I had my first IMC lesson today, and guess what, most of it was in real IMC! I had the hood over my face for most of the time (about 50 minutes in a 1hr 10min flight), so couldn't see anyway, but the instructor told me to look round it a couple of times and it was definitely foggy out there!
I got on OK, really enjoyed it but had the strong sensation that the aircraft (Robin 400) was climbing and turning left most of the time, whatever the instruments said! We did turns, climbing and descending turns, full and partial panel, and some unusual attitudes at the end. It was so claggy at the end we were down to 1000' in driving rain, joining left base for 09 and not really able to see the runway until the last mile and 600' agl.
I might do some more but not sure I'll do the full IMC Rating as many reckon it's so-so whether it will be usable after 2012. In any case I fly Permit types, so it's academic at present - i'm mainly interested in developing a potentially life-saving skill. Good fun and quite reassuring that it's not magic.
