Today's flight for 2018

[KLRDMD]

Flight home from work this evening.

[tigers2007]

Landed an hour ago at Hillary Clinton’s Airport in Little Rock to complete the flight portion of my Flight Review. First time I’ve done it using the Wings program. CFI from Central Flying Service was great and the C172 we used was a fun blast from the past. Too bad my lonely M20 is 1000 miles North all by its self.

Who knew that from a couple thousand feet the entire state of Arkansas looks like a gigantic rice patty. Definitely a wheels up landing if you had to put it down somewhere other than a runway or road here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Raptor05121]

We went out for breakfast this morning to Keystone Airpark where there is a bit of history hiding away unless you know how to look for it...

There is a small collection of NASA stuff in storage by a small company trying to raise funds for a museum. Its called Dreams of Flight here in Keystone Heights, FL. First stop on the tour was a backstop used by P-47 crews during WW2 when the airfield was builtt- they would use to aim divergence on their guns. The airport tried to get it removed but OSHA came by and did a soil sample and said "no way" with all the lead thats in that bunker.

These are the wrenches used to bolt the Shuttle to the launch pad. 

....and these are the bolts. Just 8 of them held the SRBs down, and used frangible explosive nuts to detatch at T-0. You can also see brand-new, never used spare window frames for the orbiter in the top of the photo.

Consoles used during the Shuttle era:

A used set of Michelin tires. Each set was used once and then removed. These came off Discovery during STS-105 in 2001.

And here is the pricetag on only ONE of the ELEVEN nitrogen fuel tanks used in the orbiter

 

Now I think this was THE COOLEST part of the tour. This is the front and rear pieces of the Shuttle Simulator. In these seats sat EVERY ASTRONAUT that ever flew a shuttle. Even the fated Columbia and Challenger crews.

The little brown boxes, each of those contains one brand-new chute for the top of the SRBs. Never used, spares made and left abandoned by NASA. This big container? Steel and sealed simply bears the stenciled markings "GRUMMAN AEROSPACE CORP BETHPAGE, NY" and just under it: "P/N B91B30001-48 EA OUTBOARD ELEVON R.H"

Here is the first airplane in the world to sport wingtips. NASA used this plane to do drag tests which later became norm for commercial airliners and jets

All of this stuff was simply being tossed away by NASA. They got word, went down there with a convoy of trucks, and took is all home for free. They are hoping to raise money to build three hangars and display museum buildings to house off this stuff. The pictures above are only a taste of some of the stuff they have.

We then left and went for lunch a few miles away at a friends airstrip for some good food:

I then tried my hand at the spot landing contest. Other "opponents" were two 182s, a Comanche 250, 172, a RV-4, and two Aeronca Champs (which I think took 1st and 2nd place). I'm still awaiting the results but I think I came damned close.

 

[Skates97]

A great flight back from Phoenix to SoCal today. The sunset lasted for about an hour, it was amazing. Here's a few pictures, more over on my blog. I think I took about 40 pictures, every time I thought it was going to start fading away it just got better.

https://intothesky.us/2018/11/04/sunset/

[bonal]

Reached a couple of milestones today. Flew down to LVK to celebrate reaching 60 years young with my wife and family. And started the first page of my second log book having filled my first . Heading south we were gifted with 185mph ground speed even though only at 2450 and 22mp. Had to pay for it on return trip giving as low as 120mph in a pretty stiff headwind and as we got closer to home and reached the local hills the ride got pretty bumpy.  Couple of approaches to very smooth landings made for a very nice day.

 

 

 

[Mooney in Oz]

On 10/31/2018 at 7:17 AM, ziggysanchez said:

Meant to post this Sunday. It was a bumpy day down low in Oklahoma but still a beautiful day to fly. Caught a video of my final approach into my home airport KGOK (Guthrie, OK).

Hey Ziggy.  That video was so crisp and clear when I viewed it on my 27" iMac I felt as though I was sitting on your horizontal stab looking forward.  Was the camera mounted on top or underneath your stab?

[ziggysanchez]

1 hour ago, Mooney in Oz said:

Hey Ziggy.  That video was so crisp and clear when I viewed it on my 27" iMac I felt as though I was sitting on your horizontal stab looking forward.  Was the camera mounted on top or underneath your stab?

It is mounted on top. I think that is my favorite angle to record from because it always gives me the feeling of flying while watching. Glad you enjoyed the video.

Edited November 6, 2018 by ziggysanchez

[Marauder]

Anyone else notice that when flying our Mooneys, things seem to happen quicker?

[kmyfm20s]

Coming home from work! Not a bad day at the office when you get to finish it like this.

 

[Hank]

2 hours ago, Marauder said:

Anyone else notice that when flying our Mooneys, things seem to happen quicker?

 

Dadgumit, that's a lot of button pushing!!

Why'd you keep grabbing the windshield post? I only use it to slide the seat forward when I first get in . . .

[EricJ]

25 minutes ago, Hank said:

Why'd you keep grabbing the windshield post? I only use it to slide the seat forward when I first get in . . .

If you need to lose a little altitude you can pull down on it once in a while.

[N201MKTurbo]

When I was young I had a blue Mooney. Now that I’m grown up I have a red Mooney.

Just a random thought on election night....

Edited November 7, 2018 by N201MKTurbo

[Marauder]

5 hours ago, Hank said:

Dadgumit, that's a lot of button pushing!!

Why'd you keep grabbing the windshield post? I only use it to slide the seat forward when I first get in . . .

Couple of reasons, a few times I was seeing traffic in front of me on TIS-B and grabbed it to lookover the cowl to see if I could find the elusive plane. A couple of other times, I was running into some rough turbulent air and was holding on for the ride.

[EricJ]

21 hours ago, EricJ said:

If you need to lose a little altitude you can pull down on it once in a while.

Was joke, btw.

[amillet]

Approaching right downwind to 32R at Boeing Field KBFI

[jackn]

Flew West Bound down to NJ on Saturday. 280 @24G35 landing rwy 32 @ KBLM. Stayed low to stay under the N.Y. Bravo, at one point down to 400ft. Forget using a/p as turbulence kept knocking it off. One of the longest hour I’ve had. Still better than 5 hour drive. 

[0TreeLemur]

On 11/12/2018 at 12:26 PM, jackn said:

Flew West Bound down to NJ on Saturday. 280 @24G35 landing rwy 32 @ KBLM. Stayed low to stay under the N.Y. Bravo, at one point down to 400ft. Forget using a/p as turbulence kept knocking it off. One of the longest hour I’ve had. Still better than 5 hour drive. 

No photos?   Sorry- didn't happen.

[jackn]

On 11/16/2018 at 10:47 PM, Fred_2O said:

No photos?   Sorry- didn't happen.

You know, I’m real sorry I didn’t get the wife to take a video, especially the approach & landing. She actually seemed to be having a great time. 

[0TreeLemur]

Wicked Mooney  M20C wing-tip vortex!    Evening/night flight to try out the upgraded NAV lights.    Seen flying from TCL-EET off the right wing.  Taken by my copilot.

Edited November 20, 2018 by Fred_2O
humor.

[Hank]

Had a short flight to Andalusia, AL on Saturday for the South Alabama Air Show. It was a blast! Great performances from everyone, and a huge variety of acts. Even had a special visitor. 

and the best sunset when I landed at home!

It was a surprisingly good show, clear blue skies, calm winds and comfortable temperatures. Huge variety of performers, from Cub to MiG-17, with a B-52H "special guest" that made 3 passes before heading out.

You never know what you will find at a small, out-of-the-way air show. No admission charge, either. I made sure to buy fuel, and had great lunch from an area civic group. 

Flying down and back was smooth as glass and very satisfying. The whole day just made me feel good!

[aviatoreb]

Over the hills and through the woods to grandmothers house we go for thanksgiving. But wow all the traffic! Not.

[kpaul]

Thanksgiving eve I flew to SE Georgia to pick up my son.  On the way back I took this picture over Birmingham AL.  The Hi-way I was on was clear of brakelights. 

[carusoam]

Better or worse?

[kpaul]

3 hours ago, carusoam said:

Better or worse?

Thanks for the assist...can't say I would have wanted to be on the ground no mater the orientation in this case.

[aviatoreb]

5 hours ago, carusoam said:

Better or worse?

I wish Mooneyspace had a tool to edit our own figures to rotate them ourselves and to do so within the original post.