My Aviators - My Journey as a Woman Pilot

So I woke up this morning and the sun was shining for the first time in like 10 days. I did a quick calculation and figured that I haven't been flying for 20 days and decided that I would take advantage of this nice day!

I worked my butt off this morning so that I could take off some time this afternoon. When 12:00pm rolled around and the sun was still out, the TAF was good, it has me clear until 4pm then overcast at 8000ft, I decided I should go.

I worked up a quick route. I have been trying to land at new/different airports to get some experience in navigation, finding new places and landing in different conditions (smaller runways etc). I found KSFY wasn't too far out, I could fly up the Mississippi which I have been wanting to do and it was a relatively small runway 4000ft x 75ft.

I called up the FBO and they had a plane available at 1:30 so I jumped at the chance. I grabbed my flight bag and headed to the airport.

When I arrived I was super pumped! Then the plane wouldn't start :( Not a new occurrence given the planes are pretty old and it is still nice and cold here in the midwest. This is the first time that I have not been able to get her going at all. Dan (assistant manager) came out and taught me to intentionally flood the plane and start her from a flooded state. His commentary while doing this was very helpful, I once again learned some things about the plane. Anyway it started, he jumped out, and off I went.

I headed to the east and was going to fly around 3500 since KSFY had ceilings predicted around 4000 as the afternoon went on. Well 3500 was hazy and skt so I climbed a bit, still hazy and skt so I dodged some clouds and rode in a bit of turbulence while I took in the scenery. No big deal. I flew over KSFY at 3500 and then flew to the east a bit while I descended down and made some radio calls that I was coming it on 13. This was a pretty cool approach because you come in over the frozen Mississippi, I imagine you might get some interesting up/down drafts sometimes. Landing was decent, I came in a bit high and fast but it was a solid landing. A quick back taxi and I was ready to depart again.

Once I was up the ceiling seemed kinda low so I checked the weather and it was reported at 3200, I hung out at 2500 and flew to the south west, I was out of the weather in a few minutes and I climbed up to 4500 for the rest of the trip to davenport. Davenport had a busy pattern, 3 planes plus me. I jumped in the downwind for 33 when I saw an opening and made a touch and go, I was high and fast again (damn it) but it was another solid landing. I made one more trip around the pattern to try and get the high and fast thing taken care of. My final landing was a bit off the center line but it was a good one and I was finally on the glide slope.

Glad I went out and knocked some rust off. Got in 1.3hrs and I can't wait to go again!