just over a week since i last updated.. just done with my contacts phase.. in fact, i just had my check ride today.. and fortunately, cleared it with flying colours.. ok.. maybe not with flying colours.. but still pretty decent la.. instrument ground school starts on wednesday.. this means i have a couple of days before i start working again.. but i guess i'm gonna spend some of the weekend preparing for next weeks class.. did i mention that i almost ejected from the aircraft on my end of block flight? (yesterday) now i know how it looks like just before a plane crash.. we were descending onto the runway after executing a practice precautionary emergency landing (PEL).. we cleared low key and were onto the base leg, trying to intercept the finals.. i realised that we were way too high and got a little concerned.. i notified my instructor (who was in control of the aircraft at that time) that we were high.. she (yes.. she.) brought the nose down and before i knew it, we were on a near vertical dive onto the threshold line of the runway.. i saw the ground rushing up to me.. the aircraft was in a very awkward attitude.. seeing this, i adviced her to waveoff.. and she kept quiet.. and kept the aircraft attitude as it was.. i told her to wave off again but nothing happened.. just a few hundred feet off the ground, she pulled up sharply.. i swear i thought we were gonna crash.. i placed one hand on the ejection handle, the other on the 'dashboard' of my cockpit.. i was in the front seat.. somehow, she managed to pull the aircraft up and touched the runway nicely.. damn did she scared the crap out of me.. boy.. anywho.. i managed to land the aircraft today without my instructor's help.. did a ton of aerobatics today.. yanking and banking, loop after loop.. fantastic.. i must say, today's been the most enjoyable flight ever.. hoo yeah..

chiyu

sometimes it gets a little tiring..
its times like this that sets me thinking,
about what i'm doing and why..
you know.. times when you are alone,
at night, in the dark,
when my mind's free to roam..
granted, i may have one of the most interesting jobs in the world,
given wings to fly,
but sometimes when i think about it,
it doesn't justify..
the blood and sweat and time from home.
i've been in pensacola for 3 months and don't get me wrong, i'm really enjoying my time here, other than having to study and prepare for my flights daily.. to fly has been my life's ambition and i am on my way to making it a reality.. but at the end of the day, i wonder if my pursuit for my ambition is worth its opportunity cost.. it may seem all bright and rosy from the outside, but upon deeper and greater understanding, it may not be so after all.. 3 months has gone, 12 or more to go.. what will i think nearer the finishing line, i do not know.. but i just hope and pray that i would look back, pleased, and without regrets.. opportunity cost.. what a funny word.. would you be an opportunity cost too? i pray not.. i pray not.

chiyu

ok.. its been a while since i last updated.. haha.. can't blame me.. i've been really busy with work and studying.. Independence day long weekend.. a well deserved break.. even though i spent most of the time on my books.. bummed and studied on saturday.. headed to bayou grande marina for sailing class on sunday.. its not as simple as it seems.. nearing the last hour out at the bay, a pod of dolphins came along.. haha.. fantastic.. i chased them with my sail boat.. a 14ft sunfish.. i managed to cut in front of them and dove into the water with them.. they swam around me a couple of times and left, up into the bayous.. fantastic.. the baby one was really cute! certified mate A sailor now.. haha.. spent monday morning studying.. then the afternoon in Foley, Alabama.. shopping! 4th of July sales! but i barely spent $50.. bought a quiksilver singlet (for less than $10 since i have military discount as well..) and a pair of nautica khaki shorts.. that costs just above $19.. cheap cheap cheap.. haha.. the whole of tuesday was spent on my books.. preparing for this week's simulator flights.. did pretty ok on the 1st hop yesterday.. did well today, enough to get an above average score.. fantastic.. so far so good.. now to keep this up.. haha.. missing all u chums back home.. 5 more months before i get back for the hols..

chiyu