2016 today's flight

[Marauder]

So Sunday was a lovely day in the UK. Andrew 2 had had a shit week so Andrew 1 (me) started plotting on Thursday with one of Andrew 2 s friends to take him to Le Touquet for lunch. LT is also called Paris  sur la plage and it lives upto. It's name. 

A picnic was organised, bags subtly packed with beach towels and sun cream. Andrew 2 told he had a surprise on Sunday. (He HATES surprises).  We drove to the airport and there was his friend Jessica waiting and waving at him. A big smile appeared on his face.  

A quick 40 min flight (I love my Mooney) and we were in France. 15 mins later we were on the beach. Mr "cinq" minutes and his taxi (that is honestly what he calls himself because everywhere in LT takes 5 minutes).  had picked us up and dropped us off. 

So 5 lovely hours were spent on the beach. Then home. Easy flight. Good weather and a very happy fiancé. Did I say I Love my Mooney? . 

Sure, sure Andrew 1, don't share that you got sunburned! BTW, thanks for taking the time to come up from London. It was great meeting you in person!

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[MyNameIsNobody]

My wife and our two pointers flew UP NORTH (Northern Wisconsin) on Saturday morning.  We had taken the week off, but work wanted to "fly the drone" for a Wednesday (tomorrow) quarterly meeting...so plans were modified and we planned on coming back mid-day.  Weather at bedtime was showing no thunderstorm activity until after five in Iowa.  Unfortunately at wake-up it was showing T-Storms in Eastern Iowa by Mid-Day.  One big cell over Des Moines heading East.  We got the cottages cleaned up and headed to airport.  I prepped already fueled plane while Kel took SUV back to cottage with "Free-bike" loaded.  Cabin cover off and my little trooper emerges with deer fly's galore making her ride a "North-Woods" pleasure.  We figured we were NOT going to get back home without a provisional landing and we were right.  Convective activity forced us to our home town in South West Wisconsin.  The guys had hanger space and we were on way to in-laws for lunch and "weather-watching".  We spent a couple hours and the cell was just "parked" over our airport.  Oh well.  Coming back for a class re-Union Saturday so into my in laws Toyota Pick-up w/topper.  Dogs settled in back.  Weather DID finally clear by 8PM (VFR), but glad we made the decision we did.  We both thought about "Pre-GPS weather" and the unknowns/uncertainty of flight "back in the day...not so long ago" and we're happy to have the technology that allowed good conservative decisions to be made.  Trip up was at 6500 and return at 4500.  Burned 10.1 and 10.3 at 10-20LOP both ways.  Love our Mooney.  Fingers crossed for an uneventful "Group Drone Photo"...supposed to be 97 in Des Moines tomorrow...

Edited July 20, 2016 by MyNameIsNobody

[Skates97]

First XC solo today, it was an adventure... Will write it up a little later with some more pics over in my training thread.

[Hank]

That smile says it all! 

Going all those new places on your own is such a liberating feeling of accomplishment!

[Skates97]

Just now, Hyett6420 said:

Yay, well done, i remember mine as though it was yesterday.  Such fun.  Great you have pics to remember it by as well.   Whats the plane by the way i have been trying to work it out?  

It's a Cherokee 140. Great little plane to train in.

[Yooper Rocketman]

4 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Ah ok.  So whats the handle for in the roof, sunroof perhaps?  

 

 

 

Elevator  trim.

Edited;  Well actually Stabilator trim.  The whole horizontal stabilizer changes pitch to trim.

[flyboy0681]

On 7/19/2016 at 4:48 PM, Hyett6420 said:

So Sunday was a lovely day in the UK. Andrew 2 had had a shit week so Andrew 1 (me) started plotting on Thursday with one of Andrew 2 s friends to take him to Le Touquet for lunch. LT is also called Paris  sur la plage and it lives upto. It's name. 

A picnic was organised, bags subtly packed with beach towels and sun cream. Andrew 2 told he had a surprise on Sunday. (He HATES surprises).  We drove to the airport and there was his friend Jessica waiting and waving at him. A big smile appeared on his face.  

A quick 40 min flight (I love my Mooney) and we were in France. 15 mins later we were on the beach. Mr "cinq" minutes and his taxi (that is honestly what he calls himself because everywhere in LT takes 5 minutes).  had picked us up and dropped us off. 

So 5 lovely hours were spent on the beach. Then home. Easy flight. Good weather and a very happy fiancé. Did I say I Love my Mooney? . 

 

I'm envious. From my home base, 40 minutes in most directions finds me over farmland or swampland. The again, 40 minutes to the east are the Bahamas, so I probably shouldn't complain.

[Skates97]

7 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Ah ok.  So whats the handle for in the roof, sunroof perhaps?  

Second point, WHAT ON EARTH is someone from California doing answering posts at 08:30 UK time?  You should be well tucked up in bed.

 

 

Got home, watched a movie with my son, then was excited to write about my flight...

3 hours ago, Yooper Rocketman said:

Elevator  trim.

Edited;  Well actually Stabilator trim.  The whole horizontal stabilizer changes pitch to trim.

Yes, the trim. Took some getting used to at first, reaching up and feeling around for it.

[Yetti]

Hot

Tried for an early morning departure down to Victoria Texas with Mrs. Yetti.  Her relatives have a bakery on main street.  45 minute flight.  Nice crew cars at the FBO with working AC.  A quick trip to town.   We bought some goodies for the FBO.  I don't think anyone had ever brought the FBO staff presents before.  

A pit stop at Columbus on the way back.   And then a 2 hour nap to recover from the heat.   Did I mention it was Hot?

Probably the best cinnamon roles I have ever had

Did I mention it was hot

Sweet As Can Be Bakery in Victoria Texas

First triple digit day of the year.   Hot

 

[bonal]

Just a morning run to STS to beat the heat it's back in the hundreds again and turns out the Bohemian grove gathering was ending so the field was packed with big jets including a private 737 had to wait a long time for our turn to depart. Plugs fouled when we took the runway but cleared as soon as the rpm came up. Caught a little wake turbulence from the departing jet ahead of us picked up the right wing a bit nothing scary but definitely felt it. Snoopy running a bit hot looking forward to cooler weather.

[MyNameIsNobody]

Quick flight .6 home today after class reunion.  There was a pancake breakfast so there was a lot of fun activity out at the airport. We followed a pair of Beeches (V Tail and Deb) out.  Low cloud layer (about 3000') so just got up through at 4500.  Fun to descend down through the opening where you can feel the speed (about 180).  A lot of radio chatter with folks heading to Oshkosh. Nice controlled decent and straight in on 27 for a stall! Stall! Squeeker and hold it off.  Always like when my wife says that was a really nice landing honey....Awwwwwwww.  I love my Mooney and in my opinion I have the best Lookin' gal from the class

Edited July 25, 2016 by MyNameIsNobody

[MyNameIsNobody]

3 hours ago, bonal said:

Just a morning run to STS to beat the heat it's back in the hundreds again and turns out the Bohemian grove gathering was ending so the field was packed with big jets including a private 737 had to wait a long time for our turn to depart. Plugs fouled when we took the runway but cleared as soon as the rpm came up. Caught a little wake turbulence from the departing jet ahead of us picked up the right wing a bit nothing scary but definitely felt it. Snoopy running a bit hot looking forward to cooler weather.

We are FINaLLY getting a break from high 90's and dew points in the mid 70's tonight.  Siiiiiiigh.  Feels good.  Kel appreciates the knee ram air vent that we installed on co-pilot side last annual.

[N5756v]

On Saturday we went over to ADA Oklahoma for my wife's grandfathers 84th birthday . Made his day that we flew in. All his grandchildren showed up but one . Man down in that heat and humidity that plane climbs kinda slow . Always seems like a pig down low . I included a few generic pictures . I sure wish I took better pictures or at least had better landmarks to show you .

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[Skates97]

First time flying at night. Left CNO just as the sun was going down and a short flight over to POC to get in some of the required 10 TO/Landings to a complete stop for my PPL requirements. Got in five TO/Landings over at POC and returned to CNO a little after the tower closed so had the added benefit of radio work for an un-towered field. I've always enjoyed flying commercial airlines at night, seeing the lights of the cities. I don't know that I would like flying over un-populated areas at night, but I sure enjoyed last night flying after dark over the city.

[N5756v]

Well another trip to OKC . It was fun but had to dodge storms going and coming

Used AAR at Will Rodgers , very nice FBO

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[Hank]

From Saturday. Somehow this disappeared then, and magically reappeared just now . . .

I can sympathize with hot! I had a lovely 45-minute flight each way to Dothan, AL for an IMC Club meeting. Made a pit stop for gas on the way home at Tuskegee, home of the Tuskegee Airmen. Great fuel price!

From there, it was 10.4 nm home, and 1500 msl put me about 1200 agl. Entering the pattern, the OAT was 91°, it was almost 1:00 and I was beginning to sweat. Landed, taxied to the hangar, unlocked and opened the door. Took me three tries to get the main gear up the little bump in the concrete . . . By the time I cleaned the windshield, I was really hot! Started the truck, turned AC to Max and made two trips carrying things out, including a half bottle of water from the fridge (it had been full when I pushed the plane in). By the time I drove home, my front side was pretty cool. Walked into the house and took off my shirt, the back was still sweat soaked. It was clean and dry at 0800 . . .

No, I'm not ready for fall, I just need to fly earlier in the day.    But I did manage a nice, long nap, then bagged another hour by accident after the alarm I had set went off.

[Hank]

Today's flight from today (Wednesday):

Left after work, drove a few minutes (5? 8?) to the airport and cranked up at 5:47 CDT (2247Z). Flew 3:15 to the beach in NC, arriving at the little grass strip just after 10:00 EST (~0200Z). Watched distant lightning from Florence, SC all the way over; neither they nor Myrtle Beach showed anything on the radar. Talking to Wilmington, they showed precip right over my destination, and I saw much lightning but for whatever reason the durn StormScope was clear! Need to get that checked out . . .

Anyway, found the field at 2000 msl, as low as Approach would let me go (elevation 40 msl). So I cancelled, circled back, found the field and entered downwind with Takeoff flaps and dropped the gear. Turned base and lost the (dim) runway lights. Passing through 300 msl I went around, crossing the field climbing back through 300. Second try I carefully watched the lights and found a large light near the field, lost them all on base and missed the field again. Third time around I watched more carefully, but had to drag my eyes inside periodically to check ASI and altimeter. Found additional nearby landmark lights, turned base, still saw the other lights, turned final and nearing 200 msl saw the runway lights on one side of the runway. 

Maneuvered for better alignment and the second side appeared, they're just in a narrow slot through the pine trees. Remembered the power lines in the pines on short final, going to the substation beside the runway and made sure to clear the trees well; landed not too far beyond the displaced threshold, taxied back and my wife helped me muscle the plane into alignment with the tie downs hidden in the grass since I pulled between two spots, I only saw one rope sticking out of the grass in her headlights.

I'll put up a picture of typical southeastern haze tomorrow, my phone is charging. Now that the airport has lights and a gravel road (thanks, Life Flight, for basing there!), I need new airport pictures, too. They even painted the mailbox to put the $25/month tie down fees in.   Mucho progress since my first flight down in '07, I even had an audience who came out of a house to watch, it was kind of hard to miss me going full power at 200-250 agl!

But hey, I'm at the beach and life is good. Ya'll take care!

Edited July 28, 2016 by Hank

[Skates97]

7 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Oh you will enjoy unpopulated areas.  You just have to remember when flying that the engine does not know it is nighttime nor does it know it is over an unpopulated area.  After all you drive at night in unpopulated areas don't you and I bet you don't carry spare fuel, emergency radio, ELT, radar following etc in your car.

keep going it's so much fun once you have the licence and still the best chat up line I have ever discovered.

We'll see. My dad said when he was in the Air Force he always loved flying at night whether it was over the cities or the middle of nowhere Alaska. Next week I do my night XC with my CFI, not sure where I want to fly to yet but I'll come up with somewhere.

[Raptor05121]

Today was really special to me. My instructor knows my frustration with my plane, so he offered to take me up in his immaculate Comanche 180 and get my complex done, as well as log some hood/cross-country time for my IFR. I was so overwhelmed but it was a blast. Just staring at the panel, making small corrections, turn here, descend here, take the foggles off and seeing the runway right in front of you is COOL!

 

 

[Hank]

Almost forgot the pictures. Staying low to avoid buildups above the layer for the first 50 nm, then climbing into clear skies. It was worth it to reach the beautiful North Carolina beaches!

Edited July 30, 2016 by Hank

[carusoam]

Andrew, do you have a blue light on the IP to let you know the source of the nav signal?  Mid 90's solution of two NAV sources.  Blue means the GPS box is live, no light means the VOR/ILS is live or the bulb is out...

It may be helpful to your situation if you have two separate boxes for GPS and VOR/ILS...

Or skip the switch and go with a GTN or IFD....  

Best regards,

-a-

[bonal]

Too damn hot to fly today yesterday hit 106 tomorrow supposed to get back to the lower 90's have to make an early start. Winter flying is much nicer in CA. 

[jonhop]

No flying today... It's Annual Time! Wish me luck... only down $700 for some scat tubing, brake hose, and 8 Tempest fine wire spark plugs so far...

[bonal]

Good luck on the annual Jon, yesterday we took my wife's friend out to breakfast at WLW then on the way back she suggested we fly out to the coast for a look see. The marine layer was in but had some holes to look through. 

 

[Guest]

I just returned from an evening flight around downtown Toronto with my daughter in my RV4.  Too many departures coming off the airport, so no laps around the CN Tower.

Clarence