In an earlier blog I detailed my first Solo flight as a student pilot from Fajardo, Puerto Rico UNICOM where my confidence as an airman was greatly enhanced. After several more hours of flight training and ground school I was ready for my solo cross country.

My flight instructor and I tagging along as pilot in command, flew dual from NAS Roosevelt Roads, (abbreviated “Roosyroads”), to Saint Thomas, V.I., then to Saint Croix, V.I., then to Ponce, PR., then to Borinquen, PR., then to Isla Grande, PR. (San Juan), then to Fajardo, PR., then finally back to Roosy Roads. The distance was over 400 miles.  This was preparing me for my solo cross country, which would be flown over the same route.

Enroute, my instructor questioned me on the use of VOR/VORTAC’s  navigation aids; VOR’s for civil aviation, VORTAC’s primarily for tactical (Military) use. These navigation aids were used to triangulate our position to ensure we didn’t venture into a large MOA (Military Operations area) off the shore of, and half of, viaques island which was off the starboard wing while approaching St Thomas, then off the port wing when approaching Ponce, PR from St Croix.

By the end of the day we were back at RoosyRoads, and I was signed off for my solo cross country the next day. After servicing the plane which included the post flight inspection, I was off for a good meal, a good nights sleep before returning to the flying club at 0800 the next morning.

I was back at the flying club the next morning, and after last minute instructions and recommendations from my instructor plus maping out my route which included VOR, approach, tower and ground frequencies written down on my knee pad, and preflight inspection completed, I was ready to depart.

After take off I climbed out and heading for Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas). Upon landing, and securing my favorite plane (cessna 150, 19599), I took my log book to the tower for authentication. Then I was off to St Croix to Alexander Hamilton airport at Frederiksted for their signature. Back in the air with a heading that took me to Ponce, PR. during which I navigated from St Croix VOR then navigated to Ponce’s VOR which is located at the approach end of the runway. For a few minutes of this flight I was out of range of both VOR’s, I held my current heading, then soon I was in range of Ponce’s VOR.

End Part One