Category: FMA Solo 2020

Hello again! I finally have another update about my training. Since my last post, I took my first stage check for my Private Pilot course, and I performed very well for where I am at. The stage check consisted of an hour and a half oral test, and then an hour and a half flight review of maneuvers, and procedures specific to Kent State’s guidelines. I did very well on the oral portion of the test, but the weather that day (winds aloft of 30-35kt) made it a bit more difficult to perform all of the maneuvers to my true ability, though I was able to do well. After I completed this stage check, I was able to move onto the next phase of my Private course. I have flown into Akron Canton (KCAK), which is a class C airport, and am practicing for my solo flight to KCAK which will hopefully be able to happen in a few weeks. In addition, I have been able to use foggles to track to a VOR which is a whole new experience in itself. To me, the hardest part about doing simulated instrument training was keeping a constant heading.  I am also preparing to do my first night flight and my first cross-country flight. Unfortunately, the weather has been holding me back because during the winter, Ohio has low cloud cover almost all day. I wish I could have more updates about my progression, but hopefully, I will have more to tell you soon once the weather gets better. 

In addition to my flight training, I have product updates from both Flying Eyes Optics and Sporty’s Pilot Shop. I received sunglasses from Flying Eyes and a new flight bag from Sporty’s. The sunglasses (Golden Eagle Sport) from Flying Eyes are perfect for flying. Unlike most sunglasses that have a glossy or metal finish, these have a matte finish. The matte finish allows the sunglasses to slide with almost no resistance under a headset. These sunglasses were so easy to adjust on my head and on my nose with the adjustable nose piece. They also are advertised to work very well under helmets which I will be testing once the weather gets nice again and I can do some biking again.

In addition to the sunglasses, Sporty’s Pilot Shop sent a new flight bag (Flight Gear HP iPad Quick Case). This flight bag has plenty of room for a headset, sectional charts, pencils, POH, and much more. In addition, it has some pretty cool features. This flight bag has Velcro in the middle which can be pulled apart so you can put it over the seatback of another chair in the cockpit. Overall, both of these products are great and I would recommend them to anyone who needs a new flight bag or pair of sunglasses. 

-Jacob Burdette

As the title says, I soloed! I finally got to fly a plane by myself for the first time after 16 hours of training, and I felt invincible. I will never forget November 21, 2020. The night before, I was concerned if I would even be able to fly the next day because the cloud ceilings were forecasted to be about BKN 015, which is the minimum ceiling to do pattern work at Kent. When I arrived at the airport on 11/21, the ceilings were at 012, which had me worried. Though when I called the weather briefer, they said that they expect the clouds to rise, so it was just a waiting game at that point. Thankfully, the METAR updated before my departure time and said that the ceiling was BKN 019, which meant I could fly! Once we got in the air, we did four landings. The first landing was not my best, I came in a bit low and slow, but my next three landings were much better. So much better that after my fourth landing, when we taxied off the runway my instructor asked me if I felt ready to solo. I asked him if he felt I was ready, and he said that I was ready so I responded that I’m good then. I dropped my instructor off and proceeded to Runway 01. I ran through my TILTS check (Time, Instruments, Lights, Transponder, Seatbelt) before I made the call to depart. “Kent Traffic, Kent 2 departing runway 01, Kent Traffic”. I taxied to the runway and lined up with the centerline and pushed the throttle to full power. Before I knew it, I was flying a plane by myself for the first time. Words can’t describe the feeling of freedom and accomplishment I had and still do when I’m writing this post. After I got to 1700MSL, I made the turn to crosswind and climbed to 2000MSL, turned to downwind, and started preparing myself for landing. Once I hit the midpoint on the runway, carb heat hot and then reducing the throttle, lowering flaps, and pitching for my airspeeds, then as soon as I know it I’m already on my final pulling the throttle to idle and starting my flare. The time finally comes where my wheels are back on the ground and I taxi off the runway to do my after-landing checklist. And that concluded my first solo flight.  I only got to do one landing in the pattern, but I know there is so much more to come in my journey to becoming a pilot. 

I would like to thank The Flying Musicians Association and all of their sponsors for providing me with so much knowledge and materials to help me get started in my aviation journey. I can’t wait to keep everyone updated with my future accomplishments through my private license and beyond. Thank you everyone so much for everything!

Here is a video from the Kent State Marching Golden Flash Halftime show!

https://www.facebook.com/kentstatemgf/videos/356248228999088

Hello again everyone! I just thought I would give everyone an update about my flight training. So far I have completed 6 flight lessons, and one lesson in the simulator. I have been progressing well through my flight training. I could be farther along in my learning, but the constantly changing, unpredictable weather of Northeast Ohio has canceled some of my flights.  So far I have worked on weather briefings, weight and balance, shallow, medium, and steep turns. I have also practiced normal takeoffs and landings, descents and climbs, show flight, gliding, learned all of the corridors and practice areas for Kent, tracking a straight line and correcting for wind, radio communications, minimum controllable airspeed (MCA), ground reference maneuvers, power-off stalls, and lastly, and my favorite part so far, unusual attitude recovery. 

I have enjoyed every minute of the flying. The hour or so I get to spend in the air  feels like its over in just a few minutes. It seems like as soon as I take off and make my way to the practice area, I already have to go back to the pattern and land. So far, all of my training flights have been in the morning. Generally, my flight block is from 8:30-10 in the morning. I had the opportunity to fly at 7 one morning, though, and it was really cool getting to watch the sunrise while flying. I also enjoy seeing all of the patches of fog scattered on the ground. From Kent, I am able to see all the way to downtown Cleveland and even farther over the lake. Days that I’m not flying, my CFI is teaching me a ground school, so all of the knowledge I’ve gained through Sporty’s and my Flight Theory class is being reinforced into my brain. I’m continuously grateful for the opportunity The Flying Musician Association has given me and expect more updates soon!

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know that on September 4, 2020, I had my first flight at Kent State. I just wanted to say I’m sorry in advance because I forgot to take pictures because I was so excited to fly. I got to Kent’s airport (1G3) at 7:45 in the morning for my 8:30 flight. My CFI let me do all of the preflight all by myself. After I did my weather briefing, I calculated the density altitude and figured out what my landing and take-off distances were. After I filled all of that out, I got to head out to my plane. For my Private Pilot course, I will be flying a Cessna 152 most of the time. Once I got to the plane, I disinfected the inside and then started my preflight walk around. After I did this, we had to fill up our fuel tanks which pushed back our departure time. After all of the preflight checklists had been completed, it was finally time to taxi to the runway. 

Once we finally took-off, my CFI showed me the corridors that we have to take to get to the training areas. Once we got to our training area, I practiced shallow/medium banked turn and also climbs and descents while turning. The first flight for me was to get a basic understanding and feeling for the controls. Once we landed, my CFI let me taxi back so I could get a feel for the controls. I kept wanting to use the yoke to turn the plane instead of the rudder.  During this flight, I logged .7 hours of flight time. I plan on coming to the airport on the weekends to fly in addition to my scheduled flight blocks during the week. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to fly and have a group of amazing supporters. I can’t wait to keep everyone updated with my training!

Hello Everyone. Today, August 27th marked my first day of classes at Kent State University. This semester I am taking Kent State’s ground school course along with their private pilot course. My CFI said that we are going to try and fly next week, but the date isn’t completely set yet because of the backlog of students from the spring semester who lost out on flight time due to Covid. I am so excited to start my new journey and take flight in life and I can’t wait to keep everyone updated.

Why I chose Kent State University (KSU). 

Let’s start with the location of Kent State. Kent State is located in Kent, Ohio which is about an hour south of Cleveland. It also is 45 minutes from CLE and 30 minutes from CAK. Since Kent is located in Northeast Ohio, the weather conditions are constantly changing. It can be snowing in the morning and 70° in the afternoon with thunderstorms in the evening. The changing weather will allow me to learn how to fly in any condition so I’m better prepared for the airlines. 

Kent State has the largest fleet out of any collegiate flight program in Ohio with 32 planes. Their fleet consists of 27 single-engine Cessnas (150,152,172R,172S,172SP), 2 Piper Seminoles, and 3 Piper Arrows. Kent State is also retiring some of their 172s and replacing them with brand new ones over the next 5 years. The Kent State airport is owned and operated by Kent State itself and is about 10 minutes from the main campus by car, so very convenient. Kent State owns all of its aircraft and also conducts all of its maintenance. 

Kent State has many accreditations. Kent State is the only aeronautics program in Ohio to be accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International. Kent State also has a restricted ATP, meaning I only need 1000 hours until I can fly for commercial airlines.  In addition, Kent State also has many connections with airlines. FedEx recently donated millions of dollars to the Kent State Aeronautics program to build a new facility at the airport. In addition, Kent is one of the few schools that are a part of the Delta Propel Program. Kent also has many connections with charter and regional airlines. 

Overall, Kent State has a great aeronautics program and I can’t wait to tell everyone about my flight journey!

-Jacob Burdette