Private Pilot check ride took 2 days

4/23/05 Good news and bad news about my Private Pilot check ride today.

First, the bad news…. I hate ST. LOUIS WEATHER!! I could not fly as planned. Or, I should say I made the assertive, confident, safe and executive decision to decline flying on 4/23/05. Using all my learned skills in evaluating weather, I pulled aside the enormous bags under my eyes caused by lack of sleep from studying/worrying/chair flying, then, glared out the window and sighed, “Nope…. It ain’t gonna happen, again.” My wise decision was confirmed a good one by coded and decoded reports printed out in the quantity equivalent to two large oak trees. Clouds were copious and low, winds were – 18 kts w/gusts to 27 kts (headwinds or not, here’s a visual…. S-turns: beginning maneuver in Missouri, leveling out nicely through Iowa, completing the maneuver in Michigan and with precision), light rain…. Need I say more?

Second, the good news…. I PASSED THE ORAL portion of the Practical!!!!!! I’m half way there! Boo-yah! Who-ah! Hal-a-loo-yah! Hot Damn! And all that….. I didn’t realize the examiner was finished questioning me until he said, “Well, I’ve heard enough, you passed.” On the verge of seizuring from excitement, I through up my hands with joy and belted out YES!….. I’m so happy THAT’S over…… I think I startled the examiner a tad. I must say, the octave of my voice was a bit startling to me, too. Anyway, I immediately called everyone listed in my cell phone to spread the news while driving home.

05/04/05 I passed the flight portion of my Private Pilot exam. A temporary license was issued until I received the real thing in the mail. I'll never forget those 2 days.