Mock Checks With Cheese

Can you pass this IFR Mock Checkride? In this full-length Instrument Rating Mock Oral Exam, we're putting a real student pilot's knowledge to the test in a Cessna 172P!

Joshua is just one week away from his instrument checkride, so we're sitting down for a realistic mock oral to see where he's at, identify any weak spots, and make sure he understands more than just memorized answers.

We're using his Cessna 172P, equipped with dual Garmin G5s and a Garmin GNC 355, along with an IFR cross-country from Danville Regional (KDAN) to Allegheny County (KAGC).

We cover everything from instrument currency, WAAS, RAIM, and GPS navigation to ILS approaches, departure procedures, lost communications, spatial disorientation, thunderstorms, and aircraft icing.

Along the way, we get into some commonly misunderstood topics. How does a localizer actually work? What happens if you lose GPS integrity on final approach? Can you accept an IFR departure clearance if your airplane can't meet the published climb gradient?

Joshua does a solid job with his approach briefings, but we also uncover a few areas where a little more studying could make a big difference.

If you're preparing for your instrument checkride, grab your FAR/AIM, pause the video, and see how you'd answer these questions yourself!

WANT TO SCHEDULE YOUR OWN MOCK CHECKRIDE?

https://trainingwithcheese.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Meet Joshua and His Instrument Training
01:47 - Understanding the Mock Checkride
05:39 - Staying Ahead of the Airplane in IFR
07:01 - Instrument Rating Privileges and Currency
11:05 - Garmin GNC 355 and WAAS Capabilities
14:05 - IFR Alternate Requirements and Minimums
18:48 - How WAAS Actually Works
20:31 - RAIM and GPS Integrity Monitoring
22:11 - Losing GPS Integrity During an Approach
24:51 - RNAV vs. GPS Navigation
26:41 - Understanding ILS, VORs, and Localizers
33:32 - When Can You Descend Below Minimums?
37:23 - Garmin G5s and Inoperative Instruments
38:07 - Blocked Static Systems and Alternate Static
40:50 - Gyroscopic Instruments and Their Errors
43:03 - Turn Coordinators vs. Turn-and-Slip Indicators
47:27 - IFR Cross-Country Planning (KDAN to KAGC)
50:04 - Departure Procedures and Takeoff Minimums
52:29 - Can Your Airplane Meet the Climb Gradient?
55:13 - IFR Enroute Charts and Minimum Altitudes
57:26 - Mandatory Reporting Points and Radar Contact
1:03:28 - IFR Clearance Scenario
1:05:15 - Lost Communications in IMC
1:11:06 - Briefing the ILS Runway 28 Approach
1:15:55 - Nonprecision Approaches and Visual Descent Points
1:19:09 - Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs)
1:23:01 - Spatial Disorientation and the Leans
1:26:08 - Elevator Illusions and False Horizons
1:29:09 - Fog and Weather Conditions
1:30:57 - Contact Approaches vs. Visual Approaches
1:32:23 - Hypoxia and Aeromedical Factors
1:36:12 - Embedded Thunderstorms and ADS-B Weather
1:40:29 - Thunderstorm Development and Hazards
1:41:05 - Microbursts and Wind Shear
1:43:45 - Aircraft Icing: Clear Ice and Rime Ice
1:47:33 - Final Debrief and Checkride Readiness

FREE FAA STUDY RESOURCES

Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards (ACS):
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/instrument_rating_airplane_acs_8.pdf

Instrument Flying Handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/FAA-H-8083-15B.pdf

Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM):
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/

#IFR #InstrumentRating #MockCheckride #FlightTraining #Cessna172

The Private Pilot Mock Checkrides are BACK!

In this full-length private pilot mock checkride, Sam joins me to work through a realistic FAA oral exam using his 1975 Cessna 150M.

It's been a while since I've done one of these. I took a break because I wanted to make sure these videos stayed focused on what matters: helping student pilots learn, understand their airplanes, and become safer pilots.

Sam came prepared with an incredibly detailed cross-country flight plan, and we put his knowledge to the test!

We cover everything from aircraft systems and airworthiness to weather, aerodynamics, airspace, and real-world decision-making. Along the way, we dig into some commonly misunderstood topics, including how electrical systems actually work, what happens during an alternator failure, and when an aircraft really needs a 100-hour inspection.

If you're preparing for your private pilot checkride, grab your FAR/AIM, pause the video, and see how you'd answer these questions yourself.

Want to schedule your own mock checkride?

https://trainingwithcheese.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Why the Mock Checkrides Stopped
01:38 - Meet Sam and His Aviation Goals
06:52 - Understanding the Checkride Process
10:02 - Pilot Documents, Endorsements, and Currency
13:23 - Cessna 150 Engine and Carburetor Icing
16:44 - Aircraft Airworthiness and Inspections
21:08 - When Is a 100-Hour Inspection Required?
26:40 - Airworthiness Directives
32:28 - Inoperative Equipment and Preventive Maintenance
38:35 - Aviation Fuel, STCs, and Detonation
42:44 - Aircraft Electrical Systems Explained
52:26 - Alternator Failure Scenario
58:06 - Aerodynamics, Lift, and Stalls
1:05:27 - Weight and Balance / Center of Gravity
1:11:24 - Cross-Country Planning and Navigation Logs
1:19:03 - Sectional Charts and Airspace
1:26:11 - Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSA)
1:29:36 - ADIZ and Aircraft Interception
1:34:24 - Weather Charts and Frontal Systems
1:39:16 - Reading METARs and TAFs
1:41:20 - Personal Minimums and Night Flying
1:49:02 - Student Questions and Electrical Systems
1:59:34 - Final Feedback and Checkride Readiness

FREE FAA STUDY RESOURCES

Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards (ACS):
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak

ABOUT CHEESEPILOT

I'm an airline pilot, ATP, and flight instructor with thousands of hours of flight and instructional experience. My goal with this channel is simple: make aviation education accessible, understandable, and maybe a little entertaining.

I'm an instructor, but I'm not YOUR instructor. These videos are educational and aren't a substitute for flight instruction, approved aircraft documentation, or current FAA regulations.

If you found this helpful, subscribe for more mock checkrides, flight training, and seaplane adventures!

#PrivatePilot #MockCheckride #PilotTraining #Cessna150 #FlightTraining

In this IFR mock checkride, Nate is preparing for an instrument checkride in a 1979 Mooney M20J equipped with dual Garmin G5s, a GNS 530W, GNC 355, and a GFC 500 autopilot.

This one gets into the real-world side of instrument flying: using the equipment actually installed in the airplane, planning around backup navigation, handling lost comms, briefing approaches, understanding DC SFRA airspace, and knowing when the airplane systems knowledge needs more work before the checkride.

We cover:

IFR currency and personal minimums
Flying for business as a private pilot
VOR checks, GPS, WAAS, LPV, LNAV/VNAV, and ILS approaches
Holding entries and unpublished holds
Lost GPS and lost comms scenarios
VOR-A into Baraboo
RNAV GPS 18 into Madison
STAR and arrival chart reading
DC SFRA and special airspace planning
Mooney gear, propeller, and systems questions

The goal is to help instrument students think through IFR like pilots, not just memorize answers for the oral.

If you’re working on your instrument rating, use this as a study session. Pause the video, answer the questions before Nate does, and see where your own knowledge starts to break down.

Mock checkrides, tutoring, and aviation training help:
trainingwithcheese.com

This video is for education only and is not a replacement for instruction from your own CFII.

Fly safe. Keep it cheesy.

#IFR #InstrumentRating #MockCheckride #Mooney #AviationTraining #PilotTraining #CheckridePrep #GeneralAviation #CheesePilot

In this private pilot mock oral, I work with Andre as he prepares for his Private Pilot checkride in his 1979 Piper Warrior II.

This is a real checkride-style conversation covering the kinds of topics that actually come up during a Private Pilot oral exam: medical delays, aircraft ownership, avionics upgrades, weight and balance mistakes, required documents, inspections, ADs, inoperative equipment, aircraft systems, carburetor icing, electrical failures, engine failures, fires, spins, VFR into IMC, takeoff performance, stalls, center of gravity, weather, airspace, Special VFR, and flight planning.

The goal is not to memorize perfect answers. The goal is to learn how to think like a safe pilot, use the right references, and explain your decisions clearly under checkride pressure.

If you are working on your Private Pilot certificate, use this as a study session. Pause the video, answer the questions yourself, then compare your answer to the discussion.

For mock checkrides, tutoring, and aviation training help:
trainingwithcheese.com

Disclaimer: This video is for education and entertainment only. It is not a replacement for instruction from your CFI, the ACS, FAA publications, your POH, or current regulations.

Chapters:
00:00 Journey to Becoming a Private Pilot
02:35 Navigating Medical Challenges in Aviation
05:29 Understanding Aircraft Avionics and Upgrades
07:55 The Importance of Weight and Balance in Flight
10:31 Check Ride Expectations and Outcomes
12:46 Privileges and Limitations of a Private Pilot
15:31 Legal Requirements for VFR Flight
17:20 Maintaining Airworthiness and Inspections
20:03 Understanding Airworthiness Directives
23:41 Understanding Aircraft Maintenance and Equipment
26:10 Describing the Aircraft: A Piper Warrior II Overview
28:51 Carburetor Icing: Identification and Resolution
31:37 Hydraulic Systems and Fluid Management
33:26 Electrical Systems: Understanding Power and Failures
40:53 Engine Failures: Procedures and Best Practices
44:13 Leaning the Engine: Best Practices and Misconceptions
45:53 Engine Failure in Flight: Strategies and Checklists
48:07 Handling Engine Fires: Start and In-Flight Procedures
49:53 Understanding Spins: Causes and Recovery Techniques
52:36 Navigating Weather: VFR to IMC Transitions
58:11 Takeoff Techniques: Airspeeds and Climb Performance
01:01:15 Understanding Aerodynamics: Turning Tendencies and Control
01:05:42 Understanding Flight Training Costs
01:07:29 The Mechanics of Stalls
01:09:12 Center of Gravity and Its Importance
01:10:49 Using Tools for Flight Training
01:15:13 Flight Planning and Route Discussion
01:20:02 Navigating Airspace Regulations
01:26:48 Understanding Special VFR and Flight Regulations
01:28:51 Analyzing Weather Conditions for Flight
01:32:52 Interpreting Weather Charts and Fronts
01:36:33 Practical Tips for Flight Planning and Weather Assessment
01:41:57 Navigating Aircraft Ownership and Upgrades

This episode is an IFR mock oral built around a real checkride-style cross-country scenario in a 1978 Cessna 172N.

The goal is not to passively listen. Pause after each question, answer it like you are the applicant, then listen to the student’s answer and the feedback that follows.

We cover IFR privileges, currency, aircraft inspections, VOR navigation, WAAS, RAIM, alternate planning, lost communication procedures, approach briefings, minimums, missed approaches, climb gradients, aeromedical factors, weather, and one of the most overlooked parts of instrument training: verifying that the airplane is actually legal and safe for IFR.

The big lesson from this episode is that instrument flying is not just about flying approaches. You need to know how to verify the route, the airplane, the avionics, the paperwork, and your own decision making.

For more training resources, visit trainingwithcheese.com.

This podcast is for education and study support only. Always use your instructor, the ACS, FAA publications, current regulations, and aircraft documents as your primary sources.

Welcome back, curd nerds.

This one is a Private Pilot mock checkride in a diesel-swapped Cessna 172, and it gets spicy fast.

Amoon came into this mock oral getting ready for his checkride, and like a lot of student pilots, the knowledge is in there, but the nerves start doing what nerves do. They make you rush, over-answer, second-guess yourself, and turn a simple question into a full mental emergency checklist.

That is exactly why mock checkrides matter.

In this video, we work through what actually happens when checkride nerves show up. We talk through documents, medical certificates, BasicMed, MOSAIC, private pilot privileges, flight sharing, aircraft airworthiness, TCDS, ADs, maintenance logs, 100-hour inspections, inoperative equipment, diesel engine systems, FADEC, turbocharging, stalls, spins, maneuvering speed, engine failures, VORs, airspace, weather, and checkride mindset.

The diesel Cessna makes this one different. It burns Jet-A, uses FADEC, has a turbocharger, liquid cooling, and brings up some systems questions that most private pilot students never have to deal with in a normal 172.

This is not a polished, perfect, fake checkride performance. This is a real student thinking out loud, getting nervous, correcting mistakes, learning to slow down, and figuring out how to answer the actual question being asked.

If you are getting ready for a checkride, this is the lesson:
Take a breath.
Listen to the question.
Answer the question that was asked.
Do not let your nerves fly the airplane for you.

Use this as a study session. Pause the video, answer before Amoon does, and see where your own checkride weak spots show up.

Need help getting ready for a checkride or mock oral?
Visit: trainingwithcheese.com

Disclaimer: This video is for education and entertainment only. It is not a replacement for flight instruction, your CFI, the ACS, FAA regulations, or official FAA guidance.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Diesel-Swapped Aviation
00:44 The Benefits of Diesel in Aviation
01:10 Concerns with FADEC Systems
01:26 Pilot Training Journey
04:12 Understanding Check Rides
06:34 Medical Certifications and Privileges
09:01 Exploring MOSAIC Regulations
11:22 Legalities of Flight Sharing
13:53 Aircraft Documentation Essentials
16:10 Type Certificate Data Sheets and Airworthiness
19:50 Exploring Aircraft Models and TCDS
21:12 Understanding Airworthiness Directives and Maintenance Logs
23:39 Legalities of Aircraft Operations and Inspections
25:23 Navigating Maintenance Regulations and Check Rides
27:03 Understanding Aircraft Systems and Turbocharging
31:40 Deep Dive into the Cessna 172 Diesel Conversion
36:36 Understanding Aircraft Power Systems
38:45 Exploring Engine and Propeller Dynamics
39:59 Managing Engine Temperature and Performance
41:12 Stall Awareness and Recovery Techniques
43:50 Understanding Spins and Recovery Procedures
47:32 Maneuvering Speed and Aircraft Control
49:38 Emergency Procedures During Engine Failure
53:45 Overcoming Check Ride Nerves
56:13 Understanding Flight Instructor Dynamics
58:41 Navigating with VORs
01:00:54 Airspace Awareness and Regulations
01:03:22 Flight Planning and Route Selection
01:05:31 Wilderness Areas and Congested Airspace
01:07:48 Equipment Requirements for Class Airspace
01:11:46 Understanding Aircraft Equipment and Limitations
01:14:57 The Essentials of Weather for Pilots
01:22:44 Preparing for the Check Ride: Mindset and Approach

#PrivatePilot #MockCheckride #CheckridePrep #Cessna172 #DieselCessna #DieselAviation #FlightTraining #PilotTraining #StudentPilot #AviationTraining #GeneralAviation #AviationEducation #CFI #FADEC #MOSAIC #TCDS #Airworthiness #LearnToFly

In this instrument mock checkride, Trent works through the kind of IFR questions that actually matter when you are flying in the system.

We cover instrument currency, safety pilots, IFR inspections, pitot-static instruments, GPS, WAAS, RAIM, alternates, ILS components, LPV vs LNAV/VNAV, descent below minimums, VORs, SIDs, ODPs, lost comms, route planning, approach briefings, weather, and unpublished holds.

This is not meant to be a perfect checkride performance. It is meant to show what real IFR training looks like when a pilot is learning, thinking out loud, getting corrected, and building better decision-making.

If you are working on your instrument rating, use this as a study session. Pause the video, answer the questions before Trent does, and see where your weak spots are.

Need help getting ready for a checkride or mock oral?
Visit: trainingwithcheese.com

Disclaimer: This video is for education and entertainment only. It is not a replacement for flight instruction, your CFII, the ACS, FAA regulations, or official FAA guidance.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Instrument Mock Check Rides
00:29 The Importance of Instrument Training
00:58 Personal Minimums and Pilot Readiness
01:30 Introduction to Instrument Training
07:24 The Importance of Instrument Ratings
09:22 Navigational Equipment and IFR Compliance
14:08 Vertical Speed Indicators Explained
17:17 GPS Functionality in IFR Flight
19:01 Understanding RAIM and WAAS
20:53 Alternate Selection and Approach Planning
23:16 Precision Approaches: LPV vs. LNAV VNAV
24:48 ILS Components and Functionality
27:06 Descending Below Minimums: Regulations and Practices
28:29 How VOR Works and Its Applications
30:43 MOSAIC: New Pilot Privileges and Regulations
30:48 Route Planning and Weather Considerations
32:59 Understanding SID and ODP Procedures
36:39 Navigating Climb Rates and Departure Procedures
40:57 Handling Loss of Integrity in Navigation
46:09 Communicating During In-flight Challenges
49:26 Briefing and Decision Making in Aviation
50:00 Exploring Aviation and Aircraft Choices
52:01 Understanding Compulsory Reporting Points
52:11 Training for Unpublished Holds
55:15 Weather Considerations in IFR
58:05 Evaluating Pilot Preparedness and Equipment
01:02:00 Understanding Isobars and Wind Patterns
01:02:32 The Dangers of Embedded Thunderstorms
01:02:59 In-Flight Weather Sources and Technology
01:03:45 Types of Fog and Their Formation
01:05:15 Conditions for Thunderstorm Development
01:05:58 Lifting Forces and Thunderstorm Types
01:06:50 Mountain Waves and Their Effects
01:06:54 Identifying Localized Weather Patterns
01:10:16 Instrument Requirements for Flight Safety

#InstrumentRating #IFRTraining #MockCheckride #InstrumentPilot #AviationTraining #FlightTraining #PilotTraining #CFII #GeneralAviation #AviationEducation #PrivatePilot #CheckridePrep #IFR #Flying

A real private pilot mock checkride with a student about a week before his actual practical test.

No scripted answers.
No perfect textbook responses.
Just a real conversation about flying.

In this mock oral we work through:
✈️ Airworthiness and required inspections
✈️ 100 hour vs annual inspections
✈️ Weight and balance
✈️ Carburetor icing
✈️ Engine failures
✈️ Electrical system failures
✈️ Left turning tendencies
✈️ Stalls and aerodynamics
✈️ Hazardous attitudes
✈️ Real world ADM and scenario based decision making

The goal of these mock checkrides is not to memorize answers.
It’s to learn how to think like a pilot.

A lot of checkride failures happen because applicants try to force memorized answers into conversations instead of actually understanding what the examiner is asking.

Huge thanks to Drew for letting us record and share this session to help other student pilots prepare for their checkrides.

If you’re preparing for a private pilot checkride, instrument checkride, or CFI ride and want to do a mock oral:
trainingwithcheese.com

Aircraft discussed:
Cessna 172N
Lycoming O-320

#PrivatePilot #Checkride #StudentPilot #FlightTraining #MockCheckride #Cessna172 #Aviation #CFI #PilotTraining #CheesePilot

This wasn’t just memorizing answers. We dug into systems, airworthiness, emergency procedures, weather planning, regulations, and real world decision making.

Topics covered:

00:00 Journey to Becoming a Pilot
02:50 Understanding Pilot Requirements and Regulations
04:41 Aircraft Maintenance and Safety Checks
07:04 Flight Operations and Legalities
09:26 Aircraft Systems and Performance
11:44 Emergency Procedures and Safety Systems
13:41 Understanding Aircraft Limitations and Performance
15:09 Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics
15:49 Flight Training and Maneuvering Techniques
46:45 Understanding Aircraft Dynamics and Load Factors
51:29 Flight Planning and Weather Considerations
54:02 Navigating Airspace and Flight Restrictions
57:41 Waypoint Navigation and Flight Path Management
01:00:45 Understanding Airspace Classes and Communication
01:03:58 Flight Safety Protocols and Emergency Procedures
01:08:40 Weight, Balance, and Aircraft Performance
01:11:41 Handling In-Flight Emergencies and Engine Failures

Mock checkrides are one of the best ways to figure out what you actually understand versus what you just memorized.

If you’re interested in scheduling a mock checkride:

#aviation #studentpilot #privatepilot #checkride #mockcheckride #flighttraining #cfi #cirrus #sr20 #pilot

IFR MOCK CHECKRIDE | Instrument Oral Exam Prep

In this full instrument mock checkride, we work through the kind of scenario based questions you can expect on an instrument oral exam.

We cover instrument currency, IFR inspections, avionics limitations, WAAS and RAIM, GPS equipment, pitot static instruments, gyroscopic instruments, IFR cross country planning, lost communications, approach briefings, obstacle departure procedures, IFR chart symbology, STARs, approach minimums, runway environment requirements, visual descent points, weather theory, fog, and spatial disorientation.

The goal is not to memorize one line answers. The goal is to understand the “why” behind instrument flying so you can explain your decisions clearly on checkride day and actually use the information in the real world.

#aviation #ifr #instrumentrating #mockcheckride #pilottraining #studentpilot #cfi