Computer assisted instruction is a pain

Well it is now Saturday after my third week of UPT. Time here is flying so fast. It feels like yesterday that I began this whole adventure. We have now completed the first half of our aircraft systems lessons, and will be taking our final test on the subject on Monday. We will then be doing aerodynamics, flying fundamentals, contact (basic flying stuff), and 7ish simulators. All that is to say, I will by flying in 3ish weeks. CRAZY. As I'm sitting here thinking about what exactly I have to write, I'm realizing that this past week was actually kind of a bore. With the exception of doing our first simulator, which was actually pretty fun, I spent most of the week sitting in front of a computer having it teach me about the electrical system and the like. Not exactly thrilling, but I guess it will have to do for now. On that side of things, life will be much more exciting next week.

On a more personal side, this week presented some new challenges, namely getting used to the idea that I may not be the best here. I struggled with that a bit while I was at IFS as I sat there with a bunch of dudes who already had a bunch of flying experience, and am experiencing that once again. When I was younger and imagined being a pilot I never imagined I would be here with people who have more than a hundred hours of flight time, or already have experience flying aerobatics. I always kind of figured everyone would be there starting at zero, but that is simply not the case. And it's hard. At time's I wish I had studying engineering in school, or had been able to get my private pilot's license, or something along those lines, but when I really stop and think about it, I wouldn't change anything in my past. I loved studying history. I loved going to Biola (I did meet my wife there after all). It means that I am a little bit behind some of the other guys, but that is ok. I'm not about to quit. Rather, I am trying, and will continue to try, to use the resources I have in the guys in my class to become the best pilot I can.

3 weeks down...ish

Well we have now finished (almost) our third week of flight school. It has been busy. Three tests, our first physical fitness muscle endurance test, hours and hours of computer based training, and a few hours of boredom later, I am ready for another weekend. Where do I even begin. Last week was a blast (everyone says it is one of the better weeks of UPT). We spent the week in aerospace physiology. We studied survival, physiology, and life support. We practice parachute landing falls, dealing with hypoxia in an altitude chamber, strapping into the T6 aircraft and emergency egressing (exiting the aircraft in under 40 seconds), experienced spacial disorientation in the barany chair (a spin chair), and did drag training (practicing disconnecting from a parachute that is dragging you across the ground or water). It was very hands on, and a lot of fun. Plus, the tests were not too bad.

Over the weekend Ashley and I headed up to San Angelo to visit my good friend Stefan who is going to intel school up that way. It was nice to get out of Del Rio for a little bit, and got to experience some civilization for a night. It was an adventure. In addition to getting some awesome Japanese food, we went to a button festival, arts and crafts show, and a really dingy mexican restaurant. To back up a second, yes, we went to a button festival. See, Stefan found it online, and thought it would be kind of ridiculous, so naturally we wanted to go. It ended up being in a church lobby. We walked in the door and brought the average age down by about 20 years. Sitting all around the room were a bunch of older (65+) women showing off their button collections. Now I am all for collections (I still have my dinasaurs, and coins from my childhood), but really...buttons? One of the ladies saw us kind of snickering and took it upon herself to introduce us to the world of button collecting. We learned so very very much. We saw buttons made out of bone, buttons made out of wood, out of ivory, and all sorts of things. We saw buttons worth 10 cents, and buttons worth $2000 (who the frick pays that much money for a button?). We learned that there is an annual national button competition (we are going to go). All that is to say, it was a once in a lifetime experience.

We then went to an arts and crafts festival (I must remind you that Ashley was a part of this adventure and definitely had a role to play in where we went...but lets be honest, it was the guys who picked the button festival). With regard to the arts and crafts festival, the only real thing worth mentioning is that both Ashley and I won something from a raffle they held. First time I've ever won anything...ever. I was pretty darn excited!

Well thats it for now. I will post about this week soon.

Unbelievable

Well here is my first post during flight school. Can you believe that I am finally here. After all that has happened over the last year and a bit, it is unreal that I am finally here, starting flight school. As you heard from the wife, the first week was not exactly what I had expected. Rather than exciting and overwhelming, it was rather easy and slow. And, of course, rather frustrating as I was sick for the whole week. Though I am slowly recovering from my cold, it looks like I will have to deal with it for a few more days.

We have now completed all our classes on survival, and have our first test tomorrow. We have also begun classes in physiology, which is actually really interesting. We had an hour long course last week on the eyes, and I have been telling Ashley interesting facts ever since. This next week will be a long one, but a good one. In addition to our two tests, we will be doing our egress lab (meaning practicing getting out of the plane as quickly as possible), our O2 lab (not exactly sure what that is), the altitude chamber (where they give us hypoxia so that we can recognize the symptoms if it ever happens to us), taking our muscle endurance test, and sitting through hours of class. It's going to be a long week, but I think it will be a good one.

Of course, it is not all fun and games. I miss my wife already, and find it difficult to leave in the morning knowing that I won't see her again for 10 hours or so. I know that this is normal for a lot of people, but after having spent all day every day with my beautiful wife, it sucks having to be apart. And with my having been sick it was only worse. I see already that there will be many challenges to face in the coming months, but am encouraged by the knowledge that Ashley and I will be going through it together. Even with only one week done, I am sooo excited to go through this experience with her, and believe that it will challenge us as a couple, and help us grow in ways nothing else would. Ashley has already shown herself to be everything I could hope for, and has continued to be that pillar of encouragement when I am questioning the future, or when I'm sick, or stressed. God has blessed me sooo much, I can't even describe it.

Well that's it for now, back to studying. If you think of it, please be praying for us this week, and for health (Ashley came down with something today as well). We love you all.

Zach

And now a word from the Mrs...

Today marks the end of the first week of flight school. Zach had a great start with a fever, congestion, and the whole gamut of not-so-good symptoms, but it looks like he'll recover ;).
The student pilots hit the ground running, already having a test on Monday on survival, getting out of your plane in an emergency (turns out that's called egressing) and probably more that I don't even know. As a spouse, I also have the privilege of learning the material, too as Zach likes to process the information he studies out loud. ("Hey Ashley, do you know the four types of bone fractures? Let me tell you..."). I might be able to fly too at the end of this!

The spouses were treated to their very own orientation this week. We were briefed by our husbands' commanders, got to try out the very fun flight simulators (I didn't crash!), and climb up onto the plane. The fun was mixed with a lot of warning though. We were told that our husbands need to eat, breath, and sleep pilot training. We were asked by commanders to have patience when our husbands can't give us the attention we were used to getting. We were told that Saturdays were to be ours with our husband, but other than that they should be dedicating themselves to studying. I can see that with the highs and joys of passing tests, having his first solo ride, and eventually completing pilot training, there is also going to be a fair share of discouragement, frustration, and failure. For those of you who read this, please pray that Zach and I might keep our priorities straight, that we maintain patience and communication, and that above all, we would lean on the Lord who is our unchanging Rock.

Pictures: (Top) My first time giving Zach a haircut. It only took 1 hour and 1 snip of the ear. (Middle) Zach's first day of flight school! (Bottom) Zach got his helmet, and it turns out to be a good protector when you're chopping onions.