WOOHOO!!
I'm instrument rated :) The recheck went - fairly smooth. Only had to do one coupled VOR approach, of course the autopilot seemed to have it's own ideas of what to do.
The departure from 27R as published is a right 270 to 165 (mentioned that before I think) and we're cleared to climb up to 3000 feet. After getting the heading bug on the correct side of the heading indicator, I engaged my supposed electronic helper to allow it to finish the turn. It seemed to be a little confused for a moment and didn't exactly keep smooth progress toward the desired heading. By some miracle, I ended up with the nose pointed the right direction. I started the approach check, NAV1 - check, NAV2 - check, COM 1 set to ATIS on primary and tower on standby. Shaping up to be a pretty good approach so...why are we at 3300 feet?
Otto the copilot seems to be on vacation, time to disengange and try again. SoCal clears me for the approach and I reset the autopilot - which in addition to having trouble with the altitudes also can't seem to intercept a VOR radial. I hear about it from SoCal and go back to heading mode for a while. This would be easier hand flown at this point but the examiner needs to see this approach coupled.
Finally nav and approach mode seem to be cooperating and there is at least a chance of getting the vertical speed and altitude modes to work.
Crossing Poggi at 1220 on the nose, the examiner tells me we can cancel IFR and depart the Brown class D airspace to the north. He also asks if I mind handing over the controls for him to take us home. This I've learned is not a bad sign and I relax while he takes us back VFR.
Time to go find a nice cloud to crash through :)
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