I did it a little backwards as well,
I took the course down in the Fla. Keys after college while working on a commercial fishing boat and farting around for a few years while trying to delay the inevitable or as I called it then 'getting my ya ya's out'. My best bud in hi screwel was a year ahead of me and decided to skip college and get his privates, instrument and his twin engine(I think?) or whatever it was that came next. He was instructing at a small local airport when I came back to town with my certificate and hired him to instruct me for my 40 hours and license. The usual procedure was to do both at the same time as you well know.
Big mistake, I think because I did better in school than he did he gave me waaaaay too much credit. He had me doing my first solo touch and go at three hours which was ok despite doing two 40 foot bounces(each seemingly getting bouncier) until I put the power in in a panic and went around for the rest were pretty good as I remember.
Ok, so far so good, next he had me do my first solo cross country at about my fifth or six hour without much instruction. I was told to mark out a course in yellow marker on a road atlas the night before to a town across the river and back using roads, railroad tracks, water towers, power lines any markers I could find as guides. Last I looked, my road atlas didn't show any railroad tracks, power lines or water towers but not to quibble, I had this.
Soooooo after 3 miles I crossed the river right thru' the middle of the flight path of the greater Cinti. International Airport in Covington Ky., talk about a radio lighting up, I crawled back to Lunken with my tail tucked between my legs, went home and self medicated prolly, the rest of the day was a lil' fuzzy.
AI
