Instrument flying

Last year, I started learning how to fly on instruments a while back in San Diego and it has been very challenging! First you have to learn the book knowledge and pass an FAA written exam. Then you need at least 50 hours of cross country PIC time after you passed your private pilot rating. I flew to Oregon and back with my dad to build time after completing my private pilot training. Some tips:

Learn to master the trim wheel! Learn how to quickly trim and retrim in climbs, descents, turns and straight and level. You need that without a good auto pilot to quickly handle approaches, holds and other maneuvers without blowing your heading and altitude talking with ATC.

Train in the plane you eventually will fly the most. Each aircraft is different in terms of ideal cruise and approach speeds. Fixed gear versus complex retract aircraft handle things different in the cruise, climb, approach, descent, and pre landing (GUMPS) procedures.

Find a good instructor who will get you actual time in IMC. Sad to say that many instrument rating students never get their experience ever flying in real clouds during training. Fortunately, I've been getting real actual IMC experience in my training. I realized wear sunglasses as the inside of clouds are BRIGHT and can easily disorient you.

So far flying instruments on IFR is like juggle balls, chew bubble gum and jump rope at same time.

Scuba BVI part 3

Go Pro Hero 3+ camera is amazing quality! Light and easy to use. Better than heavy massive dive gear camera rig I have used before.

These are the plane wreck dive I went on in 2013 vacation  in the lovely BVI in Caribbean

I also have many videos on my youtube channel of the trip below:

BVI Scuba Diving Video

BVI Scuba and Sailing Photos from 2013

Used GoPro Hero 3+ Camera

Now here lion fish

Last but not least some awesome videos I took with Go Pro Hero 3+

Diving in the BVI

Scuba BVI

Some photos of BVI sailing and scuba diving trip from 2013

Crusty sea dog instructor I had from Offshore Sailing in BVI. Wrote a book on sailing jokes.

 Diving wrecks in the BVI

Flying to SBA

Today I had a great flight from MYF to SBA using the VFR flight corridors to simplify navigation and communication with ATC in busy SoCal airspace. Since most of the Plus One Flyers aircraft were rented due to the long Thanksgiving holiday, I rented one of the GPS equipped Cessna Cutlass 172RG aircraft for the flight to SBA from MYF. It was not that much more to rent and 10 knots faster than a base 172 so time saved worth it. Plus I wanted to get some instrument training on a complex retract aircraft. Anyways,  I flew the Coastal Route after contacting SoCal approach near OCN on 134.2 and getting my squawk code and clearance. Flew the majority of the flight at 6500' VFR and gorgeous scenery over the coast. I navigated from MYF to OCN VOR to work on my instrument skills. The waypoint near LAX is the Vincent Thomas Bridge (VPLVT) as shown below which we flew abeam then proceed outbound on the LAX VOR 113.6 which I had dialed into the first VOR and flew outbound on the 323 Radial for LAX until past LAX Bravo airspace. ATC gave me a new altitude of 4500' to remain clear of the jets flying into and out of LAX.

The view of Newport harbor is incredible!

Pictures do not do justice to the amazing scenic coastal route!

Once past LAX, I navigated past Pt. Mugu airbase shown below:

En route to Ventura, I flew to the VTU station after dialing in the second VOR to 108.2

Once closer to SBA airport, I received a left base to 15L runway.

Landing was easy and after landing the friendly folks at Atlantic FBO came out to greet us and help us tie down the plane then gave us a ride into town for lunch in their nice SUV Limo. The airport was super crowded with jets and tons of planes!

Since it was the end of Thanksgiving long holiday weekend parking was challenging and tons of private jets at SBA. I had a tasty seafood lunch at the nearby Beachside Cafe which is highly recommended with ocean front views.

The clam chowder, seafood specials and ahi tuna sandwich were particular delicious. Friendly service and walking distance from the airport a major plus. On the return flight, I flew under the hood on an IFR flight plan after receiving my IFR clearance which was great experience toward my instrument rating. When all was said and done the total flight round trip from MYF to SBA and back home to MYF took 4.2 hours. Not the fastest but definitely way less time than driving from San Diego to Santa Barbara and back and far less stressful!