Second Solo XO, First to a new airport. Oakland to Modesto (MOD). - 9/19/02

Wed: 9/19
Hobbs 1.9 - Solo XC, PIC
1658F (c172)

Second Solo XC (first to a new airport :)
OAK<->MOD (modesto)
4pm-7pm

This solo XC went really well. Only two things were problematic:

1. I missed my last checkpoint before MOD - the small 'vandell' airport - and now learn that small airports are poor checkpoints.
   Knowing that my course was pretty good to start with (made all the checkpoints before right-on/over them) after 30sec of tension, relaxed and flew
   my course - to see MOD just a few minutes later (after making the tower radio call).
2. Couldn't get 'Rancho Radio' on any published freq (after using the freq FSS gave me on 800-WX). This was very frustrating in the MOD heat.
   So... sitting on the taxiiway/runup for 28L, shut-down (would probably leave on/idling next time) and called using my cell.
   It took 3 tries to start 58F back up (Jeff said they're tough to start when hot - have to let cool down...)
3. 58F is in the port-o-ports, and there's no exit if OAKflyers is closed!!! so I had to walk to kaiser... no big deal, but wouldn't want to
   do with friends/if it was really hot out.

Now for the good stuff:

   The winds (wrong) were forcast as light/vrb the whole route, so I had no XW components - just published TASs from the book.
   Left OAK for a usual & strong 58F 180hp climb at 1000fpm and the course asked of me by tower was within about 2 degrees of my XC CH planned.
   Handed off to Bay Dep, crossed over abeam LVK, then handed to Stockton App, saw Byron to the Left, and the restricted area to the right (unusually marked),
   and now for the first checkpoint in the valley - ug! it's all highways every 2-4 minutes, all with overpasses & no good features.
   Tons of water-ducts, rivers, etc... not too distinctive.
   I fired up the GPS, but didn't use it for anything except my call to MOD tower: "1658F is 9 miles to the West" etc...
   The second to last checkpoint had a hwy crossing + two private stripts... well: one of them was gone, and the other, listed as two parallel runways,
   only had one runway (the other was being either demolished or re-paved from scratch), but was clearly visible.
 
   Finally got to MOD, made a wide turn for descent (forgot due to missing my last checkpoint, doh!), and entered Left downwind for 28L (calling to twr).
   Noticed the trees Jeff mentioned, but no worry - I was high anyway ;-). Came in for a greaser landing a little long.
   (radio-foobar omitted, listed above).
   Finally started 58F up and was immediately cleared for Left closed traffic 28L. Made downwind and saw the low sun + valley haze, so asked for straight-out
   departure after this T&G (funny, it was my only/first T&G). Came in for a greaser landing! this time - right on/slightly above the 2-bar approach lights.
   This time, on glidesloap, really noticed the trees. Made me just a little nervous!
   The T&G was really nice - soft, nose-high, and 58F's STOL kit made it barely want to stay on the ground.
   Since I was on centerline, I let the nose lower (but not touch) and simply added full power for an immediate lift-off (still 10deg flaps) and
   stayed in ground effect until Vx (took about 2 sec!). And by the time I rotated was already at Vy.

   With the sun in my face, and at 4500', felt like I was going much faster back to OAK. (chose to cruise at about 2350-2400 rpm instead of loafing along).
   Finally back with bay appch, heard an airline pilot joke to ATC about traffic at 12 o-clock: "I've got the sun at 12 o-clock" and thought... cool, me too.
   Straight-in for 27L, North of Hayward, and was already lined-up going about 110 IAS, when a slow + higher cessna 172 was at my 2 o-clock. They let them go first!
   So, while they loafed, well off centerline, I had to slow down, and was nearly abeam them, so asked twr for a right 360. Approved.
   Came in for a great landing - also a greaser, on centerline, just beyond my touchdown point. 58F really likes to be finessed, or maybe I'm improving.

   That's the story... Sunday for the long XC to SAC(exec) and STS.