Yay! Today, finally we flew again!

Took off on runway 16 into partly cloudy skies. Winds 3 kt, and (first time) all radios were on 118.5. Climbing turn left after takeoff to a NE heading, then north and flew through a hole in the cumulus to beautiful, open blue skies at 5300 ASL. Went into slow flight mode at headings between 300 and 060, with various slow turns and a couple of stalls, one with flaps and one without.

Andy did some turns with my eyes closed to give me a feel for how the plane was behaving...it helped with my understanding of rudder.

Worked hard on controlling altitude at low speed with throttle. Nailed quite a few combinations, going from fast and level to slow and level (note: 2000 RPM = 60 KIA at 5500 ASL) Every 10 degrees of flap = an extra 1000 RPM to maintain altitude at 60 kt.

Dove down through a hole and found ourselves 25 mi N of Easterwood. Flew at 110 kt, 2300 ASL along radial 180 back to sight of Easterwood. Tower had changed runway to 34, so we entered pattern on downwind leg at 1300 ASL. Started descent while entering base...cut RPM and one flaps, then two flaps to start a nose-level (or downward) glide. Airspeed stayed around 65 KIA and I aimed at '34'. Touched down with only a little help, then kept nose up and flew down the runway on 2 wheels. Finally touched down and taxiied home.

1.3 hours today, I felt best yet. Tomorrow, we go again at 5 pm.