my examiners while at ATP was somewhere in the late 80s - 90s age range. Really nice guy, but it was commonly known that you were well advised to bring him donuts for the checkride. That seemed to set things on the right track! The guy seemed as fragile as could be but he was an amazing pilot and a treasure chest of aviation info too.
ReplyDeleteYour instrument training is right around the corner so those tests you did will come in handy! Stand by for enough time in the frasca to make you go crosseyed!
Ken O.