So...last Saturday I met my airplane at PDK. The folks at Lone Mountain provided an instructor in a nice young fella named Eric who introduced us and flew with me over to Lebanon TN, where we picked up Larry Russell, a CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot) who walked me through the Cirrus approved introductory course. He came out to KAAF with me and we did all the training in our area. 28 hours (or so) later I are a Cirrus Pilot. I did, actually, have some problem with landings, transitioning from the Cub to the Cirrus. I was kinda behind for a while...and the power settings are critical (as opposed to my much favored "chop the throttle on base" method). Airplane isn't really hard to land, but the speed control takes a while to get ahead of...at least for me.

Everything else is a delight. As Jason pointed out, I am one of those pilots who pretty much want to take off, turn on the autopilot and dial in Miami...and wind up there. This one is damned close. My airplane is a perspective one and is massively smart, and once one learns the buttonology (not at all hard) one can pretty do everything on the autopilot.

Of course, as this course included an IPC...one didn't get to use the autopilot thing much. But the airplane flies very nicely by hand. Really, it feels closer to a glass sailplane than...well anything else in my experience. Very agile, very easy to put it where I want it, very responsive. My right leg wishes there was a bit more rudder authority (takes a full bootful to keep it coordinated under power, but other wise, really a delightful airplane.

I have never been better transitioned to an airplane. The course was intense, we explored every imaginable aspect of the electronics (including a bunch of failure modes) and I am in awe of the capabilities of the airplane.

So. N574CP has me as its new owner. Here's to a few years of fun flying.

Oh, and the guys at Lone Mountain (Daniel Christensen and Paul Sallach) were just terrific. Very fair, very easy to work with, and everything is as advertised...or better.



My fleet!



Jim

Jim,

If you talk to Paul tell him I said hi. He sold me my Cirrus SR20 and then sold it for me when I was ready to upgrade. He is also good guy.

Tim

Awesome - Congrats Jim! Being about 4 mos and 80hrs ahead in the process I can confidently say, the real fun starts now! Enjoy it!

Congrats Jim! It's been fun to watch your journey getting here. That certainly is one sexy looking airplane. Very glad to hear that you're checked out and ready to enjoy her now. Have fun!

Very nice! Looks awesome.

Very nice Jim!
I'm glad it went so well. Told ya you can't just chop the power on that thing...
Did you use the AC????
Very happy for you!

Jim,



32 days to go...

AC? For the first time in my life, stooging around under the hood in 90 degree weather and turbulence was pleasant. The AC makes it nice!

And yes you did!

Thanks!

Jim

Congratulations !

Very nice! Congratulations. Fly the hell out of it.

What?? Transition training in Tennessee?

Back in 2001 I had to go to Duluth in February for training.

Kidding aside, that's a nice ride. Congrats.

In 2004, I got my transition training in Orlando prior to going to Duluth to pick up the plane. It was June, but it was STILL C-O-L-D in Duluth..

Congratulations Jim! Awesome bird. Enjoy her!

-Neal

Pull Early Pull Often

Jim gets all the nice toys

Looks like a lot of fun. Keep us updated how the plane works for your commute.