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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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I passed my instrument check ride about a year ago. I had nearly 30 hours under the hood before
going into real clouds. The first time I went into the clouds, it was turbulent and since I had
always had my "foggles" on, I felt weird without them. Let me tell you from personal experience.
If my instructor was not with me that first time, I would have been killed.
There is a huge difference between foggles and the real thing. I started to feel vertigo and then
sick. That little bit of perifial vision does more than you know. I have nearly 400 hours and
that was the first time I ever felt sick flying. It was certainly not the most severe turbulence
I had ever experienced either. I had to make a concentrated effort to concentrate on the
instruments NO MATTER WHAT. My instructor told me to put my foggles back on even though I was in
IMC, and I instantly felt better.
My best advice is this: no matter how many hours you have or if even you are already instrument
rated, if you don't feel up to your own standards, don't go in real IMC. Use your common sense
and take a qualified CFII. My other place of caution is flying over water. Even flying here over
Lake Ontario under the hood, just over the shore line can make you experience spatial
disorientation. Just remember this key. Concentrate on the instruments and believe them!!! Make
yourself comfortable knowing that the instruments are telling you the truth and don't believe your
body. Practice partial panel ALOT so you won't panic under any circumstances.
By the way, once, while flying with my instructor, I was in real IMC and on the glideslope. I
flew right down to the decision height but since I was concentrating so much on the instruments, I
forgot to look outside and see if I could see the runway (environment, lights, etc)- BIG NO NO.
Basically, you have to balance so many things at once. It takes practice and when you can do it,
you'll know that you have some of the best training under your belt that you will ever have. I
hated my instrument rating but I'm so glad I did it and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Now, I
have learned that IMC is a part of life. One last caution: ICE. In upstate NY, we get ice. You
have to be aware of this danger and avoid it. Yes, this means you will have to look out the
window once in awhile, but don't let that overrule the trust in your instruments.
I wish you all safe and happy flying always.
Matt Reeves
Rochester, NY
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LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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