End of phase 1

This is the last week of phase 1. We will still have some academics in phase II, but the focus will shift to more flying. Since I last wrote we've had 2 tests, I missed 2 on the first one and 3 today. I'm happy with those scores, both of them had a question everybody missed that they should've thrown out, but whatcha gonna do. Both of the tests (Flying fundamentals and Contact) are covering material directly related to flying: rotation (takeoff) speeds/configuration, how to recover from a stall, spin, inverted, nose-high, nose-low attitudes, how to plan your training mission to conserve energy.

This is all being reinforced with simulator training. You treat it just like a flight with a 1 hour prebrief, 1.3 hour mission, and a debrief to discuss performance and technique. Its awesome! Its also interesting to self examine my performance in relation to the type of sim instructor I get. I allow myself to be effected WAY too much, by their teaching style, ie positive feedback and corrective instruction.

Another awesome thing is the pity everyone has on me for living in the dorm, even though its I really don't mind. One couple has had myself & another dorm guy over a couple times for a home-cooked meals, and other classmates who live together in houses invite us over when they cook. We get invited over for football games where the wives make wings and cookies for study parties, all the left-overs go to the poor guys in the dorm. Same goes for sunday school with breakfast leftovers, i've had french-toast sticks 4 meals in a row!!!

This week should be relaxed, with all my down time (in theory) spent preparing for actual flight, memorizing departures, power settings, checklists, radio calls. Its really fun preparing for something you actually doing as opposed to lame-o literature.