Flight Log 2011-06-13

This flight was intended to be an almost-IPC.  Since it had been more than 60 days since I had flown, I had to go up with an instructor to get a refresher to rent at KVTA, so I figured I might as well get some better use out of it and get instrument current, too.  Plus, I got a break on my renter's insurance this year because of getting some dual instruction last year, so I figured it couldn't hurt.  However, when I did the run-up, the oil pressure gauge was pegged at the top of the gauge.  I put the squawk on the sheet and we taxied back in and switched from N785SP to N20626.  Of course, when I got that preflighted and fired up, we had radio problems.  I couldn't hear Harold through headset.  We went with the speaker and hand mike and decided we'd just do 3 times around the pattern.  On the first one, I was too low and slow on final and made one of my poorest landings in a long time.  On the second time around, Harold realized that the radio problem was that someone had flipped the ISO switch on the comm panel.  The second and third landings were much better.  I very nearly grounded both planes though.  The pilot's left brake was very soft, though Harold claimed his wasn't, so...  Anyway, I'm current to carry passengers again, but I'll try to schedule something later in the summer to get instrument current.  0.3 hours and 3 takeoffs and landings.