I’m getting ready for my biennial flight review, and I’m incorporating an instrument proficiency check, even though I’m technically current. For someone like me who doesn’t fly real IFR often enough, one way to remain comfortable is to supplement experience with regular recurrent training. I really should do more. I admit that one of the reasons is that ‘training’ makes me uncomfortable. I’m not sure exactly why, but it has something to do with not wanting to embarrass myself. I’m pretty conservative about how much weather I’ll fly in — what a Learjet pilot once referred to as ‘gentleman’s IFR.’
One way to combat the discomfort leading up to a review is to ensure I’m up to speed on simply flying my airplane. Older Bonanzas such as mine have power controls scattered around in nonintuitive spots — the throttle is where you’d expect it, but the prop control is over to the right where the cigarette lighter used to be (I have an STCed hydraulic Hartzell) and the small gray mixture control handle is tucked under the panel to the left. It makes me feel like Mickey Mouse in the Steamboat Willie cartoon, reaching here and there, all around the cockpit. Yes, I know where they all are, but when I’ve been away for a while, I find I have to think before reaching. And I only have so many brain cells to work with. Usually, a short hop with some slow flight, stalls, 500 fpm descents and some deep breathing exercises does the trick and I’m much more at home again in the left seat.
