Well, the countdown officially begins!

I have a BIG checkride in seven days (less than now!).  Next Tuesday I will be going after my initial Instructor rating.  And on top of that, I am doing it in a Multi-Engine airplane!

From those that have gone before me, I hear it can be a pretty intense checkride...possibly even the hardest out of all of 'em!  One of our last students had a 4 1/2-hour oral exam.  And then he had to fly the airplane!!!

How about that for encouraging news?!  ha!

So the days are spent reading books, trying to explain things to yourself, and trying to pretend like you are explaining things to others (like an instructor).  I have had days in the past (most notably before my last written...the Commercial one) where I didn't have anymore room in my brain.  It was seriously full.  It couldn't take anymore!  Just when I think I get an upper hand, I read about something else that is going to be on the test.  It's ridiculous!!!  You seriously have to know EVERYTHING!!!

But as the days go on, you do learn a bit more here and there.  And I am feeling more and more capable each day (though not at all arrogant...this test still scares...well, not really scares...hmm...I just have a VERY healthy deal of respect for this test.  It's kind of like flying an airplane.  I'm not scared of 'em, but I respect 'em.).  It's the same with this test.  I cannot and will not take it lightly!

I've been reading more than I have since I've been here.  I've had to go back to some basics to make sure that I even understand the basics of flight (everything goes back to the simple stuff when it comes down to it).  But hear me, I'm not sayin' this stuff is simple by any means!  It's just that the most complex of maneuvers are all grounded in the basic theories of flight.  A Vmc demonstration deals with airflow over a wing, stalls, directional stability, etc.  So it's comlex...but it's simple, too!

But today was a good day.  I've had some more downtime as of late (we had rain all day today), so I've been able to read, take some breaks, read some more, take a break, and read some more.  It's been nice that way.

I even gave a couple of tours today here at the airport.  We had a group of about 20 lil' rugrats earlier today, and no one else here likes giving tours, so I jump at the opportunity!  I've learned that most people have a fascination with airplanes...it's kind of neat!  (I've also learned that some do not, and no matter what you do, they really don't care about what you're talking about!  I don't get it!).

And then this afternoon, we had some older kids come out.  And that is fun, too.  You can change the tour around a bit but still keep 'em interested.  Weather, how an airplane flies, fun/intense experiences...it's usually well-received!  I really enjoy that part of flying.

But seven days!!!  Agggh!!!  It's goin' to be a wild ride.  I'm learning more about hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning, airspaces, regulations, airplane systems, aerodynamic flight principles, middle ear and sinus infections, weather, and you name it than I care to share!!!  The days of just reading over something because you knew you "didn't have to know it" are looong gone!  I am responsible for just about every word on my thousands of pages of books I have!

But it's pretty fun stuff, too.  Not fun in terms of let's go 4x4in' fun.  More fun in terms of, "Hey, I'm becomin' a better and more proficient pilot the more I learn about this fun."  It's sick, I know.

But the days are winding down!  I find myself thinking about the days ahead (and it's hard not to!), and where I'll be, and who I'll be teaching, and how much money I will or will not be making!  But I also find myself thinking about nothing else than next Tuesday.  I am now down to less than a week!

What am I doing typing on this computer?!  yikes!  I should be studying!