Since receiving my ticket, here's what I've done:

• Diamond DA-40 checkout with CFI3
  
• Cessna 172 checkout with CFI1
  
• Demo a Cirrus SR-22 turbo (wow)
  
• Signup for for multi-engine training with a new CFI at Lebanon (M54)
  
• First passenger
  
  
  Some quick notes.
  
  The DA40 is a very cool airplane. It's very similar to the DA20s I trained in, but the constant speed prop throws enough unfamiliarity at me that I'll want some more practice in it before delving off into the dark waters of solo XC.
  
  The Cessna 172 is a right of passage. How many pilots do you know that are truly uncomfortable in one? Well, off the top of my head, I can only name one: me.
  
  My checkout with CFI1 went well, but I'm in no way competent in the airplane. I not only won't be taking up passengers in one yet, I am hesitant to go up by myself in one. The theory is actually exactly the same as my DA20 trainers. It's the application and mechanics that could break these surly bonds.
  
  I flew a 2007 Cirrus SR22 Turbo from Shelbyville (KSYI) to Smyrna (KMQY). That thing is a damned rocket ship. If my landing hadn't been so bad, I might have said we teleported. I offered the guy 215k for it on the spot, but he was playing hardball. Something about wanting to keep his job. I think I'll eventually prevail.
  
  Multi-training... expect some fine writeups out of this. I'm scared out of my damned mind about it. I had night terrors last night after reading about the Vmc demo. If you screw that up, you spin and you die. Here's a quote from the Airplane Flying Handbook about it:
  
  "Stall-spin accidents in training for emergencies rival the number of stall-spin accidents from actual emergencies."
  
  Not much grey area there. Still, I'll be training in a Seminole, which is supposed to be fairly docile. Of all the words used to describe airplanes, "docile" is one of my favorites.
  
  First passenger deserves its own writeup... will probably get to that this weekend.
  
  

  Tags: c172, cirrus, multi