Passed my private pilot checkride last weekend.

[Kalahnikid]

I did all my learning in my parents Citabria, its been almost two years since I started but I finally got it all done. The checkride was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, the DPE was thrilled to do it in a tailwheel.


After I got back I did a uh....go around/aborted landing....yeah...thats it.


Group photo of the three tailwheel pilot family.

*Jody, I know you're going to read this and I want to let you know this is pretty much all your fault. Its been over 3 years since you gave me a ride in your champ but I still remember it really well. Thanks!

(Ok, you can now return to your regularly scheduled programing of grouchy old men talking about cool old airplanes and young whippersnappers that are more concerned about panel mounted computers in their damn airplanes rather than good old fashioned pilotage.)

[joea]

Congrats and glad to see it!

Joe A

[Al Hatz]

Excellent, congratulations.

[SFC Hiatt]

That's great, now see how many times you can spin it.

Congrats!

[Nathan K. Hammond]

After I got back I did a uh....go around/aborted landing....yeah...thats it.

Victory Laps are well deserved. Great Job!

nkh

[Kalahnikid]

Thank you gentleman.

[Kif]

Way to go Ryan! You, your mom and your dad will be one of the first ones to go up in the Champ when it's done. Can't wait for that.

[Captgrumps]

Congratulations Ryan--I know your mother did it all.. Dave you sold the airplane...Come see us..

Doug, Bonnie & Nathan

[Rick Hadley]

After I got back I did a uh....go around/aborted landing....yeah...thats it.

Better on the way back than during the checkride. Many years ago, I did a go around on my short-field landing during the checkride and figured I'd blown it right there, but the examiner passed me anyway. When he signed me off he said..".You're safe...not smooth, but safe."

[Kalahnikid]

Way to go Ryan! You, your mom and your dad will be one of the first ones to go up in the Champ when it's done. Can't wait for that.

Me too. By the way, something has come up. Would you be willing to sell that Continental that was on it when you bought it?

Congratulations Ryan--I know your mother did it all.. Dave you sold the airplane...Come see us..

Doug, Bonnie & Nathan

Thank you! Id love to get down there and see the restoration shop sometime.

Better on the way back than during the checkride. Many years ago, I did a go around on my short-field landing during the checkride and figured I'd blown it right there, but the examiner passed me anyway. When he signed me off he said..".You're safe...not smooth, but safe."

Apparently according to the PTS a student is supposed to demonstrate a go around to the DPE and I had been prepped for that. I figured I would demonstrate one whenever it wasnt looking good on final, but I greased them all on (wont lie, might have got lucky at least once.) We were rolling out from my short field landing and I thought we still had more to do when the examiner patted me on the shoulder and said "as long as you dont screw up from here back to my office you pass"

I didnt argue and I didnt screw up.

[David Johnson]

Ryan, we are proud of you! Keep learning and having FUN. We can tell you have the fever. The old airplane community needs more of this. David J.

PS: Nice Airplane!

[Ed Clark]

Congratulations Ryan! Never to young or old to learn, especially flying!

Enjoy.

[drjeff]

way to go Ryan! you the man......

[Kalahnikid]

The old airplane community needs more of this. David J.

PS: Nice Airplane!

Thats why I think its important to take people for rides if possible, old airplanes are just easy to fall in love with. Most people dont have any exposure to them though. My CFI bought a Champ last year and has been doing LSA/TW endorsements/ and primary training in it and everyone Ive talked to has absolutely fallen in love with it.

Oh an I took someone for a ride yesterday for the first time. It was fun but felt kind of weird. Also I made three landings yesterday. Two were perfect greasers and one I flared kinda high and bounced. Guess which one I happened to be carrying a passenger on?