Practicing Turns Around a Chicken House

Yesterday ....more checkride practice. My mission included slow flight (60 kts) with gentle turns, cruise speed steep (45 degree banked) turns, and turns about a point. In this case my "point" was a chicken house and a stock pond. It's amazing to load your GPS track log into Google Earth (after flying of course!) and zoom in the same stock pond you flew around! While the photo shown here doesn't have the resolution to see the pond or the chicken house they are in fact visible when you zoom-in using Google Earth. Pretty amazing! This is a flying feature that did not exist ten years ago. In the photo shown I came in from the NW (from Bergstrom) and departed to the SW on my way to Lockhart. In the pattern at Lockhart, TX (50R) I did three simulated "engine outs" from the 180 degree point on the downwind leg. They were too easy! I must try this again when the winds are less favorable. My rule is: "never get cocky because you did something well one day while flying"....variables could be different next time. The best way to be safe is to have a vivid imagination about what can happen....that...in turn... will make you think about what you are doing. OK...that's it for this entry....just wanted to share the Google Earth/GPS experience with you. (click on the image for a more detailed view)

-Charlie