Author Archives: Colin Summers

Unknown's avatar

About Colin Summers

I am an architect, programmer, private pilot, husband and father. A couple of those I am good at.

The Art of Flying

Posted on December 12, 2006 by Colin Summers

It was time for another visit to the Castle site, so I scheduled another milk run for Thursday. My friend Art was available, and since he is training for his IFR it was a good opportunity to spend some time … Continue reading →

Posted in Flight, Just Words, Trip | Tagged | Comments Off on The Art of Flying

Out of the Killing Zone

Posted on November 28, 2006 by Colin Summers

I’ve been watching my logbook total hours for the past couple weeks, just waiting for this to happen. I finally passed the three hundred fifty hour mark. That’s critical. There’s a book called “The Killing Zone” which is an examination … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on Out of the Killing Zone

Over to you, Otto

Posted on November 21, 2006 by Colin Summers

That’s my lap as I fly from Oxnard (OXR) back to Santa Monica (SMO). I took off through a thin layer of clouds. On my right knee is my miniZ kneeboard (from ZuluWorks), where I have copied my clearance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on Over to you, Otto

A Look from the Outside

Posted on October 29, 2006 by Colin Summers

If you click on that it should get larger. That’s me in the plane at Paso Robles, about to fire up the engine to go out for my instrument check ride. The designated examiner is sitting next to me. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on A Look from the Outside

Cleared for the Clouds

Posted on October 25, 2006 by Colin Summers

I wasn’t sure if it was worth paying my CFII to accompany me up to the check ride. I went back and forth about it. The check ride was schedule for Tuesday, October 24 at 11am. It was going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Flight, Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on Cleared for the Clouds

Yankee Flyer

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Colin Summers

On the eve of my instrument check ride, I will write about yet another VFR rated pilot flying in marginal weather conditions. With a little luck (and all my hard work since April) tomorrow evening I will no longer be … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on Yankee Flyer

Most Exciting Lesson Ever

Posted on October 7, 2006 by Colin Summers

Previously, the most exciting thing that happened during a lesson is when the wind picked up the tail of the Cherokee while I was starting my flare for landing. If my instructor had not been in the right seat, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Flight, Training, Trip | Tagged | Comments Off on Most Exciting Lesson Ever

More Progress

Posted on October 6, 2006 by Colin Summers

There are just a couple things left to do to get my instrument rating. Today I completed my IFR cross country flight. It had to be at least two hundred fifty nautical miles, have three different kinds of approaches, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Flight, Just Words, Training | Tagged | Comments Off on More Progress

One Step Closer

Posted on September 29, 2006 by Colin Summers

It isn’t really the surly bonds of earth that bother me anymore, it’s the damn clouds. More specifically, the clouds which cover airports and keep the airplanes on the ground. It doesn’t keep all the airplanes on the ground, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on One Step Closer

New Passenger!

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Colin Summers

Adam hasn’t written into the blog in a while, but he has good reason. This is Eleanor Elektra Lehman, his daughter. She already has a headset (well, earmuffs), and has already flown across the continent. In a couple weeks she’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Words | Tagged | Comments Off on New Passenger!