Mooney in tomorrow's DC flyby

[Rick Junkin]

Who is flying the Mooney in tomorrow's 61-ship GA fly-by in DC? The AOPA web page shows it as #35 in the lineup. An historic event, a string of 61 aircraft flying down the mall through P-56. A couple of my friends will be in the Swift.

Cheers,
Junkman

[Boilermonkey]

I think Alex will be flying his M20F.

[Ragsf15e]

Wow, that sounds fantastic!  I’d love to see that!

[Rick Junkin]

I got this from my buddies flying the Swift:

Mooney Ovation

 

The link to the livestream is on the AOPA website, starting at 1145 eastern tomorrow (Saturday the 11th).

AOPA.org

Cheers,
Junkman

[Shadrach]

9 hours ago, Rick Junkin said:

I got this from my buddies flying the Swift:

Mooney Ovation

 

The link to the livestream is on the AOPA website, starting at 1145 eastern tomorrow (Saturday the 11th).

AOPA.org

Cheers,
Junkman

N1525T is an Ovation local to KFDK . It’s the only Mooney I saw listed in the line up.

GAFlyOver4.4.pdf

[mike_elliott]

17 hours ago, Rick Junkin said:

Who is flying the Mooney in tomorrow's 61-ship GA fly-by in DC? The AOPA web page shows it as #35 in the lineup. An historic event, a string of 61 aircraft flying down the mall through P-56. A couple of my friends will be in the Swift.

Cheers,
Junkman

Yes it is Mooney Summit event director and Board member Alex Gertsen. You can watch it here

 

[Rick Junkin]

2 hours ago, mike_elliott said:

Yes it is Mooney Summit event director and Board member Alex Gertsen. You can watch it here

 

It appears Alex is riding along in John Hamilton’s airplane. Interesting that they indicate PIC by three of the four names of the folks in the airplane. I’m curious what that means.

[Rick Junkin]

The flying event appeared well and safely executed, but the livestream was disappointing in quality and content. It appeared lower resolution ground cameras were used for the real time video stream with no airborne video permitted due to security concerns. I expected more from the commentary too. That could very well be because my expectations were too high though. If you didn't watch the livestream I don't recommend using an hour of your time to watch the recording on Youtube or the AOPA website.

AOPA is producing a video of the event that should be a much better record including airborne video, but it won't be released for a month or so after it's been edited and reviewed for public release. I expect that will be worth watching.

Cheers,
Junkman

[toto]

Does anyone have a time reference for the Mooney appearance? I’ve been bouncing all around the video and I’ve been watched about half of it now, but haven’t found the Mooney yet

 

[Rick Junkin]

2 minutes ago, toto said:

Does anyone have a time reference for the Mooney appearance? I’ve been bouncing all around the video and I’ve been watched about half of it now, but haven’t found the Mooney yet

 

56:25

[toto]

5 minutes ago, Rick Junkin said:

56:25

Thank you!!

[DCarlton]

3 hours ago, toto said:

Does anyone have a time reference for the Mooney appearance? I’ve been bouncing all around the video and I’ve been watched about half of it now, but haven’t found the Mooney yet

 

It wasn't very "thrilling" and it got clipped short by the next airplane in the lineup.  Not much was said; Kerville, Mooney struggling, etc.    Hopefully the edited version to be published later will be a little more interesting.  

[DCarlton]

3 hours ago, Rick Junkin said:

The flying event appeared well and safely executed, but the livestream was disappointing in quality and content. It appeared lower resolution ground cameras were used for the real time video stream with no airborne video permitted due to security concerns. I expected more from the commentary too. That could very well be because my expectations were too high though. If you didn't watch the livestream I don't recommend using an hour of your time to watch the recording on Youtube or the AOPA website.

AOPA is producing a video of the event that should be a much better record including airborne video, but it won't be released for a month or so after it's been edited and reviewed for public release. I expect that will be worth watching.

Cheers,
Junkman

Exactly.  

[Shadrach]

3 hours ago, toto said:

Does anyone have a time reference for the Mooney appearance? I’ve been bouncing all around the video and I’ve been watched about half of it now, but haven’t found the Mooney yet

 

It was a local Ovation, and it was not on static display after the fly over. I was under the departure end of 23 for the take off. It was good for observing but the position of the sun made most planes look like silhouettes.

 

 

[Shadrach]

Even as a silhouette, the Spartan Executive is stunning.

[Shadrach]

5 hours ago, Rick Junkin said:

The flying event appeared well and safely executed, but the livestream was disappointing in quality and content. It appeared lower resolution ground cameras were used for the real time video stream with no airborne video permitted due to security concerns. I expected more from the commentary too. That could very well be because my expectations were too high though. If you didn't watch the livestream I don't recommend using an hour of your time to watch the recording on Youtube or the AOPA website.

AOPA is producing a video of the event that should be a much better record including airborne video, but it won't be released for a month or so after it's been edited and reviewed for public release. I expect that will be worth watching.

Cheers,
Junkman

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Yesterday’s static display for the public was rained out. Today there were lots of folks observing the departures from off airport locations but the event did not seem especially friendly to the public. We lunched at a family members hangar and then strolled around the aircraft as they parked after the fly over. I saw many familiar and friendly faces from the local pilot community and AOPA, but not a lot of non aviation families. We had full access to the parked aircraft which was nice. There were no crowds.

The flight itself sort of showcased the type of flying that has not been possible in GA for a long time. 

On the up side I met a gentleman observing off airport who had lots of airplane questions. After he asked about flight training, I offered to take him up in the Mooney in the next week or so. To which he eagerly accepted. 
 

 

[67 m20F chump]

Flying around the DC area used to be so easy.  I used to be one of the traffic pilots flying the beltway at 1000’.  It was fun and I was young.  The DC area has become such a PIA to fly in that I just go around.  

[Shadrach]

3 minutes ago, 67 m20F chump said:

Flying around the DC area used to be so easy.  I used to be one of the traffic pilots flying the beltway at 1000’.  It was fun and I was young.  The DC area has become such a PIA to fly in that I just go around.  

Did you fly the Cessna SkyMaster that I frequently saw around the I495/I270 corridor?

 

[67 m20F chump]

I was in the mighty C172.  1000 hours at 1000’.  This was early 90’s.  Back when Walt Starling was doing it.  5 cessna 172’s and whatever Montgomery county was flying.  

[Shadrach]

10 minutes ago, 67 m20F chump said:

I was in the mighty C172.  1000 hours at 1000’.  This was early 90’s.  Back when Walt Starling was doing it.  5 cessna 172’s and whatever Montgomery county was flying.  

I remember launching out of college park with my brother in a rented 172 circa 1997 and sight seeing around the beltway before circling the steeple of the Mormon tabernacle. Self announcing in the pattern at KCGS was the extent of our radio work.

[Pinecone]

I did my helicopter ratings out of Clinton, W32, now closed.  Used to do the helicopter routes in and around the beltway.  The fun one was up or down the Potomac.  At or BELOW 200 AGL from Wilson Bridge to Rosslyn.