Intro training flight

[JoshK-AZ-209]

Just wanted to catch you up Ken.

I went today to the phoenix/mesa campus to do my interview/intro flight. It was awesome! We flew the seminole, I took all controls, and he did the radios. It was so much fun, I wasn't as rusty as I thought, and the twin wasn't as complex(to fly) as I expected.

I showed up, he greeted me when I got there, we filled out some paperwork, he took copies and scanned by pilot cert. and medical, and last page of my logbook, and then we headed out to the airplane and did the preflight.

Finished the preflight, we hopped in and started it up. He ran the radios(thank goodness) and I taxied. Performed the run-up, all was well, he got clearance and I took off, it was wonderful! The yoke feels much heavier than a cessna, but it flies like a heavy bonanza. It's fun having the extra power!! I did some steep turns, he showed me an ATP stall, I replicated, and then we went back in to land. I flew the whole way to the ground, he was super impressed with my landing (quite smooth I guess, beginners luck!) and I taxied to parking! We shut down and tied the airplane up and headed inside for a chat and a quiz!

The 25 question quiz had some tough ones. I was glad I spent some time in my Gliem books the last couple days. 88% and I was more than happy with that. The oral questions went well. Not my finest moments, but I talked my way through most of them. I hit the important parts with some guiding... Took right at 2 hours, which flew by!!

Now I am waiting for money and hopefully I will have information on that next week. There is now worry about getting it, it's just when they will dispurse it. Can't wait to put my down payment through and start on the books!!

Thanks for all your answers ken! Hope all is well!

Josh Kappes

[Republic Airlines Ken]

Josh,

Sounds like a really good experience! The opportunity to hop in the Seminole for an intro flight is relatively new, and the first time up is definitely an eye opener in many ways. To me it seemed both very similar and very different than a Cessna at the same time - a much more substantial plane - faster, less knocked around by bumps... and you've got to stay ahead of it a little bit more - but I think it's more rewarding to fly as well. I've never been in a Bonanza, so I don't know how it would compare (though I'd love to hop up in one sometime).

Keep me posted!