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Welcome to Don & Joan McMullen's website

Private pilot with Instrument rating

The following is how I’ve managed to stay alive taking long cross country trips while flying in my Experimental RV6A.

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06/05/2013 10:40:12 AM

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The first thing is to make sure the airplane is in good working order with all systems operating well, including engine, propeller, engine instruments, flight and navigation instruments, GPS, VOR’s, radios, and autopilot. I print out my course from AOPA flight planner or another good program. I make sure I understand all the airspaces along the route. I study the weather avnwx.com, vafwww.weather page noaa avation, on my computer before I go to the airport. I know all my equipment well and how to use it in all situations, including autopilot coupling to GPS, and XM Weather on the GPS. I check myself to see how I am feeling (am I ok to fly?). As I fly along I use flight following, and, although I can fly IFR, I usually do not. I like to have more control and to stay out of the clouds especially around ice or thunder storms. I like to practice approaches (I could practice more) but rather not use them unless I have to. I read all kinds of aviation literature and like to learn from other pilots’ mistakes. Over the years I have made mistakes and when I have I have upgraded my equipment to make my aircraft easier to control. I have taken instruction from other pilots and instructors who have much greater knowledge then I do. I admit that I always have a lot more to learn. I know that luck plays a big part in my successful flying, but I know that luck is influenced by the skills I have studied for years.

As the old saying goes, Luck comes from concentrated efforts of study, and being prepared for any situation.

Don McMullen