Next Time, For Real

What good is being 90 percent proficient when you’re called on to do the other 10?

In the past year, a combination of forces has conspired to limit my cross-country flying and really put the kibosh on my instrument flying. Family responsibilities, the Lycoming TIO-540 ADs and a few other factors have kept me close to home.

However, I’ve done a bit of testing of both avionics and airplanes, and I fly the Citabria at least weekly, so my stick and rudder skills are sound. On the gauges, however, is another story.

I enlisted an instructor friend with a 172 to help me flog away some of the cobwebs. My basic flight by instruments was dead-on. Partial panel was no problem, in part because flying the Citabria never involves using a vacuum instrument.

Approach procedures...