On Monday I was able to get an IFR proficiency check and BFR in my little Cessna 150M. Man, it was FUN. One of my hopes was that I could use my new plane to get instrument current. Last Monday was the first time I was able to fly it under the hood and it worked great.

What a blast !!

Skyhigh

Definately not as much to work on as far as a scan is concerned. /U I presume?

Well I am use to automated planes so it was a bit of a workout in comparison. It had been a long time since I had to fly IFR in a steam gauge plane. It was fun!!

Skyhigh

In a C150, I imagine it takes a bit of focus to use the very lightest of control touch when under the hood. Isn't it nice to spend comparatively small change and get both a BFR and IPC?

Glad to see you are extracting some joy from flying your humble 150, Sky. That's about the smallest airplane one can equip as an IFR platform, and most would not take into real IMC (including me). Does yours have a glideslope?

I do all my IPCs in piston singles and also did one last week in a 206H with steam gauges and dual Garmins. The 206 panel is big enough to have a lot of instruments like an HSI, dual glideslopes, three nav/coms, backup attitude indicator, clock, three GPSes, etc. I do a mix of precision and nonprecision approaches, backcourse approaches, holds, hoodwork, etc. I actually am always current on instruments for work but the company likes to pay for separate IPCs in piston singles. I find VOR approaches with no GPS and a strong wind factor the most challenging.

Yes the automation spoils you. I'm taking my ATP MEL add-on today in a semi-slow w/o an AP, I've been flying pretty much everything that has an AP, and this plane makes you work. Luckily I got in a few Actual IFR flights last week in this specific plane, so feeling pretty good about it. I remember when I thought AP's were just for lazy pilots and had never used one(about my first 1000+ hrs). Now I'm that lazy pilot!!!!!!!

Good Luck! Let us know how it went

My 150M has a full ILS glideslope and all with a Garmin GNC300XL GPS/COM. It is IFR capable but I do not have the associated CDI. It also has a mitchell nav/com and a Garmin 340. It is a nice set up for a 150. When I bought it I upgraded the raidos and had the ADF removed.

Marker beacons work and everything. I also had a new 406 ELT installed. The paint is ugly though. If I haven't mentioned it before I really like my 150. For the most part it is guilt free fun.

Skyhigh

Would love to see some pics... Paint, is a moot point really.. Just as long as the rust and bondo are still holding it together... If they start to fail, Then you may wanna add on a layer or two of paint.

I know how you feel about that airplane, SkyHigh. There's nothing quite like the owning the airplane you like to tool around in. I almost bought two tailwheel airplanes, a 152, and share of a Piper Geronimo in years past.

As far as instrument currency and automation, I have come to the conclusion that autopilot-coupled approaches with the Garmin G1000 setup are not good for your instrument flying skills. I did some of my instrument currency flights in G1000 Skyhawks. The entire flights were like watching ballgames where both teams win. One does nothing but ask for the approach, sit back and watch it all happen. Even missed approaches are just a little button punching, and almost no thought is involved. After two of these currency flights I decided it should be dials and steam gauges from now on, because without them you don't think enough to really learn anything. My company has steam gauge 206H's and a couple of old Cutlass RG's and they are the best currency trainers in my opinion.