Captain's log, Unidate 12 point something or other:
It has been one week since being transferred to the new vessel, and I have yet to christen her yet, although I am leaning toward something like "The Crimson Circle", or "Ring of Fire" (although that one conjures up bad associations with bean burritos with too much hot sauce). I am finding that progress is slow, but measurable aboard the new ship, and disasters so far have been minimal.
On day four we had our first real voyage - not just piloting around the port, but actually venturing out into open space. The trip was a little unstable, due in part to unfamiliarity with controls, and the fact that we were unevenly loaded with extra cargo for our first duty. This combination resulted in one fairly minor encouter with vertical instability, which resulted in some bruising, but nothing major.
As I progress in my piloting skills, I find that there are still major obstacles to overcome, but some of what at first appeared to be major obstacles are becoming manageable. Today I cleared a 1-2 inch bump without spilling (both directions), and was finally able to make an assisted launch from position at the bottom of an immediate rise.
I am still working toward unassisted launches, but have not had much luck with them thus far. I will probably tackle that goal in full once I am more comfortable with getting into the saddle comfortably and quickly.
I am also developing the ability to shift seat position mid-flight, although these adjustments are rarely a full realization of my wish, and it is often more beneficial to pull over and relaunch.
Turning is coming along, and I am actually able to pull off some fairly graceful turns now, rather than relying solely on jerky turns.
Hopefully, improvements will continue to acrue and soon I will be flying high and free and making good time.
No comments:
Post a Comment