XC v. Super Bowl XLVI

Matt will have some competing interests the weekend of February 4^th-5^th.  After passing his check ride last week, Matt is cleared for his first Cross Country flight…and it is scheduled for Super Bowl weekend…and the Giants are playing, to boot!  The first round of XC flights in Matt’s class took off and safely returned last weekend and now it is Matt’s turn, along with some other guys.  This is a very exciting milestone for them and the IPs usually pick somewhere fun (though hopefully not too fun…as Panama City “gentlemen’s clubs” are apparently very popular hotspots, complete with their typical $300 tab…I am *so* grateful to be married to a pilot trainee who has 1) most of his wild days out of his system and 2) was never really all that wild to begin with).  It still blows my mind that it is not shockingly uncommon to see an airman (both officer or enlisted, more typically the younger folks who have their first real taste of freedom/independence from their parents in the Air Force), who has managed to throw away his/her entire career in one weekend of poor choices.  Anyway, this is not really about that.

Matt is very excited about his XC and also hoping he has an early-sleeper and early-riser IP who will be interested in making it back in time for the Super Bowl.  The guys leave on Friday afternoon for their flight and return 2 days later.  I can’t imagine him flying with someone who isn’t interested in watching the game…even if “your team” isn’t playing, most folks still seem to want to watch it…even I sometimes do, lol.  Matt is learning instrument flying now (flying without sight, relying on controls, gauges, etc., only—essential skills for flying in poor weather) and spending a lot of time in the simulator.  It should be a nice break for him in terms of motion sickness and a real opportunity to shine and catch up with his peers in terms of flying skills. 

He has passed 2/3 solos (he only has 3 during his entire training…T-1s, which start in March, don’t have solo flights as part of the syllabus).  And all he has left on that list is a formation flight (he will fly 10”-6’ away from another student/IP).  That is probably the one that will be most nerve-wracking for me.  The pace of training here never ceases to amaze me!