It’s Todays Flight for 2025

[jeremyc209]

Already posted in the West Coast group but here's Burning Man at ~3000 AGL, taken yesterday

 

[N201MKTurbo]

I was having dinner with my wife last night and said we should go somewhere this weekend. She said that sounds great. So I reserved a hotel in Grover’s Beach CA.

We got up this morning, packed a bag and headed to the airport. This is what I Found:

I knew they were going to work on the ramp, I thought they were just going to seal the cracks. Oh, well.

[Ibra]

3 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I thought they were just going to seal the cracks

Did they find some Roman's empire remains? (a British joke or excuse everytime someone digs and leave it that way) 

Edited September 6 by Ibra

[Sue Bon]

Yesterday I flew to Augsburg, outside of Munich. There were many firsts for me. The first first was the NOTAM for Augsburg (EDMA) stating that overflight is prohibited due to bomb disposal (exhibit A).

The second first was getting the call, "free of storks" on climb out. At my home airport, we have an offset approach due to a stork sanctuary. Yesterday there were at least three of these flocks circling next to the runway and possibly directly over and around the grass runway. The photo is the best I could do from the taxiway. I counted about 70 in that flock, so there were at least 250-300 storks total flying in our airspace (exhibit B).

The third first was this factory I saw in Germany in the middle of the forest. Maybe @MatthiasArnold knows what it is. Strange location; hundreds of employees (exhibit C).

I had a fourth first, but I can't remember what it was. Anyway... interesting day!

[Fly Boomer]

4 hours ago, Sue Bon said:

I had a fourth first, but I can't remember what it was.

The fourth item is:  This is the first time in life that you can only recall three items on your list.  Happens to me all the time at market.

[MatthiasArnold]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/AUTOKONTOR+BAYERN+GmbH/@48.2093695,10.2422981,624m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x479bfccc28d7597f:0xab777d33c65ae655!8m2!3d48.2096824!4d10.2412281!16s%2Fg%2F1vn_xynh?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkwMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Autokontor Bayern - just a trader & storage of used cars (somewhere in the middle of nowhere ;-), street address:

Autokontor Bayern
An der Lehmgrube 1
D- 89290 Buch

The address translates to something like "By the clay pit", so obviously the terrain of some ancient pit.
That might be the reason why they are allowed to have such a business right within a forest (in Germany).

And maybe they also store some new cars, where production was higher than demand ;-)

Best,

Matthias

 

[Ibra]

3 hours ago, MatthiasArnold said:

That might be the reason why they are allowed to have such a business right within a forest (in Germany).

By the time you reach that place, you have no other choice than buying, otherwise you are not going back 

Edited September 8 by Ibra

[MatthiasArnold]

Sounds a little bit like „Hotel California“:

“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave“ ..

[Ibra]

Sunday was a great day to visit Microlights MULM expo (LSA machines) in France, I am very impressed by the new shinny "250 ULM/LSA": they can fly at FL250 or 250ft agl doing 250kts speeds, unfortunately at 250k€ they are still beyond my budget, I can get an Ovation or Encore for that price 

Return flight was done IFR over Paris, we wanted to overfly Disney, our flat and see Melun airshow from 7000ft but ATC want us at 5000ft before being vectored away: two Pitts were using all the airspace in their RAT at the way to 5500ft !! 

Kid waiting for the "mini-train"

Route over Disney in East of Paris,

Disney,

On ILS for Toussus (LFPN)

Edited September 11 by Ibra

[Marc_B]

Happy Wingtip Wednesday!  Flying back from SLC; turns out an easy and friendly Bravo. Had to deviate a a little wx but a fun and pretty flight back to CO.  Starting to see “hints” of the fall colors coming in the next 2-3 weeks!

 

[DCarlton]

3 hours ago, Marc_B said:

Happy Wingtip Wednesday!  Flying back from SLC; turns out an easy and friendly Bravo. Had to deviate a a little wx but a fun and pretty flight back to CO.  Starting to see “hints” of the fall colors coming in the next 2-3 weeks!

 

I see you’re in a K but what route do you take from SLC to CO?  Would like to find a good fall day to do it in my F without getting too high for too long.  Would like to get from SOCAL to WY without going down low through ELP.  

[Marc_B]

9 hours ago, DCarlton said:

I see you’re in a K but what route do you take from SLC to CO?  Would like to find a good fall day to do it in my F without getting too high for too long.  Would like to get from SOCAL to WY without going down low through ELP.  

ATC routing for me (I was IFR and this was assigned): KSLC FFU V134 PUC V208 MTU BARGR V4 GLL KGXY flying at 15,000.  I'm not sure if the routing up to BARGR was because I was at 15k or just to keep me out of the way for DEN arrivals (arrival gates are in the 4 corners NW/NE/SE/SW).  They usually give me an arrival (BARGR V4 GLL was given by Denver center in flight).  In general if IFR, ATC likes to keep you at 16k and above going through the meat of Colorado...but they don't always have to.

On the way out to SLC they assigned ROCKI7 EKR SPANE8 KSLC at 16,000.  Took off on vectors and past Denver was given direct ZIMMR (which is right around Rollins Pass).  The freeze line was around 15-16k and a cloud layer ahead with bases right at my altitude, so I asked for, and received, 14,000 for the western half of Colorado on.  Completely clear below.

Lots of mountain passes make mountain flying in Colorado passable even for the normally aspirated.  But with NA, you sometimes have fewer options so you just need to pick better weather/larger weather windows.  The best way to learn more, get locals knowledge, and learn the ins and outs of Colorado is to take the Colorado Pilots Association Mountain Flying Course.

Regardless if you take the course, the website linked above has more info about Colorado Mountain Passes.  Additionally some pilots just use Victor airways to help guide planning...i.e. V244 is a great airway that only keeps the MEA at 16000 crossing the Sangre de Christos, but you can use Monarch pass to stay a little lower if needed.  Many of the airways have lower MOCAs.

In general, my rule of thumb is that with Colorado mountain flying you need to check surrounding weather and winds.  If the passes and the surrounding areas around have >25 kts wind, that's not a mtn flying day.

As a final suggestion, my friend and CFI/CFII @MarcJohnson also would probably be happy to set up a time to take you mountain flying in Colorado.  He flies a M20K, but has lots of Mooney experience in other NA Mooneys and is based in Colorado Springs (COS).  A September/early October flight around Colorado makes for a beautiful flying day with the changing leaves...a stop in Leadville (LXV) to get your "highest airport in North America certificate" and a stop down in Salida (ANK) for lunch along the river makes an awesome day!

[DCarlton]

3 hours ago, Marc_B said:

ATC routing for me (I was IFR and this was assigned): KSLC FFU V134 PUC V208 MTU BARGR V4 GLL KGXY flying at 15,000.  I'm not sure if the routing up to BARGR was because I was at 15k or just to keep me out of the way for DEN arrivals (arrival gates are in the 4 corners NW/NE/SE/SW).  They usually give me an arrival (BARGR V4 GLL was given by Denver center in flight).  In general if IFR, ATC likes to keep you at 16k and above going through the meat of Colorado...but they don't always have to.

On the way out to SLC they assigned ROCKI7 EKR SPANE8 KSLC at 16,000.  Took off on vectors and past Denver was given direct ZIMMR (which is right around Rollins Pass).  The freeze line was around 15-16k and a cloud layer ahead with bases right at my altitude, so I asked for, and received, 14,000 for the western half of Colorado on.  Completely clear below.

Lots of mountain passes make mountain flying in Colorado passable even for the normally aspirated.  But with NA, you sometimes have fewer options so you just need to pick better weather/larger weather windows.  The best way to learn more, get locals knowledge, and learn the ins and outs of Colorado is to take the Colorado Pilots Association Mountain Flying Course.

Regardless if you take the course, the website linked above has more info about Colorado Mountain Passes.  Additionally some pilots just use Victor airways to help guide planning...i.e. V244 is a great airway that only keeps the MEA at 16000 crossing the Sangre de Christos, but you can use Monarch pass to stay a little lower if needed.  Many of the airways have lower MOCAs.

In general, my rule of thumb is that with Colorado mountain flying you need to check surrounding weather and winds.  If the passes and the surrounding areas around have >25 kts wind, that's not a mtn flying day.

As a final suggestion, my friend and CFI/CFII @MarcJohnson also would probably be happy to set up a time to take you mountain flying in Colorado.  He flies a M20K, but has lots of Mooney experience in other NA Mooneys and is based in Colorado Springs (COS).  A September/early October flight around Colorado makes for a beautiful flying day with the changing leaves...a stop in Leadville (LXV) to get your "highest airport in North America certificate" and a stop down in Salida (ANK) for lunch along the river makes an awesome day!

I flew into KPUB many years ago but flew up the east side of the mountains from KABQ.  It was a rough ride the whole way and there was definitely a mountain waves across ABQ.  A mountain flying class would be a good experience.  

[Marc_B]

1 hour ago, DCarlton said:

A mountain flying class would be a good experience.  

I think the CPA course is well run and you can also sign up for a flight with an instructor as well.  I picked up instructor at Longmont, flew to Kremmeling (20V), overflew Eagle (EGE) over to Aspen (ASE), then to Glenwood Springs (GWS) which is shorter runway with terrain around and fun, the over to Leadville (LXV)...unfortunately the FBO was closed and I had to get a "certificate" the second time I landed there.  Then back over to LMO to drop off instructor. 

If you're coming in from out of town they reserve all the next day flights for the traveling students.  Otherwise you can take the course and then schedule a mountain flight with an instructor at your leisure.  I'm a CPA member but not affiliated with the course, and definitely thought it was worth my time and training dollars!

[Hank]

Somewhere over South Carolina. Despite the appearance, this is not a lake, just summer haze and low clouds.

[Skates97]

Finally made it up to Half Moon Bay. Shot the approach and broke out at 1,500'. Had a great lunch and took off in VFR conditions to fly the San Francisco Bay.

[varlajo]

6 hours ago, Skates97 said:

Finally made it up to Half Moon Bay. Shot the approach and broke out at 1,500'. Had a great lunch and took off in VFR conditions to fly the San Francisco Bay.

Lovely!! For another flavor of Bay Area flying experience, may I suggest E55, 0Q3, and 1C9. Happy to fly formation! 

[exM20K]

Red "Roll" flag = inop autopilot. 

3.5 hours of proof that the autopilot does a much better job than I do. The flight actually seemed to pass quicker with my attention much more focused on "flying" tasks.

GIA or Roll Servo? Will know more tomorrow, but i've been getting a data path failure alert on startup for some time now.

-dan

[rklems]

13 hours ago, exM20K said:

GIA or Roll Servo? Will know more tomorrow, but i've been getting a data path failure alert on startup for some time now.

If I was a betting man, I'd probably put money on the GSA 81 Roll Servo. We maintain the CAP AZ Wing aircraft (almost all G1000 + GFC700 AP), and I've yet to see a GIA failure for the autopilot, but in the past year have had to replace 4 GSA 81 servos (3 roll and one pitch IIRC, but they are identical servos... just the strapping is different). Typical failure mode is they stop talking on the RS-485 bus back to the GIA (had one that was still talking, but wouldn't actually actuate). Pretty easy to test in the config mode on the G1000, can then ring out wiring, make up a pass through cable to patch the wiring to another servo, or fairly easily swap the servo with another one from the ship to confirm wiring is functional but servo isn't talking. The GFC700 is nice for servo replacements, like the 200 series King servos, where you replace the servo independent of the servo mount, makes it pretty painless. The only other GFC 700 failures I've seen in the last year was a short in one of the two trim signal wires (there is a trim arm, and then a up or down command), the arm wire had chaffed and was continuously shorted to ground causing an AFCS failure in the PFT, and there was one broken wire in the connector for a pitch servo. These aren't what I'd call premature failures on the servos though, they all had several thousand hours of being in the aircraft, and their operations are pretty AP usage heavy.

[exM20K]

Thanks @rklems.  There is now a message under the PFD “Alerts” soft key that says something like “your GIA is screwed up. Return for service.” 
 

anyway, just for funzies, I’ll disconnect everything I can and spray with contact cleaner. Maybe I get lucky. 
-dan

[rklems]

49 minutes ago, exM20K said:

Thanks @rklems.  There is now a message under the PFD “Alerts” soft key that says something like “your GIA is screwed up. Return for service.” 
 

anyway, just for funzies, I’ll disconnect everything I can and spray with contact cleaner. Maybe I get lucky. 
-dan

I'd be curious what the exact error is, feel free to DM me a picture of the message it's giving you.

[Hank]

39 minutes ago, exM20K said:

Thanks @rklems.  There is now a message under the PFD “Alerts” soft key that says something like “your GIA is screwed up. Return for service.” 
 

anyway, just for funzies, I’ll disconnect everything I can and spray with contact cleaner. Maybe I get lucky. 
-dan

Stuck buttons are no fun. I just had the Nav flip-flop button on my G430W stick. Found it while trying to track an ILS in actual. Not the time to press-press-press-press until it suddenly starts working again. 

[dkkim73]

6 hours ago, exM20K said:

Thanks @rklems.  There is now a message under the PFD “Alerts” soft key that says something like “your GIA is screwed up. Return for service.” 
 

anyway, just for funzies, I’ll disconnect everything I can and spray with contact cleaner. Maybe I get lucky. 
-dan

Lost the PTRM servo in June. Ended up being the servo itself, quick swap, capstan/clutch stays. Local Garmin shop guru told me he had equipment to interrogate the servo but in my case it was flat dead. Hope it's not the GIA but I do know they re seat the connectors for those periodically...

HTH!

[exM20K]

Sorry, everybody: I should have made this its own thread. It really doesn't belong here.

I don't think i can move it but will post an update separately.

-dan