Tuesday, my friend Dan flew me down to Brunswick in his Mooney. What a difference in speed a good stiff wind behind a fast powerful airplane makes. We made the trip in under an hour. You just can't beat horsepower and a clean design.
We were delayed for an hour while the engine block heater was given a chance to change the viscosity of the oil from Heath's Toffee to Karo syrup. So it was lunchtime on arrival. The receptionist at the FBO recommended "Willy's Wee Nee Wagon". So we borrowed the courtesy car (a red, Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer) and had a great meal!
Dan is looking to buy a cruising sailboat and run away to the Islands. We went to the Brunswick City Marina to crawl a 2000 Island Packet 420 cutter. Cleanest 10 year-old boat I've ever seen! The only upgrades to the boat is a recent 20-inch HD TV/Monitor on a swing-away mount in place of the original tube-type TV. Boat has had very little actual sailing/cruising use. Great engine access. And most of the toys. Needs an installed generator and wind or solar charging. Canvas needs TLC. ETC. But a really sweet cruiser!
Got back out to the airport around 3 o'clock and checked weather and wind for the return. The winds were still near the 15-knot crosswind limit, but doable. But the winds aloft were howling. from 3-6000 feet the winds were around 40 knots and nearly perfectly head-on for a boy trying to get home. The quick math went this way. No wind the trip was 138 nautical miles at 105 miles an hour for 1+20 and home at 4:50 or so. If the forecast wind is right, my ground speed woulkd only be around 65 knots with an arrival in Augusta at around 5:40.
Thr problem is that's solidly AFTER sunset. For a Day VFR pilot, that wouldn't work.
Got Dan on his way back home. Arranged to get a shuttle to the Embassy Suites. They came to get me, but were sold out! They got me room at a Hampton near I-95 and shuttled me there.
Had supper at the Waffle House, settled in and called Dan.
The winds aloft weren't as advertised. He only saw 10 knots on the nose which would have only added 8 minutes to the trip. Que sera!
Watched TV and snoozed the night away. The overnight low was 19F. After breakfast, a quick cab ride got me out on the flight line. While untying the tail I noticed an unusual amount of fresh engine oil on the bottom of the airplane.
Pulled off the cowlings and saw oil on the engine. Not just the usual wayward drop or two. Cowled the engine. Checked oil quantity. Started and warmed the engine up while paying close attention to the oil pressure and temperature. All seemed normal. Took the cowlings back off, but unable to isolate the leak. Decided to monitor oil consumption and engine parameters carefully, but go home.
Once off Brunswick and climbing, JAX CENTER wanted to know if I was routing to Savannah to avoid the Military areas. I confirmed that. I was also having a continuation of the headset problems that have plagued me. I reached over, took the unused copilot's set and used it the rest of the trip.
JAX got me north of Fort Stewart and cleared me direct to Augusta. That course took me right up the northeast boundary of the restricted areas. I could tell that we'd soon be over what appeared to be tank or artillery ranges. I deviated away from that. You gotta love the Garmin with moving map!
Almost immediately I could see the steam plume from Plant Vogtle 70 miles away. Turned up the XM radio and enjoyed the ride. Warm, fast and smooth. Cleared in to Augusta I pulled the throttle back and started a slow descent. That's when the warm part stopped. Tamping down the fires means less heat in the muffler which means cold feet! Next time I'll wait for the VNAV to kick in.
Greeted at the gate by my lovely wife, we secured the bird in the hangar. Way too cold to lay on the concrete and clean up oil.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Waiting out weather-at home
Couldn't get out of Brunswick, Georgia Saturday. The TAF (Terminal Area Forecast) gave us some hope of flying back to Augusta. If we could get off Brunswick and head west to Waycross we could go to Macon and then east to Augusta.
My personal minimum ceiling for flying under an overcast is at least 2500 feet. I have to stay 500 feet below the clouds and 2500 feet means flying at 2000 feet above the ground. I also need 3 miles visibility to be legal, but my personal requirement is 6 miles or better.
All this talk of "Personal Minimums" makes it sound like I could fly in less, but am just chicken to do so. And there is some of that in those decisions. But it is also a calculation of what I need to see and avoid other traffic and worsening weather.
Every VFR pilot has similar basic "legal" criteria. Clear of cloud and 3 miles visibility. Some private pilots can cut the visibility to 1 mile. The result is all the VFR traffic gets forced lower into a very narrow band. In addition to airplane traffic, there are all the TV towers sticking all the way into the clouds, and migratory birds. Last time I flew the coast in September we saw a formation of 8-10 wood storks (giant 5-foot tall birds with 6-foot wingspans). So just when the conditions are at their worst, the opposition is at its worst.
So even though it is legal to fly at 1000 feet above populated areas with 3 mile visibility in the rain, it ain't smart!
So after checking the weather and seeing 7-900 ceilings for the 50-mile radius at 2 PM , Micky and I decided to rent a car and drive home. Even Jekyll Island is no fun in cold rain!
We'll try to get down to Brunswick Tuesday or Wednesday and fly the baby home.
Can't go Monday because of two back-to-back cold fronts with extreme winds. When your airplane starts flying at around 37 knots, ground movement is very hazardous in 25 knot winds. The forecast is 25 with gusts to 45 today, so I'm not taking any tie downs off.
My personal minimum ceiling for flying under an overcast is at least 2500 feet. I have to stay 500 feet below the clouds and 2500 feet means flying at 2000 feet above the ground. I also need 3 miles visibility to be legal, but my personal requirement is 6 miles or better.
All this talk of "Personal Minimums" makes it sound like I could fly in less, but am just chicken to do so. And there is some of that in those decisions. But it is also a calculation of what I need to see and avoid other traffic and worsening weather.
Every VFR pilot has similar basic "legal" criteria. Clear of cloud and 3 miles visibility. Some private pilots can cut the visibility to 1 mile. The result is all the VFR traffic gets forced lower into a very narrow band. In addition to airplane traffic, there are all the TV towers sticking all the way into the clouds, and migratory birds. Last time I flew the coast in September we saw a formation of 8-10 wood storks (giant 5-foot tall birds with 6-foot wingspans). So just when the conditions are at their worst, the opposition is at its worst.
So even though it is legal to fly at 1000 feet above populated areas with 3 mile visibility in the rain, it ain't smart!
So after checking the weather and seeing 7-900 ceilings for the 50-mile radius at 2 PM , Micky and I decided to rent a car and drive home. Even Jekyll Island is no fun in cold rain!
We'll try to get down to Brunswick Tuesday or Wednesday and fly the baby home.
Can't go Monday because of two back-to-back cold fronts with extreme winds. When your airplane starts flying at around 37 knots, ground movement is very hazardous in 25 knot winds. The forecast is 25 with gusts to 45 today, so I'm not taking any tie downs off.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Weather, small planes, good decisions
We wanted to fly the Remos to the Bahamas. If you need to keep a schedule, don't take a light plane or a sailboat!
I apologize for some of the pilot-jargon. MYGF is the airport in Freeport. SAV and BQK are the ones in Savannah and Brunswick. When I put "L" behind a military time it means "local time". My type of license prohibits flight at night, or if the visibily is less than 3 miles or through or over clouds.
We didn't make it to MYGF this trip. I cancelled the Thursday plan for weather enroute and excessive delays starting. The doc wanted me to get some lab work which slowed me down and resulted in a 2+30 delay from my planned 0900L departure. WX in the FLL area was looking bad and the headwinds were gonna eat up my reserves. But the real problem was daylight. I was looking at arriving in less than optimal wx, with less fuel and only 30 minutes of useable daylight. Rejected that idea.
Friday we had a shot at an early (0800L) launch. I spent about 15 minutes talking to a briefer about the wx in central FL and got airborne at 0807 for SAV, Brunswick (Glynco) and then fuel in St. Augustine. Nice ride to SAV, then forced down to 3500 by clouds. A little light rain, then, near BQK down to my "no lower" of 2500. As we got to the prohibited area around the Kings Bay Sub base, it could see 20-30 miles into FL. And it wasn't good! A solid shield below me in the distance. The controller was calling the destination IFR at 900, the way west blocked, and no smart way to pick through it. Left 180 kept me outta the restricted area and we went back up to BQK intendfing to have lunch and try again. There's a low-pressure trough hugging the FL east coast that means more east-west wet flow into this unusually cold airmass. FLL and MYGF will be fine, the 80 miles between will not.
So we're going to enjoy Jekyll this weekend and try to go somewhere Sunday or Monday. Except that the WX is looking bad again.
The bad part about Sport pilot is no IFR. The good part about Sport pilot is no IFR. Ditto night flying.
I had fun using all the Garmin and XMWX toys to help the decision along, but the turnaround was a good choice. It's hard to crash when you're tied down!
My friend ( and pilot-mentor) Robert had given me a strategy for dealing with weather. See if you can make it to the next airport 20-30 miles away. If that works try the next one. Then land an wait out the weather. If I had done that Thursday, I'd probably be in Freeport tonight rather than not at all. Thursday we had the time to get to Daytona for the night, leave before Daytona got bad and try the Freeport crossing in the early afternoon Friday. Now I'm stuck with more bad weather south and the north looking bad for Sunday.
Worst-case is we rent a car for the trip to Augusta and drive down to get the plane next week.
I apologize for some of the pilot-jargon. MYGF is the airport in Freeport. SAV and BQK are the ones in Savannah and Brunswick. When I put "L" behind a military time it means "local time". My type of license prohibits flight at night, or if the visibily is less than 3 miles or through or over clouds.
We didn't make it to MYGF this trip. I cancelled the Thursday plan for weather enroute and excessive delays starting. The doc wanted me to get some lab work which slowed me down and resulted in a 2+30 delay from my planned 0900L departure. WX in the FLL area was looking bad and the headwinds were gonna eat up my reserves. But the real problem was daylight. I was looking at arriving in less than optimal wx, with less fuel and only 30 minutes of useable daylight. Rejected that idea.
Friday we had a shot at an early (0800L) launch. I spent about 15 minutes talking to a briefer about the wx in central FL and got airborne at 0807 for SAV, Brunswick (Glynco) and then fuel in St. Augustine. Nice ride to SAV, then forced down to 3500 by clouds. A little light rain, then, near BQK down to my "no lower" of 2500. As we got to the prohibited area around the Kings Bay Sub base, it could see 20-30 miles into FL. And it wasn't good! A solid shield below me in the distance. The controller was calling the destination IFR at 900, the way west blocked, and no smart way to pick through it. Left 180 kept me outta the restricted area and we went back up to BQK intendfing to have lunch and try again. There's a low-pressure trough hugging the FL east coast that means more east-west wet flow into this unusually cold airmass. FLL and MYGF will be fine, the 80 miles between will not.
So we're going to enjoy Jekyll this weekend and try to go somewhere Sunday or Monday. Except that the WX is looking bad again.
The bad part about Sport pilot is no IFR. The good part about Sport pilot is no IFR. Ditto night flying.
I had fun using all the Garmin and XMWX toys to help the decision along, but the turnaround was a good choice. It's hard to crash when you're tied down!
My friend ( and pilot-mentor) Robert had given me a strategy for dealing with weather. See if you can make it to the next airport 20-30 miles away. If that works try the next one. Then land an wait out the weather. If I had done that Thursday, I'd probably be in Freeport tonight rather than not at all. Thursday we had the time to get to Daytona for the night, leave before Daytona got bad and try the Freeport crossing in the early afternoon Friday. Now I'm stuck with more bad weather south and the north looking bad for Sunday.
Worst-case is we rent a car for the trip to Augusta and drive down to get the plane next week.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Phancon 2010
The F-4 Phantom II Society has their annual convention every year at a base where the F-4's are still flying. This year the location is Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida. The Air force takes Phantoms out of storage in the desert near Tucson, Arizona and fits them with equipment to turn them into remote-control drones as aerial targets. Then they fly them as manned aircraft to Tyndall and shoot them down over the Gulf of Mexico.
At first, I was appalled that the jet that I loved was being used in such a wasteful display. Any aviator falls in love with their first "hot" jet. When I started flying as crew in 1972 the Phantom was the ultimate ride. Phantoms, and especially the RF-4B were the fastest jets in the fleet. And they still are! For pure speed, nothing ever beat it in fighter operational service. The published speed of 2.7 times the speed of sound could be bested with a clean bird on any given day. The paint wouldn't stay on, but you could sure go fast. A turn took a lot of room. Like the state of North Carolina, but it would scoot straight on like a cat with its tail soaked in turpentine!
Of course, fuel went out the tailpipe at an alarming rate and speed meant a very short time before an aerial tanker was needed.
So willfully shooting at them seems cruel. But when you've got five or six hundred of them sitting in the desert and every fighter in the inventory considers them meat on the table, what else are you going to do.
They have aircraft in the inventory that haven't even got 300 flying hours on them! My three-year old light-sport has nearly 500 hours on it!
We traveled here in the motorhome with the Prius in tow and set up camp in Bonita Bay at the Family Camp on base. A great facility with concrete pads, full services and the roar of Phantoms overhead is hard to beat. For every drone launched, a manned Phantom is flown as chase plane since the remote operators are looking at less visual information than I have in my simulator. The pilots in the chase planes keep the drones from conflicting with stray birds ( both feathered and man-made) that stray into their path. They also inspect the drones for leaks and loose panels that the remotes can't see.
The real gem of the convention is the guys that come to the Phancon. I've met Migkillers, POW's, maintainers and enthusiasts from around the world.
My favorite is Brigadier General Dan Cherry. I had the privilege of several extended conversations with him. Surprisingly quiet and unassuming, he fits my model of what an American hero is.
During the Vietnam War (it was a "war" by any definition other than the hated, detached, numbnuts who ran it from the White House and State Departments), Dan shot down a Mig-21 over North Vietnam after a protracted and frustrating series of missile failures in a fierce dogfight. The Communist pilot ejected, but Dan never knew his fate.
Long after the war, Cherry tracked his enemy down and had the opportunity to fly to Saigon, and meet him on a national TV show that reunited people separated by circumstance much like the 50's and 60's American Ralph Edwards show "This is Your Life".
Struck by the similarities and parallels in their lives before and after their lives, they both became friends. Cherry had dinner in Hanoi with his former antagonist and met his children and grand-children. Later, Dan was able to bring him and his son to Kentucky and introduce them to his family. A truly moving story of reconciliation and forgiveness.
We also had access to today's fighter pilots and their aircraft that civilians are rarely granted. We were allowed on the flightline with operational F-22 Raptors and even got to climb up the side and look in the cockpit! At every airshow with one of these on display, the crown is not allowed within 50-feet of one of these national defense assets. And nervous young men with live ammunition are their to punctuate the warnings! So we were thrilled to be granted such access!
After all the briefings here at Tyndall, we were bussed the next day to Navy Pensacola and once again crawled over both Navy and Air Force aircraft and talked to students and their instructors.
Now the really amazing part of all this is non of the above. Most of the folks at Phancon brought their wives, but few went on the tours with us. Micky was one of three ladies wandering around with us. She made it very clear that she was not missing out on anything!
Next year the convention is in Tucson. Unless we're sailing, we're going!
At first, I was appalled that the jet that I loved was being used in such a wasteful display. Any aviator falls in love with their first "hot" jet. When I started flying as crew in 1972 the Phantom was the ultimate ride. Phantoms, and especially the RF-4B were the fastest jets in the fleet. And they still are! For pure speed, nothing ever beat it in fighter operational service. The published speed of 2.7 times the speed of sound could be bested with a clean bird on any given day. The paint wouldn't stay on, but you could sure go fast. A turn took a lot of room. Like the state of North Carolina, but it would scoot straight on like a cat with its tail soaked in turpentine!
Of course, fuel went out the tailpipe at an alarming rate and speed meant a very short time before an aerial tanker was needed.
So willfully shooting at them seems cruel. But when you've got five or six hundred of them sitting in the desert and every fighter in the inventory considers them meat on the table, what else are you going to do.
They have aircraft in the inventory that haven't even got 300 flying hours on them! My three-year old light-sport has nearly 500 hours on it!
We traveled here in the motorhome with the Prius in tow and set up camp in Bonita Bay at the Family Camp on base. A great facility with concrete pads, full services and the roar of Phantoms overhead is hard to beat. For every drone launched, a manned Phantom is flown as chase plane since the remote operators are looking at less visual information than I have in my simulator. The pilots in the chase planes keep the drones from conflicting with stray birds ( both feathered and man-made) that stray into their path. They also inspect the drones for leaks and loose panels that the remotes can't see.
The real gem of the convention is the guys that come to the Phancon. I've met Migkillers, POW's, maintainers and enthusiasts from around the world.
My favorite is Brigadier General Dan Cherry. I had the privilege of several extended conversations with him. Surprisingly quiet and unassuming, he fits my model of what an American hero is.
During the Vietnam War (it was a "war" by any definition other than the hated, detached, numbnuts who ran it from the White House and State Departments), Dan shot down a Mig-21 over North Vietnam after a protracted and frustrating series of missile failures in a fierce dogfight. The Communist pilot ejected, but Dan never knew his fate.
Long after the war, Cherry tracked his enemy down and had the opportunity to fly to Saigon, and meet him on a national TV show that reunited people separated by circumstance much like the 50's and 60's American Ralph Edwards show "This is Your Life".
Struck by the similarities and parallels in their lives before and after their lives, they both became friends. Cherry had dinner in Hanoi with his former antagonist and met his children and grand-children. Later, Dan was able to bring him and his son to Kentucky and introduce them to his family. A truly moving story of reconciliation and forgiveness.
We also had access to today's fighter pilots and their aircraft that civilians are rarely granted. We were allowed on the flightline with operational F-22 Raptors and even got to climb up the side and look in the cockpit! At every airshow with one of these on display, the crown is not allowed within 50-feet of one of these national defense assets. And nervous young men with live ammunition are their to punctuate the warnings! So we were thrilled to be granted such access!
After all the briefings here at Tyndall, we were bussed the next day to Navy Pensacola and once again crawled over both Navy and Air Force aircraft and talked to students and their instructors.
Now the really amazing part of all this is non of the above. Most of the folks at Phancon brought their wives, but few went on the tours with us. Micky was one of three ladies wandering around with us. She made it very clear that she was not missing out on anything!
Next year the convention is in Tucson. Unless we're sailing, we're going!
Monday, June 21, 2010
The 32-year Gap!
They brought in a VAQ-129 EA-6B Prowler 160609 modex 911 from Whidbey Island, WA for static display. As is the current regs, in joint-manned outfits they say "NAVY" on the left and "MARINES" on the right.
They didn't bother to clean or shine-up this airplane, so it came right off the boat! Boot marks, smoking rivets, and corrosion-control multi-shade paint. I found it attractive!
On arrival, they needed help getting the boarding ladder down and getting bags out of the birdcage aft. I was more than pleased to help!
Getting the airplane out of here was a different story. The EA-6B does not just start itself and towing it requires a specialized bar. The Blue Angels' maintainers had guys and the bar so they towed it over, but they couldn't wait for the start!
I got a quick GSE class and they literally ran for the C-130 and were gone.
Cape G. has a part-time tower. The controllers are city employees and when the tower closes the field is uncontrolled. As soon as the airshow air boss got the show planes out and ended the "waiver", the tower closed. That means all movement on the airport and takeoffs/landings are dependent on each pilot reporting his position and intentions on a common traffic radio frequency. It was working very well, everybody yakking away, until we put power on the Prowler! I got a steady tone on my radio centered on the traffic frequency of 125.525 Mhz. I grabbed the pilot and told him he had the frequency blocked, but he didn't think it was his aircraft. I shut the power off after a bout five minutes and asked him to do a button check in the cockpit. Sure enough, his Comm radio was in "tone" mode. Military radios have a "tone" mode that puts out a steady 1000 -hertz tone. This is used for adjustments of microphones, but is primarily for other aircraft to home on in a emergency if the microphones and voice don't work. Really old technology, and probably never used, but still there. Problem solved.
I briefed with the Cdr. and then briefed the ground crew on the sequencing needed to start and clear the Prowler.
It takes 115VAC at 400-hertz to get electricity on the ship, then high-pressure, high-flow air to turn the turbines. The electricity come from a big diesel generator on wheels, but the air comes from a small jet engine mounted on a cart with a hose hooked in the side of the Prowler. The coupling gets hot! Three-hundred degrees and no-fingerprints left hot! So I showed a guy how to start/stop and disconnect the hose with the chain and handle. Briefed everybody to stay clear of intake/exhaust and for a very brief period became an Intruder plane captain after a 32-year hiatus. I was tickled pink!
We successfully manned, closed, started and launched a Navy Intruder(OKAY Prowler!). And didn't hurt anybody or cost the government money or paperwork!
They didn't bother to clean or shine-up this airplane, so it came right off the boat! Boot marks, smoking rivets, and corrosion-control multi-shade paint. I found it attractive!
On arrival, they needed help getting the boarding ladder down and getting bags out of the birdcage aft. I was more than pleased to help!
Getting the airplane out of here was a different story. The EA-6B does not just start itself and towing it requires a specialized bar. The Blue Angels' maintainers had guys and the bar so they towed it over, but they couldn't wait for the start!
I got a quick GSE class and they literally ran for the C-130 and were gone.
Cape G. has a part-time tower. The controllers are city employees and when the tower closes the field is uncontrolled. As soon as the airshow air boss got the show planes out and ended the "waiver", the tower closed. That means all movement on the airport and takeoffs/landings are dependent on each pilot reporting his position and intentions on a common traffic radio frequency. It was working very well, everybody yakking away, until we put power on the Prowler! I got a steady tone on my radio centered on the traffic frequency of 125.525 Mhz. I grabbed the pilot and told him he had the frequency blocked, but he didn't think it was his aircraft. I shut the power off after a bout five minutes and asked him to do a button check in the cockpit. Sure enough, his Comm radio was in "tone" mode. Military radios have a "tone" mode that puts out a steady 1000 -hertz tone. This is used for adjustments of microphones, but is primarily for other aircraft to home on in a emergency if the microphones and voice don't work. Really old technology, and probably never used, but still there. Problem solved.
I briefed with the Cdr. and then briefed the ground crew on the sequencing needed to start and clear the Prowler.
It takes 115VAC at 400-hertz to get electricity on the ship, then high-pressure, high-flow air to turn the turbines. The electricity come from a big diesel generator on wheels, but the air comes from a small jet engine mounted on a cart with a hose hooked in the side of the Prowler. The coupling gets hot! Three-hundred degrees and no-fingerprints left hot! So I showed a guy how to start/stop and disconnect the hose with the chain and handle. Briefed everybody to stay clear of intake/exhaust and for a very brief period became an Intruder plane captain after a 32-year hiatus. I was tickled pink!
We successfully manned, closed, started and launched a Navy Intruder(OKAY Prowler!). And didn't hurt anybody or cost the government money or paperwork!
Tom got his ride!
Last Saturday was arrival day for us. I went out to center field and helped to lay out and weigh down a 5000-foot by 40-foot plastic show line. This was extremely hot, heavy work with 1500-pound rolls of diaper plastic and 30 pallets of paver bricks. Not the place you find most medicoes.
But right in the middle, sweating like a farmhand was Tom Diemer, an internal medicine doc. Every day, Tom was slinging bricks and doing whatever it took to get ready for the show.
Tom was the alternate for the Blue Angels ride in the #7 two-seater with Lt. C.J Simonsen. A local weatherman, John Dissauer, got one ride, a fitness trainer and Boy Scout leader the other, but we were all pulling for Tom.
Unfortunately everyone stayed healthy and foolhardy so Tom didn't get the jet ride. But the Blues also do a tactical demonstration with the C-130T called "Fat Albert" during the actual show, and Tom got to go! To say he was pumped and ready is really weak! I've never been so happy for a guy that I only knew for a week, but Tom's genuine, open enthusiasm is very contagious!
Micky and I met Tom and his wife before the show. I thought we'd have to keep Tom in range of a hard-point to tie him down! He was working the medical/first-aid station doing things like pulling beautiful Missouri June Bugs out of ears and watching for heat cases, but that all stopped as showtime neared.
Fat Albert does some pretty dramatic, but actually standard maneuvers. Coming into a landing area with steep terrain or people shooting at you off the ends requires a theme-park steep approach and climbout and the C-130 delivers that kind of performance. And gravity still applies inside the airplane. From the front with all the windows is impressive, but strapped into a sling seat in the back with all the cargo in the center is fun too!
Tom got the cockpit ride and a signed picture! And I couldn't have been happier if I had went. Way to go Tom!
But right in the middle, sweating like a farmhand was Tom Diemer, an internal medicine doc. Every day, Tom was slinging bricks and doing whatever it took to get ready for the show.
Tom was the alternate for the Blue Angels ride in the #7 two-seater with Lt. C.J Simonsen. A local weatherman, John Dissauer, got one ride, a fitness trainer and Boy Scout leader the other, but we were all pulling for Tom.
Unfortunately everyone stayed healthy and foolhardy so Tom didn't get the jet ride. But the Blues also do a tactical demonstration with the C-130T called "Fat Albert" during the actual show, and Tom got to go! To say he was pumped and ready is really weak! I've never been so happy for a guy that I only knew for a week, but Tom's genuine, open enthusiasm is very contagious!
Micky and I met Tom and his wife before the show. I thought we'd have to keep Tom in range of a hard-point to tie him down! He was working the medical/first-aid station doing things like pulling beautiful Missouri June Bugs out of ears and watching for heat cases, but that all stopped as showtime neared.
Fat Albert does some pretty dramatic, but actually standard maneuvers. Coming into a landing area with steep terrain or people shooting at you off the ends requires a theme-park steep approach and climbout and the C-130 delivers that kind of performance. And gravity still applies inside the airplane. From the front with all the windows is impressive, but strapped into a sling seat in the back with all the cargo in the center is fun too!
Tom got the cockpit ride and a signed picture! And I couldn't have been happier if I had went. Way to go Tom!
The Oil Boss' Boy
I got a job! Robert Cork is on the airport board and his job for the airshow is "Oil Boss". And I'm his b****h! Seriously, I always knew that old, radial engines used oil like rednecks use Redman, but I wasn't prepared for a request for a 55-gallon drum of 120-weight oil. The B-17 crew has an oiler rig in the back of a dually pickup complete with tank and nozzle and they spend their mornings pumping oil.
I had a ball running around on a golf cart asking if anybody needed oil and delivering. Smoke oil is dispensed from a forklift with a 12VDC pump rig running about .8 gallons per minute. The performer's airplanes have tanks that hold 10-30 gallons. The smoke is from the oil being sprayed into a hot exhaust. The Blue Angels use pallets of the stuff, but they bring and dispense their own.
I had a ball running around on a golf cart asking if anybody needed oil and delivering. Smoke oil is dispensed from a forklift with a 12VDC pump rig running about .8 gallons per minute. The performer's airplanes have tanks that hold 10-30 gallons. The smoke is from the oil being sprayed into a hot exhaust. The Blue Angels use pallets of the stuff, but they bring and dispense their own.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Showtime!
I've had the opportunity to meet some really great aviators by volunteering at the Airshow. Kyle and Amanda Franklin have a wingwalking act. In the acts we all know, the daredevil rides the wing while the airplane is pretty stable. Nope, Kyle snatches the airplane through loops, hammerheads, spins, and inverted passes while his wife, Amanda gets the best view in the world. And she moves around the airplane waving swords! The airplane travels with them and two dogs in a custom trailer behind their Class B motorhome and has to be assembled at each show, by Kyle.
Skip Stewart surfs a Pitts Special. At least that's how he describes pulling the airplane off the runway way too early, holding it in ground effect and riding a cushion of air three feet off the ground in a knife edge.
No prima donnas, they shove airplanes, do their own maintenance , and in Skip's case, change diapers.
My little Remos has the wings folded and is shoved in an aisle in the former Commander factory on the east ramp. Skip needed a little more room for a cherry Twin Comanche in the hangar.
Today is the first day of the show, but yesterday the Blues did a show for make-a-wish and the MO veterans home. They are really on the game! That first low diamond pass is advertised as eighteen inches wingtip-to-canopy. Looked a lot closer!
More tonight, if I can stay awake!
Skip Stewart surfs a Pitts Special. At least that's how he describes pulling the airplane off the runway way too early, holding it in ground effect and riding a cushion of air three feet off the ground in a knife edge.
No prima donnas, they shove airplanes, do their own maintenance , and in Skip's case, change diapers.
My little Remos has the wings folded and is shoved in an aisle in the former Commander factory on the east ramp. Skip needed a little more room for a cherry Twin Comanche in the hangar.
Today is the first day of the show, but yesterday the Blues did a show for make-a-wish and the MO veterans home. They are really on the game! That first low diamond pass is advertised as eighteen inches wingtip-to-canopy. Looked a lot closer!
More tonight, if I can stay awake!
Righteous raider!
VAQ-129 is a reserve outfit from Whidbey Island Washington. They fly the EA-6B Prowler on carriers. Modex 911 falls easily into the "workhorse" carrier plane mode. It's filthy, smoking rivets, air superiority grey in several different tones and applications warts and patches all over. a true combat steed.
The crew is all reserve. I was in my element! Showing them how to operate the ugly thing and slamming things around. I fully expect a puddle of fluids around it by Sunday. I need to show them how to tow it backwards by the tiedowns or the tailhook, enough to fuel it. Or maybe "hot-pit" it with motors running and self power.
The crew is all reserve. I was in my element! Showing them how to operate the ugly thing and slamming things around. I fully expect a puddle of fluids around it by Sunday. I need to show them how to tow it backwards by the tiedowns or the tailhook, enough to fuel it. Or maybe "hot-pit" it with motors running and self power.
Searching for a job!
I had a good job driving a forklift with smoke oil on it, but the guy showed up and did it better. Now Robert and I are the oilies. Each performer gets an allottment of the lube of his choice, We're the "fedex of oil!" On-time and on demand. Some of the big radial bombers will burn up to 20 gallons and leak the rest!. We also fix any other problems as they arrise.
KCHA-KCGI
The flight from Chatanooga to Cape Girardeau was over rolling hills in Tennessee and started out at 3500 feet. My route took me through the Nashville control area and we had a real gem of a controller! She had a voice that you could have sold by the ounce! Clear and clearly Southern! She recommended a climb to 4500 feet and once up there, it was smooth and fast. Later, near Paducah I went up to 5500 feet to avoid some building clouds.
Landing in Cape was a yee-hah! The wind was from 210 degrees and 12 knots with gusts. Runway 20 which would have made that a cakewalk was closed for airshow prep, so I went in with a 70 degree left crosswind and 12 knots. The maximum demonstrated crosswind in my airplane is 15 knots, so it was sporty! The first pass was going well, until I hit the last ten feet and got the big burble from hell! Powered out and went around. Now I've attracted the attention of everybody working at the airport and they've stopped to watch the newbie with the funny airplane.
My crosswind technique was "crab and kick". Let the airplane fly off heading with the actual path across the ground straight down the runway, then kick the rudder, lay in the roll and slip at the last moment. It worked fine, until I kept the nose off for air braking and the airplane weathervaned into the wind. 28 is a nice wide runway, but the edge was coming on fast, so I put the nose gear down at 30 knots and steered for the centerline. The tower came up and asked "You guys allright?" I assured him were just doing "stupid pilot tricks with crosswinds" and we taxied on in. Several others that afternoon diverted to Sikeston, so I didn't feel that bad!
The rest of the day was spent with Robert Cork building a 5000 foot by 40 foot plastic runway offset from 28 and held down with paver stones. 30 pallets of pavers holding 3000 pounds of white plastic down.
Sunday we finished the job. Sunday evening the job was rearranged by a strong meso cyclone with 61 knot winds. And all six tents went down. Luckily, I'd just folded the Remos' wings and moved it inside.
Before folding the wings, Robert took me out and we worked hard on "slipping" to land. I was taught this technique, but didn't really "grok" the thing. Know I do and it will make my life much easier.
Landing in Cape was a yee-hah! The wind was from 210 degrees and 12 knots with gusts. Runway 20 which would have made that a cakewalk was closed for airshow prep, so I went in with a 70 degree left crosswind and 12 knots. The maximum demonstrated crosswind in my airplane is 15 knots, so it was sporty! The first pass was going well, until I hit the last ten feet and got the big burble from hell! Powered out and went around. Now I've attracted the attention of everybody working at the airport and they've stopped to watch the newbie with the funny airplane.
My crosswind technique was "crab and kick". Let the airplane fly off heading with the actual path across the ground straight down the runway, then kick the rudder, lay in the roll and slip at the last moment. It worked fine, until I kept the nose off for air braking and the airplane weathervaned into the wind. 28 is a nice wide runway, but the edge was coming on fast, so I put the nose gear down at 30 knots and steered for the centerline. The tower came up and asked "You guys allright?" I assured him were just doing "stupid pilot tricks with crosswinds" and we taxied on in. Several others that afternoon diverted to Sikeston, so I didn't feel that bad!
The rest of the day was spent with Robert Cork building a 5000 foot by 40 foot plastic runway offset from 28 and held down with paver stones. 30 pallets of pavers holding 3000 pounds of white plastic down.
Sunday we finished the job. Sunday evening the job was rearranged by a strong meso cyclone with 61 knot winds. And all six tents went down. Luckily, I'd just folded the Remos' wings and moved it inside.
Before folding the wings, Robert took me out and we worked hard on "slipping" to land. I was taught this technique, but didn't really "grok" the thing. Know I do and it will make my life much easier.
Friday, June 18, 2010
X-country to Missouri
We'd planned to go to Missouri last Friday, but the weather was iffy in Cape Girardeau and may have caused us to overnight in Memphis , so why bother. The weather was perfect in Augusta, the sun just below the horizon when we arrived at Bush Field to push our travelling magic outside. Loaded to the legal limit and full of fuel with all our "stuff" secured, we finished our coffee and waited for the tower to open the field. Didn't really have to, but I wanted the flight following into Chattanooga. Easy takeoff and climbout to 4500 feet and a nice flight to Athens before the ceilings came down and the dirt came came up.
Although solidly VFR and with room to spare, it's a little bit un-nerving crossing the ridges with the mountains higher than you are to the right. And this was my first 'REAL' cross-country flight with my wife onboard. Actually, the flight to Choo-Choo wasn't bad and the temperature was good.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Tennessee Twang and genuinely welcoming voice of the KCHA tower controller and shot a nice landing. Took on 11.8 gallons of 100LL. The predicted burn was 12 gallons.
I've got to go out to the airshow now, more later!
Although solidly VFR and with room to spare, it's a little bit un-nerving crossing the ridges with the mountains higher than you are to the right. And this was my first 'REAL' cross-country flight with my wife onboard. Actually, the flight to Choo-Choo wasn't bad and the temperature was good.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Tennessee Twang and genuinely welcoming voice of the KCHA tower controller and shot a nice landing. Took on 11.8 gallons of 100LL. The predicted burn was 12 gallons.
I've got to go out to the airshow now, more later!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Last Morning in the Keys- For Now!
I've talked about the guys next to us fishing. They actually have names. Steve was a career U.S. Sailor on destroyers and frigates. Jimmy was an A&P engine mechanic with Eastern, and David is Jimmy's 21 year-old grandson. David and I had to endure a certain amount of "poking" from the older two. I, as a Marine, am a natural target. David's just young.
I promised to help clean fish if they'd teach me to. Yeasterday they brought home a bucket with 2 dolphin, a snapper, yellowtail, and grunts (french and gray).
When Steve says the knife is sharp, it is scalpel-sharp. Tip to handle. But the fish are tough and soon dull even the best knife.
I learned all the right cuts and how to wiggle the knife down the back bone and take the skin off. A knife is essential, but good pliers are needed too! Steve, has been a charter fishing captain for 35 years. Actually took his license exam in the Navy. Ran a 36-foot sport fisherman in the Chesapeake for 16 years.
So I made sushi. A few good grunt fillets, And a lot of fishburger! I understand what's needed, but getting the hands to do it, is difficult. The bones will surprise you. That's why Steve did the big fish!
I bought some home-cast sinkers from Steve ( of course he gave me much more than I paid for) and announced that I was going to learn off-shore fishing. Now I have two bags of frozen-fresh grunt fillets, and a great memory of helping around a true "fish camp".
This morning is pack-up. The length of the drive is the "x" variable. If it's easy, King's Bay Sub Base, otherwise Patrick AFB Family Camp or Jax/Mayport. Hate to leave the Keys, and won't be back for a little while, but I will keep my NAS Key West base decals active by RV or boat!
I promised to help clean fish if they'd teach me to. Yeasterday they brought home a bucket with 2 dolphin, a snapper, yellowtail, and grunts (french and gray).
When Steve says the knife is sharp, it is scalpel-sharp. Tip to handle. But the fish are tough and soon dull even the best knife.
I learned all the right cuts and how to wiggle the knife down the back bone and take the skin off. A knife is essential, but good pliers are needed too! Steve, has been a charter fishing captain for 35 years. Actually took his license exam in the Navy. Ran a 36-foot sport fisherman in the Chesapeake for 16 years.
So I made sushi. A few good grunt fillets, And a lot of fishburger! I understand what's needed, but getting the hands to do it, is difficult. The bones will surprise you. That's why Steve did the big fish!
I bought some home-cast sinkers from Steve ( of course he gave me much more than I paid for) and announced that I was going to learn off-shore fishing. Now I have two bags of frozen-fresh grunt fillets, and a great memory of helping around a true "fish camp".
This morning is pack-up. The length of the drive is the "x" variable. If it's easy, King's Bay Sub Base, otherwise Patrick AFB Family Camp or Jax/Mayport. Hate to leave the Keys, and won't be back for a little while, but I will keep my NAS Key West base decals active by RV or boat!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Go Fly A Kite!
We went to the History of Diving Museum again yesterday to see the exhibits. Our next-door neighbor was an interesting fellow from Ft. Myers named Dan Reynolds and I invited him along. It's always amazing how nice the people we've met on the road have been. Dan enjoyed the museum and afterwards cooked a great pork roast on the grill. A wonderful night.
The museum lived up to its billing and had more diving equipment than expected. They have a wall full of diving helmets from around the globe from the 1840's on. I was proud to have been diving long enough that some of my old gear is now collectible. I wish I could find my "Cousteau-Gagnon Royal Aqua-Master" double hose regulator to donate to them. It had a particularly low 5-digit serial number, and made me look like Lloyd Bridges when I dove with it.
On the way back I pulled into "The Otherside" ,a kite-boarding shop in Islamorada.
Mike, the owner, had his 4-year old chief salesman Cody in the shop and they were a hoot. Cody showed me several trainer kites and told me all about his selections. He's probably the youngest kite-boarder in the world and a very nice boy. Mike is all you'd expect from the owner of such a place, but beneath the blond dreadlocks, I sensed a business guy working hard to appeal to his target audience of thirty-year olds and up, who think they're a lot younger.
Even though Micky looked at me like I'd lost my senses, I bought a Hydro 300 3-meter, three-line kite. A nice package that came with a backpack and Mike threw in a DVD from Best to help start me off. And he made sure I knew to call him with any and all questions.
Today I got Micky to help me launch the kite after the tide came in to give us a beach to work with.
The reason for the three lines is left,right, and brakes. The third line also lets you launch the kite backwards out of the water and then turn it over and swoop away.
The handle seemed really oversize and the wrist lanyard for the brake line was really impressive. In a really bad problem, such as a high-speed swoop into a crowd, you can release the bar and the kite will collapse and fall harmlessly. Also keeps you from plowing the beach with your nose!
Unlike most of the toy kites I've flown, you launch this one at the edge of its "wind window" A 10-foot wide, 4-foot chord efficient airfoil has really good pull and it will surprise you as it cuts through its "power zone".
The reason for all the aerodynamic efficiency is that the wind inflates the kite. Through two ingenious openings and tubes in the leading edge, the pressure of the wind inflates the forward portion of the airfoil and the tubes then collapse forming valves when the pressure comes off. That make the kite float, hold shape and be able to relaunch from the water. Even with the leading edge down, you call haul in the brake line and launch it backwards.
With Micky courageously holding the deflated, limp form while I untwisted the lines, I finally moved off into the water to get approximately the right angle for the launch. When the lines went taut, the kite inflated and took off after a few flops in the water. In fact, my first take-off was backwards. Once up the kite flew dead overhead and I started sorting out the controls. Almost immediately, I lost it and the kite slammed in at high speed not 10 feet from Micky. I then launched it and moved a good 20 feet offshore to prevent hitting anyone.
The instructions from the "dude" on the DVD helped enormously. My initial problem was because the left bridle is probably 1 inch too long with the result that a straight bar equals a hard right turn. I'll fix that fast!
The kite is strong and fast! When it cuts through the four-clock high area, it will pull you forward strongly. And 12 o'clock to the ground is very fast. If there's a lull in the wind, the kite drops into the "zone" and when the lull is over, the power is amazing!
I started off with lazy figure eights overhead while sorting out the bar "trim" angle. Once it was clear where center was, I started working on landings. The kite is controllable enough to dip a wingtip in the water and hold it there.
My shoulders tired quickly in the 12-18 knots we're having and I got my brave partner to help me land and deflate the kite. More flying tomorrow in a little less wind.
The museum lived up to its billing and had more diving equipment than expected. They have a wall full of diving helmets from around the globe from the 1840's on. I was proud to have been diving long enough that some of my old gear is now collectible. I wish I could find my "Cousteau-Gagnon Royal Aqua-Master" double hose regulator to donate to them. It had a particularly low 5-digit serial number, and made me look like Lloyd Bridges when I dove with it.
On the way back I pulled into "The Otherside" ,a kite-boarding shop in Islamorada.
Mike, the owner, had his 4-year old chief salesman Cody in the shop and they were a hoot. Cody showed me several trainer kites and told me all about his selections. He's probably the youngest kite-boarder in the world and a very nice boy. Mike is all you'd expect from the owner of such a place, but beneath the blond dreadlocks, I sensed a business guy working hard to appeal to his target audience of thirty-year olds and up, who think they're a lot younger.
Even though Micky looked at me like I'd lost my senses, I bought a Hydro 300 3-meter, three-line kite. A nice package that came with a backpack and Mike threw in a DVD from Best to help start me off. And he made sure I knew to call him with any and all questions.
Today I got Micky to help me launch the kite after the tide came in to give us a beach to work with.
The reason for the three lines is left,right, and brakes. The third line also lets you launch the kite backwards out of the water and then turn it over and swoop away.
The handle seemed really oversize and the wrist lanyard for the brake line was really impressive. In a really bad problem, such as a high-speed swoop into a crowd, you can release the bar and the kite will collapse and fall harmlessly. Also keeps you from plowing the beach with your nose!
Unlike most of the toy kites I've flown, you launch this one at the edge of its "wind window" A 10-foot wide, 4-foot chord efficient airfoil has really good pull and it will surprise you as it cuts through its "power zone".
The reason for all the aerodynamic efficiency is that the wind inflates the kite. Through two ingenious openings and tubes in the leading edge, the pressure of the wind inflates the forward portion of the airfoil and the tubes then collapse forming valves when the pressure comes off. That make the kite float, hold shape and be able to relaunch from the water. Even with the leading edge down, you call haul in the brake line and launch it backwards.
With Micky courageously holding the deflated, limp form while I untwisted the lines, I finally moved off into the water to get approximately the right angle for the launch. When the lines went taut, the kite inflated and took off after a few flops in the water. In fact, my first take-off was backwards. Once up the kite flew dead overhead and I started sorting out the controls. Almost immediately, I lost it and the kite slammed in at high speed not 10 feet from Micky. I then launched it and moved a good 20 feet offshore to prevent hitting anyone.
The instructions from the "dude" on the DVD helped enormously. My initial problem was because the left bridle is probably 1 inch too long with the result that a straight bar equals a hard right turn. I'll fix that fast!
The kite is strong and fast! When it cuts through the four-clock high area, it will pull you forward strongly. And 12 o'clock to the ground is very fast. If there's a lull in the wind, the kite drops into the "zone" and when the lull is over, the power is amazing!
I started off with lazy figure eights overhead while sorting out the bar "trim" angle. Once it was clear where center was, I started working on landings. The kite is controllable enough to dip a wingtip in the water and hold it there.
My shoulders tired quickly in the 12-18 knots we're having and I got my brave partner to help me land and deflate the kite. More flying tomorrow in a little less wind.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Rainy, Lazy Days and the Spanish Holocaust.
We've moved up to Long Key. From 1903 to 1935 this was the site of the writer Zane Grey's fishing lodge. Much more than a "fish camp", this was a luxury lodge where the rich from all over the world came to indulge in massive kills of the then-abundant fish. Marlin and Sailfish were king, but the primary attraction was fly-fishing the flats for bonefish. As with most rich men's sports of the time, the visit was not a short-term affair. From boats, and later Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, they came for months at a time to escape the cold winters. At the ranger station here, they have a set of small rail wheels for the narrow-gauge steam railway used to move baggage and people out to the docks and trains. As a side affair, much effort was spent with oversized shotguns taking heron and other birds for their plumage. Many a fancy hat was fashioned by milliners in New York and Paris using feathers from Layton, Florida.
That luxury and most of the people and economy of the Middle Keys was destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1935.
By today's standards, it was a Class 5 monster. And the first hint of trouble here would have been the precipitous drop in atmospheric pressure recorded on the barometers that were watched so carefully in every settlement in the Keys. By the time the huge, dark arc of the first rain bands appeared out of the east, it was already too late. A train was sent down to evacuate the "conchs" and their guests back to the mainland. It never made the return trip. Backing up the tracks with hundreds inside and clinging to the cars, massive storm-driven waves higher than even the grand lodges drove it on its side and drowned all hope. Bodies were found in Florida Bay and the Everglades for six months. That hurricane became the backdrop for Bogart, Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson's "Key Largo".
The earth works and rail bridges were paved over and became the "Overseas Highway", US1.
Now when a hurricane is even close to the Keys, all traffic is north-bound. Only fools and drunks try to ride it out in bars built 2 feet above the normal sea level. Every body thinks their concrete-block stilted house will hold. And they do. But a 25-foot storm surge is more than just high water. Riding the surge are huge ocean waves full of debris. Picture swimming against a four-knot current in a maelstrom with floating trees, and boards flying with enough force to penetrate a solid concrete wall.
But today it's just rainy. And we're safe and dry in our techno-toy motorhome watching the radar on my cell phone.
Last night we went to a lecture at the "History of Diving Museum" in Islamorada. Captain Carl Fismer is one of the treaure hunters of the Keys. And a successful salvor he is. An early user of metal detectors above and below the water, he has a Bahamian lease to search Hogsty Reef at the south end of the archipelago. Over two hundred wrecks have succumbed to the rapid thinning of the ocean there. But the government always wants a cut.
The latest intrusion is that the government of Spain has maneuvered us into a treaty giving them the rights to all the Spanish Treasure fleets worldwide. And our goverment protects their claim!
I am a trained archaeological diver (SCIAA Certificate MN-001) and I understand conservation of the information on a wreck. But we already know the economy and daily life of the Spanish rape of the New World. That rapacious conquistadores and missionaries decimated the indigenous people and cultures here is not disputed. Their zeal to "save souls" was only exceeded by the military need for gold to expand King Phillip's navy and the armies that he drove all the way to Holland. The wars of the Catholic Kings of Spain to suppress the Protestants, drive out the Moors, and generally torture every culture they found from China, the Phillipines (named after him), South America and the Caribbean were fueled by the gold and silver dug by Indian slaves in Lima, Potosi, and other hell-holes.
But the real horrors were what happened in the "conversions". Our dedicated priests and friars, did not protest when families were taken into slavery, and the uneeded infants baptized only to have their skulls bashed in. Such barbarity ensured the survival of their ephemeral "souls" as Catholics, and prevented subsequent recantation and return to their native religions.
I see our governments protection of Spanish admiralty claims in the same light as returning stolen Jewish art to the Germans!
The other part of removing the silver, gold and bronze from the bottom, is that,except for the gold, the other metals are toxic to marine life. Copper bottom ships poison the barnacles,corals, and fish. Indeed when a treasure site is picked clean, the coral grows again.
Salvors should keep meticulous records and record the information about these wrecks, okay give the goverment 20% of the value, display the more interesting artifacts in public museums, but we already know the Hispanic predilection for gaudy baubles!
That luxury and most of the people and economy of the Middle Keys was destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1935.
By today's standards, it was a Class 5 monster. And the first hint of trouble here would have been the precipitous drop in atmospheric pressure recorded on the barometers that were watched so carefully in every settlement in the Keys. By the time the huge, dark arc of the first rain bands appeared out of the east, it was already too late. A train was sent down to evacuate the "conchs" and their guests back to the mainland. It never made the return trip. Backing up the tracks with hundreds inside and clinging to the cars, massive storm-driven waves higher than even the grand lodges drove it on its side and drowned all hope. Bodies were found in Florida Bay and the Everglades for six months. That hurricane became the backdrop for Bogart, Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson's "Key Largo".
The earth works and rail bridges were paved over and became the "Overseas Highway", US1.
Now when a hurricane is even close to the Keys, all traffic is north-bound. Only fools and drunks try to ride it out in bars built 2 feet above the normal sea level. Every body thinks their concrete-block stilted house will hold. And they do. But a 25-foot storm surge is more than just high water. Riding the surge are huge ocean waves full of debris. Picture swimming against a four-knot current in a maelstrom with floating trees, and boards flying with enough force to penetrate a solid concrete wall.
But today it's just rainy. And we're safe and dry in our techno-toy motorhome watching the radar on my cell phone.
Last night we went to a lecture at the "History of Diving Museum" in Islamorada. Captain Carl Fismer is one of the treaure hunters of the Keys. And a successful salvor he is. An early user of metal detectors above and below the water, he has a Bahamian lease to search Hogsty Reef at the south end of the archipelago. Over two hundred wrecks have succumbed to the rapid thinning of the ocean there. But the government always wants a cut.
The latest intrusion is that the government of Spain has maneuvered us into a treaty giving them the rights to all the Spanish Treasure fleets worldwide. And our goverment protects their claim!
I am a trained archaeological diver (SCIAA Certificate MN-001) and I understand conservation of the information on a wreck. But we already know the economy and daily life of the Spanish rape of the New World. That rapacious conquistadores and missionaries decimated the indigenous people and cultures here is not disputed. Their zeal to "save souls" was only exceeded by the military need for gold to expand King Phillip's navy and the armies that he drove all the way to Holland. The wars of the Catholic Kings of Spain to suppress the Protestants, drive out the Moors, and generally torture every culture they found from China, the Phillipines (named after him), South America and the Caribbean were fueled by the gold and silver dug by Indian slaves in Lima, Potosi, and other hell-holes.
But the real horrors were what happened in the "conversions". Our dedicated priests and friars, did not protest when families were taken into slavery, and the uneeded infants baptized only to have their skulls bashed in. Such barbarity ensured the survival of their ephemeral "souls" as Catholics, and prevented subsequent recantation and return to their native religions.
I see our governments protection of Spanish admiralty claims in the same light as returning stolen Jewish art to the Germans!
The other part of removing the silver, gold and bronze from the bottom, is that,except for the gold, the other metals are toxic to marine life. Copper bottom ships poison the barnacles,corals, and fish. Indeed when a treasure site is picked clean, the coral grows again.
Salvors should keep meticulous records and record the information about these wrecks, okay give the goverment 20% of the value, display the more interesting artifacts in public museums, but we already know the Hispanic predilection for gaudy baubles!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Too old for Kite-boards.
I am fascinated with the kiteboarders here. And jealous. What marvelous sport! Flying a wing over the water at truly astonishing speed and literally leaving the surface.
Watching nearly a dozen of them working the wind here is almost too exhilarating. And there are different styles. Some of them are just testosterone junkies out for the rush. Crashing and thrashing the air and water with little understanding. But one or two play the toggle bar like a vituoso guitar. Caressing the strings and feathering the kite so their landings are smooth. The interface between wind and water happens gently, no shocking slap, just an easy skim back into another swooping turn. They're the ones that make me burn for thirty-year old knees again.
Watching nearly a dozen of them working the wind here is almost too exhilarating. And there are different styles. Some of them are just testosterone junkies out for the rush. Crashing and thrashing the air and water with little understanding. But one or two play the toggle bar like a vituoso guitar. Caressing the strings and feathering the kite so their landings are smooth. The interface between wind and water happens gently, no shocking slap, just an easy skim back into another swooping turn. They're the ones that make me burn for thirty-year old knees again.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Not-so Lazy Day After All!
Micky and I decided that today would be a lazy day. Just kinda hang around the campground and do nothing. Didn't work out that way.
Started off with a trip to the Big Pine Key Flea Market. This time of year most of the vendors have already packed it in. It does get hot down here at 24 degrees north!
We found the Orchid vendor on his last day of the season and I bought Micky another spectacular orchid and he threw in around seven potted herbs. We've still got the orchid we bought in March at the Home Depot in Bradenton.
We got some farm-fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and that guy was eager to leave so we practically stole them.
When we were traveling down here we went through several clouds of the infamous "love bugs". they call them that because invariably they are a mated pair in copulation when they smack into the windshield. Their earthly remains are a sticky and acidic mess! I used the truck windshield washer at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza, but the front of my Neptune was a total catstrophe of orgasmically-interrupted bugs. The campground host recommended Rain-X bug remover from K-mart. We dropped off the produce and cruised to the BigK in Marathon. That's the store with the huge whale mural. Bought the Turtle Wax brand and some windshield cleaner.
Waited for the sun to drop a little bit and began carcass removal. What a chore! Despite best efforts, the best way to remove them from the paint was to rehydrate the mess and scub them off. For the windshield glass, a credit card scraper worked best. Finally got it cleaned off and put our covers on.
Met Roy and Mary Crumpler from Alma, GA. He retired from the Guard as a civil servant and air traffic controller. Nice folks, just like everybody else you meet RV-ing.
Spent the evening with them after putting our new windshield covers and canvas on.
Lunch today was at El Siboney, a Cuban restaurant in Marathon. We'd eaten at the one in Key West and were not disappointed at this location. Micky and I passed around Pepper Steak and a plate of Ropa Vieja (Cuban shredded beef). Plenty left over for supper, too!
had another of Senor La Fe's fine cigars and watched the stars.
A very nice day!
Started off with a trip to the Big Pine Key Flea Market. This time of year most of the vendors have already packed it in. It does get hot down here at 24 degrees north!
We found the Orchid vendor on his last day of the season and I bought Micky another spectacular orchid and he threw in around seven potted herbs. We've still got the orchid we bought in March at the Home Depot in Bradenton.
We got some farm-fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and that guy was eager to leave so we practically stole them.
When we were traveling down here we went through several clouds of the infamous "love bugs". they call them that because invariably they are a mated pair in copulation when they smack into the windshield. Their earthly remains are a sticky and acidic mess! I used the truck windshield washer at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza, but the front of my Neptune was a total catstrophe of orgasmically-interrupted bugs. The campground host recommended Rain-X bug remover from K-mart. We dropped off the produce and cruised to the BigK in Marathon. That's the store with the huge whale mural. Bought the Turtle Wax brand and some windshield cleaner.
Waited for the sun to drop a little bit and began carcass removal. What a chore! Despite best efforts, the best way to remove them from the paint was to rehydrate the mess and scub them off. For the windshield glass, a credit card scraper worked best. Finally got it cleaned off and put our covers on.
Met Roy and Mary Crumpler from Alma, GA. He retired from the Guard as a civil servant and air traffic controller. Nice folks, just like everybody else you meet RV-ing.
Spent the evening with them after putting our new windshield covers and canvas on.
Lunch today was at El Siboney, a Cuban restaurant in Marathon. We'd eaten at the one in Key West and were not disappointed at this location. Micky and I passed around Pepper Steak and a plate of Ropa Vieja (Cuban shredded beef). Plenty left over for supper, too!
had another of Senor La Fe's fine cigars and watched the stars.
A very nice day!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Back in the Keys!!
Finally back to doing my real job! I'm professionally retired and this is what I do!
Micky and I tried to get into Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon last year, but the bridge into the park got condemned and they had to rebuild it.
It was worth the wait. The RV camp is all brand new within the last four years. New everything! The neatest thing they've done is to put concrete, slightly-raised curbing around the RV/tent pad and the picnic table area with eyebolts coming out sideways from the curbing at 3-foot intervals. Makes it very easy to secure everything without trying to drill through the local limestone with a tent stake!
Before I finish talking about this trip, I need to let you all know that I finally had the right combination of time and weather to take the most important passenger I'll ever fly out for her inaugural ride in the Remos. I've dreamed of the day when my beautiful red-head would fly with me. She was far less nervous about it than I was. We had a good, if slow takeoff and flew for over 3 hours. Up and down the Lake, over her sister's farm, circling some friends while they sailed. All while maintaining the required separation from boats, houses, and people. Theoretically, the minimum altitude at the lake away from all those things, is wheels on the water. But I already know that busybodies get all upset if you go too low and I don't want to have to prove that I did not break the FAR's as a low-time pilot. Good thing N224DH isn't in 12-inch high numbers under the wing! And a reasonably smooth landing, if a little bit long. The Remos is a very nice airplane!
This evening we visited the Publix in Marathon and provisioned the refrigerator. I love the mix of people in the Keys. We heard the normal gamut of Spanish in several flavors with the rapid-fire Cuban delivery in the majority, but also German and French. I think the francophone's were Canadian. Micky is always amazed at the temerity of Latinas. One woman, in particular stands out. She was no great looker and probably in her late forties, but the psychedelic bikini was covered on the bottom with a fluorescent green pajama bottom that was absolutely for effect only being totally transparent.
I visited with Roberto La Fe at Casillas Cigars. A real Cuban roller. Sitting in his one-man shop rolling his own stock across from the Bealls Outlet in Marathon. He showed me his humidor and helped me select the mildest 7x50 maduro I've ever had! I bought three and he insisted I try one of his pig-tails. I suspect we're going to be long-term customers!
The night sky here in the campground is surprisingly dark. Thanks to a tallish fifth-wheel rig next door the standing lights of the bath-house are block and the northern quadrant is clear. In addition to the full display of Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) the Milky Way is a river of stars against a black sky. My telescope is going to be used on this trip. The temperature and light breeze made the immolation of that corona pleasant. I saw eight satellites and two meteors that would have been drowned in the urban skies of home. I was surprised by the number of southbound aircraft tonight. Except for Key West, the only nocturnal airports south of here are Havana and San Juan. Most of the Caribbean traffic tries to arrive in daylight, I believe.
So we're "at home again" in our motorhome in the Keys. We may finally get a great trip for playing in the water! The seas are flat, the water is warm and we're here!
Micky and I tried to get into Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon last year, but the bridge into the park got condemned and they had to rebuild it.
It was worth the wait. The RV camp is all brand new within the last four years. New everything! The neatest thing they've done is to put concrete, slightly-raised curbing around the RV/tent pad and the picnic table area with eyebolts coming out sideways from the curbing at 3-foot intervals. Makes it very easy to secure everything without trying to drill through the local limestone with a tent stake!
Before I finish talking about this trip, I need to let you all know that I finally had the right combination of time and weather to take the most important passenger I'll ever fly out for her inaugural ride in the Remos. I've dreamed of the day when my beautiful red-head would fly with me. She was far less nervous about it than I was. We had a good, if slow takeoff and flew for over 3 hours. Up and down the Lake, over her sister's farm, circling some friends while they sailed. All while maintaining the required separation from boats, houses, and people. Theoretically, the minimum altitude at the lake away from all those things, is wheels on the water. But I already know that busybodies get all upset if you go too low and I don't want to have to prove that I did not break the FAR's as a low-time pilot. Good thing N224DH isn't in 12-inch high numbers under the wing! And a reasonably smooth landing, if a little bit long. The Remos is a very nice airplane!
This evening we visited the Publix in Marathon and provisioned the refrigerator. I love the mix of people in the Keys. We heard the normal gamut of Spanish in several flavors with the rapid-fire Cuban delivery in the majority, but also German and French. I think the francophone's were Canadian. Micky is always amazed at the temerity of Latinas. One woman, in particular stands out. She was no great looker and probably in her late forties, but the psychedelic bikini was covered on the bottom with a fluorescent green pajama bottom that was absolutely for effect only being totally transparent.
I visited with Roberto La Fe at Casillas Cigars. A real Cuban roller. Sitting in his one-man shop rolling his own stock across from the Bealls Outlet in Marathon. He showed me his humidor and helped me select the mildest 7x50 maduro I've ever had! I bought three and he insisted I try one of his pig-tails. I suspect we're going to be long-term customers!
The night sky here in the campground is surprisingly dark. Thanks to a tallish fifth-wheel rig next door the standing lights of the bath-house are block and the northern quadrant is clear. In addition to the full display of Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) the Milky Way is a river of stars against a black sky. My telescope is going to be used on this trip. The temperature and light breeze made the immolation of that corona pleasant. I saw eight satellites and two meteors that would have been drowned in the urban skies of home. I was surprised by the number of southbound aircraft tonight. Except for Key West, the only nocturnal airports south of here are Havana and San Juan. Most of the Caribbean traffic tries to arrive in daylight, I believe.
So we're "at home again" in our motorhome in the Keys. We may finally get a great trip for playing in the water! The seas are flat, the water is warm and we're here!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Gene's first flight in his airplane!
My partner and I have just given up and decided that it's OK for each of us to call N224DH "MY PLANE". Sorting out the finances is not an issue and neither of us is sensitive about it. And the real power in our universe (OUR WIVES) are encouraged to call it their plane also!
Gene finally got the combination of time off and weather to go flying. The original plan was to do some pattern work and then go around the lake for airwork with him at the controls, but the ceilings were a little low. We had no problems staying clear of cloud (since we were in the pattern, that's all we needed. If we had left the pattern, we needed 500 feet below the clouds and we would have been too low over the city, hence the change in plans). I demonstrated six good landings including wake turbulence avoidance and go-arounds. Maximum performance climbs are jet-like and fun! Only stayed in the pattern for 30 minutes, but Gene was happy!
It looks like the weather today (Sunday) is gonna suck all day, so I'll be working on database subscriptions and loads.
Gene finally got the combination of time off and weather to go flying. The original plan was to do some pattern work and then go around the lake for airwork with him at the controls, but the ceilings were a little low. We had no problems staying clear of cloud (since we were in the pattern, that's all we needed. If we had left the pattern, we needed 500 feet below the clouds and we would have been too low over the city, hence the change in plans). I demonstrated six good landings including wake turbulence avoidance and go-arounds. Maximum performance climbs are jet-like and fun! Only stayed in the pattern for 30 minutes, but Gene was happy!
It looks like the weather today (Sunday) is gonna suck all day, so I'll be working on database subscriptions and loads.
Impressions 5+ hours in.
While waiting for the wind to slow down (an unusual problem for Augusta) , I sewed a beatiful set of silver sheepskins onto the bottom seat cushions and reinforced the seat backs with fiberglas cut from "Corkscrew" the Cork's Hunter 22 that formed the basis of my home cockpit. LSA owners can fix most non-structural stuff, change tires, oil, and sparkplugs themselves.
My first day of flying was alone, of course, to sort out the differences in this airplane. The plan was to depart AGS (takeoffs are easy) and go to the lake, do airwork and practice landings (okay, Robert! not approaches!) at Thompson (HQU). Departure was no issue and the lake was a nice. This airplane handles wonderfully, the stalls, slow flight, flaps, steep turns and ground reference maneuvers went well.
Landings were not as easy. I had lost the "sight picture" and was consistently high and fast. The technique of "making a distinct descent to the runway" seems to yield fast and flaky flares. Flaps helped, but I did several low-altitude tours of the airport. Nervous. Finally got a few acceptable rollouts and departed for AGS.
The Bulldog MOAs and restricted areas were hot. I did not like going south of the restricted area, but the controller didn't call me on it, and I stayed well clear of Fort Gordon. Next time, I'll depart HQU East to clear all that to the north side.
Made the worst sort of landing at Bush. Hot, high and fast. tried to force the situation and bounced. Not really bad "go-around NOW!" bounces, but the commuter CRJ had a good show! When the tower gave me the turn-off instructions, I replied with "Whenever I stop bouncing I will!" and then on the turnoff "I think I'll log three landings for that!" Didn't break anything or even scare myself, I know to keep the nose up and if it 's bad add lots of power, but I know better.
Friday was a much better day! Packed it up and stayed in the pattern. I'm going to go back to my original technique of holding approach attitude and speed all the way down to the flare. Less general changing of everything at the last moment. It works much better! 65 knots and 15-degrees of flaps is very controlled and the flare and float may be a little longer than some would prefer, but the touchdowns are gentle,but firmly on the ground with the nose wheel up and no bounce. After 5 great landings, I departed northeast for the lake and had a ball playing with the terrain feature of the Garmin. And the ZAON PCAS "fishfinder" works well for finding intruder aircraft.
Did some pilotage and found my sister-in-law's farm. Even better I caught ahe and Pete our loading a horse trailer. Stayed legal, but circled them several times and saw them looking at me. No long guns were produced, so I went overhead at the FAA-required 500 feet AGL at went back to AGS. Great landing and rollout with the white stripe firmly underneath.
My first day of flying was alone, of course, to sort out the differences in this airplane. The plan was to depart AGS (takeoffs are easy) and go to the lake, do airwork and practice landings (okay, Robert! not approaches!) at Thompson (HQU). Departure was no issue and the lake was a nice. This airplane handles wonderfully, the stalls, slow flight, flaps, steep turns and ground reference maneuvers went well.
Landings were not as easy. I had lost the "sight picture" and was consistently high and fast. The technique of "making a distinct descent to the runway" seems to yield fast and flaky flares. Flaps helped, but I did several low-altitude tours of the airport. Nervous. Finally got a few acceptable rollouts and departed for AGS.
The Bulldog MOAs and restricted areas were hot. I did not like going south of the restricted area, but the controller didn't call me on it, and I stayed well clear of Fort Gordon. Next time, I'll depart HQU East to clear all that to the north side.
Made the worst sort of landing at Bush. Hot, high and fast. tried to force the situation and bounced. Not really bad "go-around NOW!" bounces, but the commuter CRJ had a good show! When the tower gave me the turn-off instructions, I replied with "Whenever I stop bouncing I will!" and then on the turnoff "I think I'll log three landings for that!" Didn't break anything or even scare myself, I know to keep the nose up and if it 's bad add lots of power, but I know better.
Friday was a much better day! Packed it up and stayed in the pattern. I'm going to go back to my original technique of holding approach attitude and speed all the way down to the flare. Less general changing of everything at the last moment. It works much better! 65 knots and 15-degrees of flaps is very controlled and the flare and float may be a little longer than some would prefer, but the touchdowns are gentle,but firmly on the ground with the nose wheel up and no bounce. After 5 great landings, I departed northeast for the lake and had a ball playing with the terrain feature of the Garmin. And the ZAON PCAS "fishfinder" works well for finding intruder aircraft.
Did some pilotage and found my sister-in-law's farm. Even better I caught ahe and Pete our loading a horse trailer. Stayed legal, but circled them several times and saw them looking at me. No long guns were produced, so I went overhead at the FAA-required 500 feet AGL at went back to AGS. Great landing and rollout with the white stripe firmly underneath.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Remos is Delivered!
Tom and Carole Logan are great Americans! They flew the airplane down from PA and delivered it at Bush Field. When we arrived, Tom was furiously wiping down the airplane to get the bugs off the wings. And N224DH is a beauty! Except for a little normal wear on the seat fabrics and a little cracking of the seat backs (the trainer had both seat backs broken) you swear the airplane was new! Took Tom to get a rental car and then took them to Rhinehart's for dinner. Worked with the great folks at AIC Title (AOPA-recommended) and cleared the escrow, and other paperwork!
Gene and I are now the very proud owners of Remos G3/600 N224DH.
Now if the winds will callm down, I'll fly her!
Gene and I are now the very proud owners of Remos G3/600 N224DH.
Now if the winds will callm down, I'll fly her!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Happy Anniversary to all four of us!
Robert and Terri Cork had the most wonderful wedding nine years ago. All their nefarious sailing buddies contributed talents and love and the weather was perfect. Micky and Johnnie Poole decided to use their "good Ju-Ju" and steal the date for their wedding. To further reinforce the bond, we share the anniversary/honeymoon trip.
This year it was the Worldwide McDonald's convention.
Along for the ride were Shannon and very pregnant Angie (girl in July) and Ryan and Allison (Just plain fun in shoes !)
Micky and I have heard for years about the "big doings" of a MacConvention and this year we were in Orlando at the same time.
We didn't go to the convention floor, although we were invited. We ahd to drive home to sort out the details of acquiring the Remos, but one year we'd love to see that part too!
We had a great meal in the Shingle Creek Resorts Italian restaurant "Bela Cala". The conversation and camaraderie were much more enticing than the food. Since the food was excellent, you can understand the rest.
Shannon, Ryan, Robert and I just seem to click.
Shannon and I are RockBand Beatles freaks! He even has a full-sized Fender rigged as a game controller and plays through headsets to keep from waking up the neighborhood. He wants me to get the Xbox 360 version so that we can jam over the net. I told him about the "YouRockGuitar" that will eventually arrive, but he's not that interested in "real" guitar music.
The core group (Robert, Terri, Micky and I) went to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville to buy a hat and eat the best cheeseburgers made. J.D. Spradlen was DJ'ing "Radio Margaritavile" from his booth in the restaurant. We sent up a request to play Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" (our wedding recessional!). Next thing we're all in the booth sending out the request. We had called Rhonda Hatcher, a true Parrothead, and she was all atwitter when Robert was given the microphone to introduce the song! Robert was full of questions about the digital systems used to queue the show and the radio logging programs. Much has changed since I worked at a station.
We were invited to go to Seaworld with the MacGroup. They do amusement parks right! The park closed at 6 PM and the staff swept all the riff-raff out the front as the busses full of us came in a back entrance. Food,beer, wine and soft drinks in every corner of the park. Most of the rides (all the big ones) were open.
The Dolphin and Pilot whale show is the star attraction now. They have the usual dolphin acts, but also trapeze artists, a trained false killer (pilot) whale, and Macaws that are released in the stadium to fly overhead. A really wonderful show.
The Shamu show is crippled. Since the trainer was killed by "Tilly", that whale is still in the show, but the trainers do not get in the water with them. And there were large awkward gaps that apparently were whales refusing to cooperate and perform. But they had one of the best guitar soloists working on a movable big screen and doing stuff with a Stratocaster that shouldn't happen!
Thanks to Shannon for inviting us along.
This year it was the Worldwide McDonald's convention.
Along for the ride were Shannon and very pregnant Angie (girl in July) and Ryan and Allison (Just plain fun in shoes !)
Micky and I have heard for years about the "big doings" of a MacConvention and this year we were in Orlando at the same time.
We didn't go to the convention floor, although we were invited. We ahd to drive home to sort out the details of acquiring the Remos, but one year we'd love to see that part too!
We had a great meal in the Shingle Creek Resorts Italian restaurant "Bela Cala". The conversation and camaraderie were much more enticing than the food. Since the food was excellent, you can understand the rest.
Shannon, Ryan, Robert and I just seem to click.
Shannon and I are RockBand Beatles freaks! He even has a full-sized Fender rigged as a game controller and plays through headsets to keep from waking up the neighborhood. He wants me to get the Xbox 360 version so that we can jam over the net. I told him about the "YouRockGuitar" that will eventually arrive, but he's not that interested in "real" guitar music.
The core group (Robert, Terri, Micky and I) went to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville to buy a hat and eat the best cheeseburgers made. J.D. Spradlen was DJ'ing "Radio Margaritavile" from his booth in the restaurant. We sent up a request to play Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" (our wedding recessional!). Next thing we're all in the booth sending out the request. We had called Rhonda Hatcher, a true Parrothead, and she was all atwitter when Robert was given the microphone to introduce the song! Robert was full of questions about the digital systems used to queue the show and the radio logging programs. Much has changed since I worked at a station.
We were invited to go to Seaworld with the MacGroup. They do amusement parks right! The park closed at 6 PM and the staff swept all the riff-raff out the front as the busses full of us came in a back entrance. Food,beer, wine and soft drinks in every corner of the park. Most of the rides (all the big ones) were open.
The Dolphin and Pilot whale show is the star attraction now. They have the usual dolphin acts, but also trapeze artists, a trained false killer (pilot) whale, and Macaws that are released in the stadium to fly overhead. A really wonderful show.
The Shamu show is crippled. Since the trainer was killed by "Tilly", that whale is still in the show, but the trainers do not get in the water with them. And there were large awkward gaps that apparently were whales refusing to cooperate and perform. But they had one of the best guitar soloists working on a movable big screen and doing stuff with a Stratocaster that shouldn't happen!
Thanks to Shannon for inviting us along.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sun 'N Fun 2010
Sun 'N Fun is the second largest aviation event in the world, behind AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. For a plane-crazy like me this is refined heroin! Every direction, airplanes, scooters, helicopters and stuff! Even a flying jon-boat!
I went two days. The first day was Friday and I made a BIG Mistake! I left Micky at the RV Park with a promise to return in the "early afternoon". I got back at 5:30 PM which is only early if you're summer above the Artic Circle and can argue that it's two months to sunset!
I went to shop for airplane "stuff" and wanted to beat the weekend crowds. Got "Show Specials" on a handheld VHF COM/NAV radio and a Portable Collision Avoidance System that receives the transponder altitude signals and gives you a dispplay of the nearest threat. A very useful thing to know when you're down with "The Indians" and nobody's in charge! Just like I like it! See and avoid!
But a little help in seeing is a great idea. They make one that gives direction for three times the cost, but I'm not sold on their antenna, having stuggled with the directional antennae on high-dollar TCAS systems. This PCAS won't give you any warnings other than "Traffic!" but that should get your eyes outside for a look.
I brought Micky with me on Saturday and we had a ball. It's really unusual that a spouse is so enthusiastic about flying and airplanes. She's got it bone-deep from her Dad's love of Aviation.
My friends from Missouri arrived in Orlando yesterday for the MacDonald's convention. 30,000 operators and franchisee's from around the world. Exhibitors with all the latest gadgets to cook, clean, and surveill the Golden Arches. Thursday afternoon is our shot to wander the exhibit hall.
Wednesday night they will close Sea World early for our anniversary! Well, not just ours, the Corks' too! We'll have the place all to ourselves. Along with our invited MacD guests! All the shows,rides, food, the only thing money is for is gifts!
I went two days. The first day was Friday and I made a BIG Mistake! I left Micky at the RV Park with a promise to return in the "early afternoon". I got back at 5:30 PM which is only early if you're summer above the Artic Circle and can argue that it's two months to sunset!
I went to shop for airplane "stuff" and wanted to beat the weekend crowds. Got "Show Specials" on a handheld VHF COM/NAV radio and a Portable Collision Avoidance System that receives the transponder altitude signals and gives you a dispplay of the nearest threat. A very useful thing to know when you're down with "The Indians" and nobody's in charge! Just like I like it! See and avoid!
But a little help in seeing is a great idea. They make one that gives direction for three times the cost, but I'm not sold on their antenna, having stuggled with the directional antennae on high-dollar TCAS systems. This PCAS won't give you any warnings other than "Traffic!" but that should get your eyes outside for a look.
I brought Micky with me on Saturday and we had a ball. It's really unusual that a spouse is so enthusiastic about flying and airplanes. She's got it bone-deep from her Dad's love of Aviation.
My friends from Missouri arrived in Orlando yesterday for the MacDonald's convention. 30,000 operators and franchisee's from around the world. Exhibitors with all the latest gadgets to cook, clean, and surveill the Golden Arches. Thursday afternoon is our shot to wander the exhibit hall.
Wednesday night they will close Sea World early for our anniversary! Well, not just ours, the Corks' too! We'll have the place all to ourselves. Along with our invited MacD guests! All the shows,rides, food, the only thing money is for is gifts!
Friday, April 16, 2010
(Motor)home, sweet (Motor)home!
What a long day!
Micky and I ,both, were completely finished with Miami. Been there, done that! Not going back!
Once you've tasted life on the road from a motorhome, other accomodations are less inviting.
BlueGreen Solara Surfside was a beautiful, stylish and fun hotel. Art deco inside and out and a very nice suite of rooms, but not our stuff! The chairs didn't hit me right, the bed wasn't perfect, the room had a slight "not mine!" odor. In other words, it wasn't "home".
The only place I like better than my motorhome, is my home. And I can live in either.
So at 5:45 AM I woke Micky and we started the process of packing and moving back to Tampa (Seffner) to pick up the Neptune.
I really have to work with Micky about travelling lighter. I will allow that we had moved out of our Motorhome for ten days and probably carried excess stuff, but the luggage cart was literally creaking under the load. I contribute a few books and my flight bag, but Micky always plans for more activities than we ever do. We had full dancing outfits including ballroom shoes, rain jackets and umbrellas.
The one item I'll readily concede is the food. Since the motorhome was empty, the refrigerator was shut down for the ice-maker repair. All the perishables had to travel with us.
But still, way too much stuff!
We stopped first in Naples to retrieve three more bags of stored stuff. The dogs were glad to see us, but we missed seeing Phil and Gayle. That occupational disease, again! Phil's totally inconsiderate neighbors were out running a noisy RC car in their driveway. Phil and Gayle chose to live in what Floridians, or at least the Naples variant, call "the estates". They live in a very nice neighborhood of individually designed and built homes. No restrictive covenants or deeds, and no neighborhood nazis telling you what to do. Except they need a Nazi!
Right smack on the property line is a deteriorating tarp-carport with three older small rice-burner sub-compacts. One of which the "boys" have beaten the windshield out of. Along with the boat parked in the front yard and the piles of true junk outside the garage, they've built a "shop" (had it delivered, probably) in the back yard and lead a loud, ATV-motorcross life-style. And neighborly conversations haven't worked with this collection of "Bumpus" hounds. Hopefully, they're sloppy around fuel and will set the place ablaze!
We put the kayaks and bicycles on the roof and left for Tampa. The added drag was only partially offset by the 20-knot tailwind, so the mileage dropped to 25 MPG.
LazyDays almost made it on time! The last item on their list was nitrogen in the tires. For those who scoff, a set of tires for this rolling luxury apartment is a $2500-3000 investment that will usually last until the sidewalls crack after 5-7 years. The worst thing you can do is run the tires low on pressure and water vapor makes the tire pressure vary and the inside of the tires rot. Add to that a truly reactive nature and getting the oxygen out is a good thing. The tires hold pressure longer and periodic topping with air won't hurt.
At least LazyDays has a half-century long tradition of pampering customers and the service lounge is clean, comfortable serves Starbucks coffee, and has several large-format TV's going. I like the tables to spread out the computer on.
By the time we had arrived in Orlando and wandered the wrong direction on several lanes in Thousand Trails Preserve, I was whipped having done most of the driving. At least setup is easy.
Tomorrow, I'm going to give Micky the option of nesting here while I go to Lakeland, but I doubt she'll stay here.
Micky and I ,both, were completely finished with Miami. Been there, done that! Not going back!
Once you've tasted life on the road from a motorhome, other accomodations are less inviting.
BlueGreen Solara Surfside was a beautiful, stylish and fun hotel. Art deco inside and out and a very nice suite of rooms, but not our stuff! The chairs didn't hit me right, the bed wasn't perfect, the room had a slight "not mine!" odor. In other words, it wasn't "home".
The only place I like better than my motorhome, is my home. And I can live in either.
So at 5:45 AM I woke Micky and we started the process of packing and moving back to Tampa (Seffner) to pick up the Neptune.
I really have to work with Micky about travelling lighter. I will allow that we had moved out of our Motorhome for ten days and probably carried excess stuff, but the luggage cart was literally creaking under the load. I contribute a few books and my flight bag, but Micky always plans for more activities than we ever do. We had full dancing outfits including ballroom shoes, rain jackets and umbrellas.
The one item I'll readily concede is the food. Since the motorhome was empty, the refrigerator was shut down for the ice-maker repair. All the perishables had to travel with us.
But still, way too much stuff!
We stopped first in Naples to retrieve three more bags of stored stuff. The dogs were glad to see us, but we missed seeing Phil and Gayle. That occupational disease, again! Phil's totally inconsiderate neighbors were out running a noisy RC car in their driveway. Phil and Gayle chose to live in what Floridians, or at least the Naples variant, call "the estates". They live in a very nice neighborhood of individually designed and built homes. No restrictive covenants or deeds, and no neighborhood nazis telling you what to do. Except they need a Nazi!
Right smack on the property line is a deteriorating tarp-carport with three older small rice-burner sub-compacts. One of which the "boys" have beaten the windshield out of. Along with the boat parked in the front yard and the piles of true junk outside the garage, they've built a "shop" (had it delivered, probably) in the back yard and lead a loud, ATV-motorcross life-style. And neighborly conversations haven't worked with this collection of "Bumpus" hounds. Hopefully, they're sloppy around fuel and will set the place ablaze!
We put the kayaks and bicycles on the roof and left for Tampa. The added drag was only partially offset by the 20-knot tailwind, so the mileage dropped to 25 MPG.
LazyDays almost made it on time! The last item on their list was nitrogen in the tires. For those who scoff, a set of tires for this rolling luxury apartment is a $2500-3000 investment that will usually last until the sidewalls crack after 5-7 years. The worst thing you can do is run the tires low on pressure and water vapor makes the tire pressure vary and the inside of the tires rot. Add to that a truly reactive nature and getting the oxygen out is a good thing. The tires hold pressure longer and periodic topping with air won't hurt.
At least LazyDays has a half-century long tradition of pampering customers and the service lounge is clean, comfortable serves Starbucks coffee, and has several large-format TV's going. I like the tables to spread out the computer on.
By the time we had arrived in Orlando and wandered the wrong direction on several lanes in Thousand Trails Preserve, I was whipped having done most of the driving. At least setup is easy.
Tomorrow, I'm going to give Micky the option of nesting here while I go to Lakeland, but I doubt she'll stay here.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Not an Urbanite!
Micky and I are anxious to get away from this city!
Even though Miami is one of the the prettiest cities on the planet with some of the most interesting people and cultures, I want out!
I've really enjoyed the Cuban and Hispanic culture and language. All that time learning Spanish has paid off in understanding the conversations and bi-lingual signage. And the Cubans we've met have been wonderful! So don't think that we're irritated by that. In fact, rude,chatterbox Canadians have been more grating than this cultural stewpot.
The daily friction of even the simplest tasks, like gassing the car, gets to me quickly. The constant 24/7 traffic and crowds, and the lack of a regular dose of "my stuff" is maddening!
The real problem is the tofu-eating moron at my credit union that decided to "purge" both of our ATM cards. And I did, indeed, call that person by that name in my emails complaining about the "policy". Seems that they have a "use it or lose it" deal going on, but they don't tell you that! I'm glad I wasn't international when they did this. Much of the world is still "cash only" and we stopped carrying trtaveler's cheques a while ago. But we'll always have a supply from now on!
I'm really looking forward to being back in my own bed in the motorhome and shutting the world right out. It's fun to visit, but I don't ever want to live in any major city or tourist area.
And I miss my friends and the regularity of small things like the birds out of my bathroom window.
We've been gone for a month now and I think I'm homesick. I know that once we pick up the motorhome and start going to Sun 'n Fun this will get much better.
We don't have to leave here until around 9 AM tomorow. Micky is frantically packing and we'll be out of here with the sunrise (or earlier)!
I'd much rather dally around on the way to Tampa than stay here longer.
Adios!
Even though Miami is one of the the prettiest cities on the planet with some of the most interesting people and cultures, I want out!
I've really enjoyed the Cuban and Hispanic culture and language. All that time learning Spanish has paid off in understanding the conversations and bi-lingual signage. And the Cubans we've met have been wonderful! So don't think that we're irritated by that. In fact, rude,chatterbox Canadians have been more grating than this cultural stewpot.
The daily friction of even the simplest tasks, like gassing the car, gets to me quickly. The constant 24/7 traffic and crowds, and the lack of a regular dose of "my stuff" is maddening!
The real problem is the tofu-eating moron at my credit union that decided to "purge" both of our ATM cards. And I did, indeed, call that person by that name in my emails complaining about the "policy". Seems that they have a "use it or lose it" deal going on, but they don't tell you that! I'm glad I wasn't international when they did this. Much of the world is still "cash only" and we stopped carrying trtaveler's cheques a while ago. But we'll always have a supply from now on!
I'm really looking forward to being back in my own bed in the motorhome and shutting the world right out. It's fun to visit, but I don't ever want to live in any major city or tourist area.
And I miss my friends and the regularity of small things like the birds out of my bathroom window.
We've been gone for a month now and I think I'm homesick. I know that once we pick up the motorhome and start going to Sun 'n Fun this will get much better.
We don't have to leave here until around 9 AM tomorow. Micky is frantically packing and we'll be out of here with the sunrise (or earlier)!
I'd much rather dally around on the way to Tampa than stay here longer.
Adios!
Miami by Bus and Boat
I'm not as jaded as I thought. The tour was well worth it. I got to see parts of Miami I probably wouldn't have ventured out to see.
I particularly enjoyed the short time in "Pequeno Habana". The rollers had not started in the Padilla Cigar Factory, but the place was a genuine cigar factory, gussied up a bit, but cigars were made. And good ones too. I had a Padilla 52-ring Torpedo that rated a 90 in "Cigar Aficionado" that cost under six bucks! The finish of the cigar, and the draw were superb. I'm not one of the smokers with a literary palette. I can't describe the flavors in wine-tasters terms very well, but the taste of chocolate and a little pepper along with a medium body or strength worked well. And it smoked well in the wind. One of the problems with cigars is that they are normally smoked outside in our "nanny" society. I actually agree with that dicta. The stench of bad plastic-tipped "blunts" and cigarettes is truly disgusting. The Padilla Factory was surprising light in aroma. More like old leather chairs, than a smoking lounge. I've visited some shops with lounges that were absolute health hazards since they refuse to properly ventilate them. You should have a slight aroma on your clothes after a smoke, but not be tempted to throw them away!
And I love Cuban coffee. Hot, sweet and strong enough to make "Red Bull" a sedative! If you don't sweat after a cup, your cardio-doc should turn up your pacemaker! I'd love to sit in Padilla's front room, drink Cafe Bustelo and smoke another Torpedo while listening to the machine-gun rhythms of a native Cuban political harangue. "Para Libertad! Para Cuba!"
It's really hard to explain such a richly destructive craving in practical terms. The end result of such indulgence would be death or debilitation. But the end result of everything else is also death and debilitation. So moderation is needed, damnit!
The boat tour was the artificial, in every possible way, islands of Biscayne Bay. Except for the camouflage of "Fisher Island", these retreats of the over-paid are given real-estate agent floral names like "Palm" and "Hibiscus". Dredged literally from the bottom of the bay, they are the gaudy public display pieces of the super-rich. Elizabeth Taylor, the doctor who invented Viagra, "P Diddy" Combs, and even "Vanilla Ice" have followed the stylistic lead of Al Capone. I guess I'm just too egalitarian to approve of such true excess. But it all becomes a tribute to the American dream when you start to realize the vast scope of it all. Take miles of millionaires homes, thousands of luxury cars and boats, and then multiply that by the hundreds of such enclaves in this country from Kennebunkport to Palm Springs and you realize that something is really right here. Other countries may have a few at the top, we have cities of them! And the satellite dishes are out even in the poorer neighborhoods. And unless you are addicted to your own delusions and refuse help ,only then, are you truly homeless. In Miami Beach even the Haitians are smuggled in aboard luxury yachts. (See the reports in the news from two days about a group that beached the boat at speed on Haulover Beach!)
I particularly enjoyed the short time in "Pequeno Habana". The rollers had not started in the Padilla Cigar Factory, but the place was a genuine cigar factory, gussied up a bit, but cigars were made. And good ones too. I had a Padilla 52-ring Torpedo that rated a 90 in "Cigar Aficionado" that cost under six bucks! The finish of the cigar, and the draw were superb. I'm not one of the smokers with a literary palette. I can't describe the flavors in wine-tasters terms very well, but the taste of chocolate and a little pepper along with a medium body or strength worked well. And it smoked well in the wind. One of the problems with cigars is that they are normally smoked outside in our "nanny" society. I actually agree with that dicta. The stench of bad plastic-tipped "blunts" and cigarettes is truly disgusting. The Padilla Factory was surprising light in aroma. More like old leather chairs, than a smoking lounge. I've visited some shops with lounges that were absolute health hazards since they refuse to properly ventilate them. You should have a slight aroma on your clothes after a smoke, but not be tempted to throw them away!
And I love Cuban coffee. Hot, sweet and strong enough to make "Red Bull" a sedative! If you don't sweat after a cup, your cardio-doc should turn up your pacemaker! I'd love to sit in Padilla's front room, drink Cafe Bustelo and smoke another Torpedo while listening to the machine-gun rhythms of a native Cuban political harangue. "Para Libertad! Para Cuba!"
It's really hard to explain such a richly destructive craving in practical terms. The end result of such indulgence would be death or debilitation. But the end result of everything else is also death and debilitation. So moderation is needed, damnit!
The boat tour was the artificial, in every possible way, islands of Biscayne Bay. Except for the camouflage of "Fisher Island", these retreats of the over-paid are given real-estate agent floral names like "Palm" and "Hibiscus". Dredged literally from the bottom of the bay, they are the gaudy public display pieces of the super-rich. Elizabeth Taylor, the doctor who invented Viagra, "P Diddy" Combs, and even "Vanilla Ice" have followed the stylistic lead of Al Capone. I guess I'm just too egalitarian to approve of such true excess. But it all becomes a tribute to the American dream when you start to realize the vast scope of it all. Take miles of millionaires homes, thousands of luxury cars and boats, and then multiply that by the hundreds of such enclaves in this country from Kennebunkport to Palm Springs and you realize that something is really right here. Other countries may have a few at the top, we have cities of them! And the satellite dishes are out even in the poorer neighborhoods. And unless you are addicted to your own delusions and refuse help ,only then, are you truly homeless. In Miami Beach even the Haitians are smuggled in aboard luxury yachts. (See the reports in the news from two days about a group that beached the boat at speed on Haulover Beach!)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Miami Beach ain't that much fun!
I think we're spoiled! We're used to visiting places and virtually having no hassles and our perpetually-comfortable motorhome to live in.
We're staying at the BlueGreen resort on Miami Beach. It is all we expected it to be. Great suite, a little used, but very nice. The staff is ever-solicitous. And even though we did not sign up for a time-share arrangement, it is still wonderful, but it ain't our style.
The traffic sucks, major-league, big-city, sucks! It points out the precarious nature of our infrastructure. It's as though a designer had built a building that the first woodpecker that happened by could destroy! Every time there's a breakdown or a trucker that skipped high-school and doesn't get the physics of driving his truck and lays it down on the on-ramp, the whole system literally grinds to an hours-long halt.
And I'm ready to get on with buying the Remos! Or going to Lakeland. Maybe tomorrow's tour will divert us for the day. We're touring by bus and boat to see Miami. Should be what passes for fun as tourists.
Then Thursday we're on the beach, unless the motorhome is ready early, then we're leaving!
We're staying at the BlueGreen resort on Miami Beach. It is all we expected it to be. Great suite, a little used, but very nice. The staff is ever-solicitous. And even though we did not sign up for a time-share arrangement, it is still wonderful, but it ain't our style.
The traffic sucks, major-league, big-city, sucks! It points out the precarious nature of our infrastructure. It's as though a designer had built a building that the first woodpecker that happened by could destroy! Every time there's a breakdown or a trucker that skipped high-school and doesn't get the physics of driving his truck and lays it down on the on-ramp, the whole system literally grinds to an hours-long halt.
And I'm ready to get on with buying the Remos! Or going to Lakeland. Maybe tomorrow's tour will divert us for the day. We're touring by bus and boat to see Miami. Should be what passes for fun as tourists.
Then Thursday we're on the beach, unless the motorhome is ready early, then we're leaving!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Finally! Miami Beach!
A lot has happened since the last post! Our plan all along has been to put the motorhome in for service at LazyDays while we visit the BlueGreen resort in Miami Beach. I had to delay the input to LazyDays on Good Friday and must have gotten the "grumpy guy". "They couldn't possibly change the schedule and see my unit until November! YADA YADA YADA!" I do not argue with terminally stupid people. So I waited until my "real" service advisor was back on Monday and suddenly everything was straightened out after a nasty email. "Illegitimus Non Carborundum!" Don't Let The Bastards Wear You Down!
So we turned in the motorhome, loaded our toys on the Prius and went to Naples to see Phil and Gayle. Just adding air drag to a Prius drops it from extraordinary to mediocre-- the mileage dropped to an amazing 22 MPG at 70 MPH! Back up after the roof was removed!
Had a fun time with the Coxes and Luecke's and, of course, their dogs! One memorable event was seeing a rehearsal of Gayle's a Capella chorus "Spirit of the Gulf". It is inspirational to see women of all backgrounds and body types, some compromised by health issues, able to form a powerful 80-member chorus and harmonize. The "phantom voices" (beat frequencies) in their four-part harmony will make the hair stand up on your neck! Beautifully American!
We're at a resort vacation club / interval ownership club that we signed up for a "sampler package" before the motorhome and airplane were on the scene. It's very nice! On South Beach. The suites are more than acceptable and the activities and amenities are just what we need. To bad that it won't fit into our plans now. So we'll sit through another sales spiel and turn them down. But if you're interested in vacationing in very nice surroundings for reasonable overall rates, I recommend BlueGreen. Everything has been as promised.
I've been dealing with the details and administrative stuff of buying the airplane. It's almost as involved as buying a home, but the FAA is involved. We're doing escrow, title search and insurance, hull insurance and getting Gene on the policy as a student to train in his own plane, etc. It takes time and the Internet to do it. And money! Every service has a price. I love capitalism! No bribery or "insiders" needed, just pay the fees! Try that in the Third World!
The sunrise over the Atlantic was one of the steel grey cloudy affairs this morning, but the palms are a-sway and the water is warm enough. wind brings out the kite-boarders. That is an exciting and fun thing to watch combining surfing, knee-boarding, and flying! Spectacular leaps and flips! Oh to have good knees for just one more day! But, they have youth, I have an airplane!
So we turned in the motorhome, loaded our toys on the Prius and went to Naples to see Phil and Gayle. Just adding air drag to a Prius drops it from extraordinary to mediocre-- the mileage dropped to an amazing 22 MPG at 70 MPH! Back up after the roof was removed!
Had a fun time with the Coxes and Luecke's and, of course, their dogs! One memorable event was seeing a rehearsal of Gayle's a Capella chorus "Spirit of the Gulf". It is inspirational to see women of all backgrounds and body types, some compromised by health issues, able to form a powerful 80-member chorus and harmonize. The "phantom voices" (beat frequencies) in their four-part harmony will make the hair stand up on your neck! Beautifully American!
We're at a resort vacation club / interval ownership club that we signed up for a "sampler package" before the motorhome and airplane were on the scene. It's very nice! On South Beach. The suites are more than acceptable and the activities and amenities are just what we need. To bad that it won't fit into our plans now. So we'll sit through another sales spiel and turn them down. But if you're interested in vacationing in very nice surroundings for reasonable overall rates, I recommend BlueGreen. Everything has been as promised.
I've been dealing with the details and administrative stuff of buying the airplane. It's almost as involved as buying a home, but the FAA is involved. We're doing escrow, title search and insurance, hull insurance and getting Gene on the policy as a student to train in his own plane, etc. It takes time and the Internet to do it. And money! Every service has a price. I love capitalism! No bribery or "insiders" needed, just pay the fees! Try that in the Third World!
The sunrise over the Atlantic was one of the steel grey cloudy affairs this morning, but the palms are a-sway and the water is warm enough. wind brings out the kite-boarders. That is an exciting and fun thing to watch combining surfing, knee-boarding, and flying! Spectacular leaps and flips! Oh to have good knees for just one more day! But, they have youth, I have an airplane!
Monday, April 5, 2010
License in hand, despite the FAA !!!
What an irritating day! Yesterday, I struggled mightily with the FAA's IACRA system to get an application for a Sport Pilot License entered. This systems is the most counter-intuitive, cryptic POS I've had to deal with since some of the DOS dinosaurs finally died. Screens change, you can't necessarily back up to fix an error, etc.
After I threw my hands up, Sherman rode shotgun on my wing over the phone last night at around midnight and we thought all was good.
This morning I'm about ten minutes from the airport when Jim Julius calls me and says there's no need to come in, there's a huge f____ with the FAA over the spelling of my name. I told him I was continuing in anyway and would work with him to fix it.
For background, my MOM spelled my name wrong on my birth certificate. She spelled in with a "Y", but taught me to spell it with an "IE". At age 15 (1965 for those playing along on the home game) she took me to get my Learner's Permit and Georgia has issued my Driver's Licenses since with an "IE". The Marines insisted that I spell it with a "Y" and "Y" is on my passport. Now, I'm the third of the name, the first two are with an "IE" or "Y" , but my grandfather's grave is JOHN so who knows. I'm one of the few people around that doesn't know how to spell his own damned name!
But it doesn't really matter, the social security number never changes.
And to my surprise, the spelling of the first name was not the problem! It was the lack of "III" on one form and the contraction of my middle name to an initial on another. Talk about a split personality! To the FAA that was three different people none of whom had satisfied all the requirements for Sport Pilot.
The FAA was the archetype that George Lucas based his "Empire" on. Totally unresponsive and all-powerful. Jim Julius had been trying to get an answer. Apparently the only way for the cabal in OK City to verify that I'm not really "Achmed Osama Poole" is to make an appointment to see an inspector at the secret FAA office in St. Pete (they took the sign down after 9/11) Of course the GPS will still take you there, but the suicide bombers will only blow up the 7-11 on the corner!
So now I'm totally steamed, neck-vein bulging, lock-wired to the "Kill" position as only a Marine Sergeant Major can get with faced with super-stupid. The fall-back position was for the Pilot Examiner to fix it, which everybody assured me would not happen. My overload warnings were shrieking in my head like a Three-mile Island coolant sensor!
Of course Dave Whitman, the Pilot Examiner and ex-Eastern pilot, comes in examine the issue and decides the student license can just be ignored, and the name on the written test report doesn't kill the program. All I had to do was make sure the suffix showed up on the new application. Odd that it was on the Student ticket and automatically filled in on the application! But we did as he asked and a miracle occurred! The application worked!
Now for the part I could study and prepare for! I was so out-of-tolerance that I considered cancelling the ride because as a pilot I was concerned that I was jazzed on adrenaline and other bodily "Kill" juice!. But I managed to regain composure and enter into the Oral portion. Dave made it easy, but there was a question I didn't know. Because I will never come close to taking off with a 1000 foot ceiling as VFR. The law says you can, but practically, the airports I operate out of are where people actually live and 1000-foot separation from urban areas is required. So It would mean flying my wings at cloud level. The other part of the law say I have be 500 feet below clouds. Simple math says 1500 or better to takeoff, but the arcana of CFR 14 is such that I guess somewhere out west you could do that.
Next we went flying, and there was considerable wind and turbulence on the way to the practice area. I'm doing my best to demonstrate to Dave "quiet hands" flying and we're being knocked thirty degrees on our ears and hitting thermals that drive you up 200 feet. But Dave recognized that I was working it. A couple of steep turns after clearing the area followed by full-flap stalls and a power-on stall went very well with me talking to Dave and explaining what I was doing.
Next according to Dave, I lost an engine. Right over the most perfect field I've ever seen! It was even plowed parallel to the wind!
I started yakking away at Dave while trimming for a good glide and circling "Perfect field". I explained all the stuff I'd do while I had speed and altitude. And when I got down to 1000 feet above that field I rolled out on a downwind, spotted my base turn, and was working final, when Dave said to go-around.
I think it tickled him when I called out "Positive Rate!" He made the motions and called "Gear up"! Standard big-plane stuff in a Light-Sport!
We wandered back to Sarasota with me working the radios as needed. We were once again chased down the glideslope by AirTran. And Dave did not appreciate the 30-second separation! But I had the taxiway and he had to wait me out!
So after shutdown, Dave told me I passed! Not a second before!
Now I'm officially one of the "wind people" a true steely-eyed, square-jawed Sky God of a man! Feels goooood!!!
After I threw my hands up, Sherman rode shotgun on my wing over the phone last night at around midnight and we thought all was good.
This morning I'm about ten minutes from the airport when Jim Julius calls me and says there's no need to come in, there's a huge f____ with the FAA over the spelling of my name. I told him I was continuing in anyway and would work with him to fix it.
For background, my MOM spelled my name wrong on my birth certificate. She spelled in with a "Y", but taught me to spell it with an "IE". At age 15 (1965 for those playing along on the home game) she took me to get my Learner's Permit and Georgia has issued my Driver's Licenses since with an "IE". The Marines insisted that I spell it with a "Y" and "Y" is on my passport. Now, I'm the third of the name, the first two are with an "IE" or "Y" , but my grandfather's grave is JOHN so who knows. I'm one of the few people around that doesn't know how to spell his own damned name!
But it doesn't really matter, the social security number never changes.
And to my surprise, the spelling of the first name was not the problem! It was the lack of "III" on one form and the contraction of my middle name to an initial on another. Talk about a split personality! To the FAA that was three different people none of whom had satisfied all the requirements for Sport Pilot.
The FAA was the archetype that George Lucas based his "Empire" on. Totally unresponsive and all-powerful. Jim Julius had been trying to get an answer. Apparently the only way for the cabal in OK City to verify that I'm not really "Achmed Osama Poole" is to make an appointment to see an inspector at the secret FAA office in St. Pete (they took the sign down after 9/11) Of course the GPS will still take you there, but the suicide bombers will only blow up the 7-11 on the corner!
So now I'm totally steamed, neck-vein bulging, lock-wired to the "Kill" position as only a Marine Sergeant Major can get with faced with super-stupid. The fall-back position was for the Pilot Examiner to fix it, which everybody assured me would not happen. My overload warnings were shrieking in my head like a Three-mile Island coolant sensor!
Of course Dave Whitman, the Pilot Examiner and ex-Eastern pilot, comes in examine the issue and decides the student license can just be ignored, and the name on the written test report doesn't kill the program. All I had to do was make sure the suffix showed up on the new application. Odd that it was on the Student ticket and automatically filled in on the application! But we did as he asked and a miracle occurred! The application worked!
Now for the part I could study and prepare for! I was so out-of-tolerance that I considered cancelling the ride because as a pilot I was concerned that I was jazzed on adrenaline and other bodily "Kill" juice!. But I managed to regain composure and enter into the Oral portion. Dave made it easy, but there was a question I didn't know. Because I will never come close to taking off with a 1000 foot ceiling as VFR. The law says you can, but practically, the airports I operate out of are where people actually live and 1000-foot separation from urban areas is required. So It would mean flying my wings at cloud level. The other part of the law say I have be 500 feet below clouds. Simple math says 1500 or better to takeoff, but the arcana of CFR 14 is such that I guess somewhere out west you could do that.
Next we went flying, and there was considerable wind and turbulence on the way to the practice area. I'm doing my best to demonstrate to Dave "quiet hands" flying and we're being knocked thirty degrees on our ears and hitting thermals that drive you up 200 feet. But Dave recognized that I was working it. A couple of steep turns after clearing the area followed by full-flap stalls and a power-on stall went very well with me talking to Dave and explaining what I was doing.
Next according to Dave, I lost an engine. Right over the most perfect field I've ever seen! It was even plowed parallel to the wind!
I started yakking away at Dave while trimming for a good glide and circling "Perfect field". I explained all the stuff I'd do while I had speed and altitude. And when I got down to 1000 feet above that field I rolled out on a downwind, spotted my base turn, and was working final, when Dave said to go-around.
I think it tickled him when I called out "Positive Rate!" He made the motions and called "Gear up"! Standard big-plane stuff in a Light-Sport!
We wandered back to Sarasota with me working the radios as needed. We were once again chased down the glideslope by AirTran. And Dave did not appreciate the 30-second separation! But I had the taxiway and he had to wait me out!
So after shutdown, Dave told me I passed! Not a second before!
Now I'm officially one of the "wind people" a true steely-eyed, square-jawed Sky God of a man! Feels goooood!!!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Okay, I didn't wait!
I found a listing for MY airplane online that had 1103 viewers. It drove me nuts that someone else could buy the perfect airplane out from under me. So this morning we (read that Micky and I) called the owner and sent the deposit.
So it's gonna happen! Micky and I will arange the money for transfer and when I get back to Georgia, Gene and I will set a date to drive to inspect and take delivery.
The airplane is North of Philly by about 30 miles, so a one-way rental car will go. There's probably the obligatory box of spares, manuals, and other stuff that we'll UPS back from there rather than spend expensive 100LowLead to schlepp back in the airplane. After the inspection, official change of ownership and insurance binders, Gene and I will fly back.
I'm a little nervous about wandering back in an LSA through the Greater Bos-Wash corridor, but if yankees can do it, I'm game.
We'll try to leave early and stop in New Bern, NC or thereabouts for fuel and de-watering, and then across the Low Country to Daniel Field in Augusta.
Like they say, along trip is just several short trips in a row. It'll be an adventure and Gene will learn a lot about a Remos on that trip.
Today, my new friend Phil Perkins got his Sport Pilot License. When he came back from his checkride, he was pale and grim-looking and nobody in the office could tell whether he had failed the ride or not! Finally we asked the pointed question and applauded! He's a really nice guy and deserves a little fun and freedom in his life. And his brand-new Jabiru 250 is super-cool!
We also met a really neat couple that have been live-aboard cruisers on a Morgan 51 for the last 30 years. Bonnie and Dennis are the kind of people that we immediately bonded with. Bonnie is taking her license training very enthusiastically! Dennis is a real NASA Aeronautical Engineer with a Mooney in a hangar somewhere. And he's not afraid to work either!
The Remos GE that we train in has been chafing through tubes if the pressure gets low in the tires and Dennis had right main tire go flat on the takeoff roll. So he helped Jim change the tire. Jacking the main up consists of lifting the wing onto a box to change the tire!
The really big news for Micky and I is that we obligated to buy an airplane! As soon as Gene gets his share together we'll have the Fantastic Flying Foursome! It will be great to see N244DH used regularly and flown all over the country.
Gene( and maybe Janeen?) will need to train and get the ticket, but at least he'll have the airplane to do it in. I think the closest CFI is over in Lawrenceville. I'll probably position the airplane over there and tie-down while Gene is training. If he can't take the time for an accelerated course, I'll probably do that quite often to get him to the instructor or the instructor to AGS. It'd probably be more efficient to pick him up and pay for a hotel and meals, rather than pay for a rental car to get me back and accomodations for Gene. The CFI will make that call. If he's a real airplane guy, he'll fly himself to Augusta and Gene will put him up while training. It should go faster for Gene because aircraft availability will be 100%.
I've found a Remos G3 to Buy and a Partner!
Micky I went to Sebring, Florida and demo'd a really pretty, well-equipped 2006 CTsw Short Wing Cruiser. Loaded with equipment and ready to go anywhere. Unfortunately, I'm not ready for it yet. It uses drooped ailerons as part of the flap program, and has had two pages of accidents in the ASF database. Everybody from students, to CFI's have crashed on landing. Each case is the result of pilot competence issues.
Well I have pilot competence issues since I'm a greenhorn pilot! Maybe in a couple of years, a more advanced airplane is what I'll want, but not right now.
As an example, a low-time pilot bought a CTLS at Sarasota and hired his CFI to check him out in it. The CFI says he is a competent pilot, but has restricted him to no-flap landings! So I'll pass.
But, the Remos G3 is another matter! I can do full flap landings in it anytime I want a steep, short approach and rollout. It handles totally predictably and is forgiving. And the controls are responsive right past the published stall speed.
So Monday, after my license is firmly in hand, I'm putting down a deposit to buy a late 2006 Remos G3! The airplane is equipped with avionics very similar to what's in sn 199 and only has 400 flight hours on the engine.
My partner is enthusiastic and his participation financially is very welcome. But more important, Gene and I are decades-long friends with interlocking interests and massive mutual respect. We're both retired military and understand and abide by rules. And we like each other! Now if we can sit down and write a perfect agreement, all is good!
I'll get and post pictures as soon as possible.
Well I have pilot competence issues since I'm a greenhorn pilot! Maybe in a couple of years, a more advanced airplane is what I'll want, but not right now.
As an example, a low-time pilot bought a CTLS at Sarasota and hired his CFI to check him out in it. The CFI says he is a competent pilot, but has restricted him to no-flap landings! So I'll pass.
But, the Remos G3 is another matter! I can do full flap landings in it anytime I want a steep, short approach and rollout. It handles totally predictably and is forgiving. And the controls are responsive right past the published stall speed.
So Monday, after my license is firmly in hand, I'm putting down a deposit to buy a late 2006 Remos G3! The airplane is equipped with avionics very similar to what's in sn 199 and only has 400 flight hours on the engine.
My partner is enthusiastic and his participation financially is very welcome. But more important, Gene and I are decades-long friends with interlocking interests and massive mutual respect. We're both retired military and understand and abide by rules. And we like each other! Now if we can sit down and write a perfect agreement, all is good!
I'll get and post pictures as soon as possible.
Last training flight!
Today was my last training flight. I've got four-tenths of an hour over 20 hours. Sherman and I had a great time doing airplane stuff. We did shallow and steep turns, Sherman pulled the power off several times to simulate engine trouble. My mistake was in landing straight ahead instead of looking straight down. Once you've got the glide going look down! Check out the fields below you and turn to spiral down to one of them rather than trying to estimate the condition of a field 2 miles away. Sure you can glide to it, but why pass up a good thing! I picked a field one time that looked like a pasture, but at 300 feet it was some kind of canes standing in water.
Turns around a point are always a problem. It sound so simple to do a circle around something on the ground. The problem is the wind will try to blow you away or over your target, so the bank angle never stops changing. But it is a great way to test your ability to divide attention.
Steep turns are just a hoot, Jet fighter turns! Load on the power, hold the nose up, kick the rudder to coordinate and the G's come in. Yeehahh!
In downtown St. Petersburg on the bayside is the Vinnoy Hotel next to the marina where the "Strictly Sail" show is in February. Just south is a pier with a Mall and restaurants on the end. Next is runway 18/36 of Albert Whitted Airport sticking out in Tampa Bay on a man-made peninsula. It was my first carrier landing in a civil aircraft! The approach is beautiful, over the bay with boats and schools of fish, then turn over a sandbar dotted with rays and aim at the penthouse of the pink condo tower! Turn in and the runway has a seawall, a little grass and the strip, off on the other side water. The saying is "One a day, in Tampa Bay!" I don't know how bad it'd have to get, but stupid would have to happen somewhere.
Back to Sarasota and land while three commercial guys are trying to leave. One is already at the end behind a Baron when I mosey down and stop at A4 to clear the runway. Coming from my left is an AirTran MD-80 who stops to let ME pass to Dolphin, the tower comes up "Citrus 280, Beware Prop Blast, Clear to taxi to one-four" so I keyed the mike "Yeah,brief the passengers!"
A perfect ending to a good training day. My logbook is fully endorsed and the appointment is made for the Pilot Examiner to come Monday for my checkride. The ticket is issued electronically and my printed Temporary will be in hand that afternoon. Then I'm going to borrow the plane as soon as I can and taqke my lovely wife on a tour of Tampa Bay and the coast!
Turns around a point are always a problem. It sound so simple to do a circle around something on the ground. The problem is the wind will try to blow you away or over your target, so the bank angle never stops changing. But it is a great way to test your ability to divide attention.
Steep turns are just a hoot, Jet fighter turns! Load on the power, hold the nose up, kick the rudder to coordinate and the G's come in. Yeehahh!
In downtown St. Petersburg on the bayside is the Vinnoy Hotel next to the marina where the "Strictly Sail" show is in February. Just south is a pier with a Mall and restaurants on the end. Next is runway 18/36 of Albert Whitted Airport sticking out in Tampa Bay on a man-made peninsula. It was my first carrier landing in a civil aircraft! The approach is beautiful, over the bay with boats and schools of fish, then turn over a sandbar dotted with rays and aim at the penthouse of the pink condo tower! Turn in and the runway has a seawall, a little grass and the strip, off on the other side water. The saying is "One a day, in Tampa Bay!" I don't know how bad it'd have to get, but stupid would have to happen somewhere.
Back to Sarasota and land while three commercial guys are trying to leave. One is already at the end behind a Baron when I mosey down and stop at A4 to clear the runway. Coming from my left is an AirTran MD-80 who stops to let ME pass to Dolphin, the tower comes up "Citrus 280, Beware Prop Blast, Clear to taxi to one-four" so I keyed the mike "Yeah,brief the passengers!"
A perfect ending to a good training day. My logbook is fully endorsed and the appointment is made for the Pilot Examiner to come Monday for my checkride. The ticket is issued electronically and my printed Temporary will be in hand that afternoon. Then I'm going to borrow the plane as soon as I can and taqke my lovely wife on a tour of Tampa Bay and the coast!
Friday, April 2, 2010
MacDill AFB
Mick and I visited MacDill AFB out on a prime peninsula in Tampa Bay. It is immaculate, groomed, and gardened. The facilities are gorgeous! Their PX is well-stocked and the prices are very good plus no sales tax. I need a netbook for weather and other planning while flying. $259 and no tax for a Dell. Right after the license is in my hands.
We wanted to see their family camp. There are Yankees that do the snowbird on Macdill each winter. In fact all the available reservations have been made for November through March 2010-2011. They do have some first-come, first served sites available
The base is home to Central Command and the Special Ops Command, so soldiers, Marines, and sailors seem to outnumber the airmen. They had the best collection of "Grunt Apparel" I've seen so now I've got three new USMC hats and two gorgeous shirts that Micky picked.
And the Marina is going to be a great place to base out of while sailing "Jazz". It feels good to finally and officially be a retired Marine.
We wanted to see their family camp. There are Yankees that do the snowbird on Macdill each winter. In fact all the available reservations have been made for November through March 2010-2011. They do have some first-come, first served sites available
The base is home to Central Command and the Special Ops Command, so soldiers, Marines, and sailors seem to outnumber the airmen. They had the best collection of "Grunt Apparel" I've seen so now I've got three new USMC hats and two gorgeous shirts that Micky picked.
And the Marina is going to be a great place to base out of while sailing "Jazz". It feels good to finally and officially be a retired Marine.
On the Uses of Savings
I am going to use most of my life savings to buy an airplane since it is the fiscally conservative thing to do.
I can hear the sharp intake of breath, see the snap of the spine to full extension as though electrocuted, and hear the indignant cries of "Rape!" "He's spending his money on an Airplane!"
Money is just one component of wealth. Durable goods of investment grade are also wealth. The power-house financial companies like General Electric have long understood this and quite often the engines on the airliner you fly on are not owned by the airline, but leased from GE.
Liquidity is the issue. If you want perfect liquidity, put only cash in a mattress. No growth, no fun, great liquidity!
The reason I'm buying an airplane now is a studied reaction to my observations during this pilot training evolution. My fellow students are men and women of some means spending time and money to learn to fly after 60. Or returning to flying, but opting out of all the commercial-inspired requirements of the Private Pilot route.
Currently there are not enough flight instructors and schools to match demand and it will get worse as word of this Sport Pilot license and it no-medical policy spreads. As the license numbers increase the demand for Light Sport Aircraft will increase. I expect to be able to recoup every dime I invest and make a profit on the sale of my plane. That's why I'm buying an old man's plane. Big cabin, fast climb and designed to cruise in comfort.
Just changing wealth from one form to another. And using the aircraft in the interim.
I can hear the sharp intake of breath, see the snap of the spine to full extension as though electrocuted, and hear the indignant cries of "Rape!" "He's spending his money on an Airplane!"
Money is just one component of wealth. Durable goods of investment grade are also wealth. The power-house financial companies like General Electric have long understood this and quite often the engines on the airliner you fly on are not owned by the airline, but leased from GE.
Liquidity is the issue. If you want perfect liquidity, put only cash in a mattress. No growth, no fun, great liquidity!
The reason I'm buying an airplane now is a studied reaction to my observations during this pilot training evolution. My fellow students are men and women of some means spending time and money to learn to fly after 60. Or returning to flying, but opting out of all the commercial-inspired requirements of the Private Pilot route.
Currently there are not enough flight instructors and schools to match demand and it will get worse as word of this Sport Pilot license and it no-medical policy spreads. As the license numbers increase the demand for Light Sport Aircraft will increase. I expect to be able to recoup every dime I invest and make a profit on the sale of my plane. That's why I'm buying an old man's plane. Big cabin, fast climb and designed to cruise in comfort.
Just changing wealth from one form to another. And using the aircraft in the interim.
Checkride Monday!
Exactly twenty days after starting and twenty flight hours (15 dual, 5 solo) I'll take my checkride. The checkride is an oral and practical exam by a very senior FAA-designated Pilot Examiner. Mine is a retired Eastern Airlines captain with more time flying than I've been alive.
After the oral quiz, we review the cross-country flight and navigation plan I'll have and then we'll go to the aircraft. I will brief him as any passenger and work out the weight and balance of the aircraft using his real-world weight. Then I'll get him in the already preflighted seat and complete the plan. We'll discuss emergencies . I'll show him how to use the harness, headset, door handle and how to eject the door for water landings.
Then we'll talk about the exact method by which I will give him the flight controls to fly the aircraft.
Then, we'll go on the planned cross-country trip to Sebring, home of the famous race track. For a while. Then we'll cancel that plan and he'll have me do other maneuvers like stalls, steep turns, ground reference maneuvers and landing all the while distracting me in various ways, if I allow it.
Immediately after the flight I'll know pass or fail. Fail rates a do-over later on the things failed. A large portion of student fail the first checkride. The examiner has the power and knowledge to fail anyone. I just hope we get along!
After the oral quiz, we review the cross-country flight and navigation plan I'll have and then we'll go to the aircraft. I will brief him as any passenger and work out the weight and balance of the aircraft using his real-world weight. Then I'll get him in the already preflighted seat and complete the plan. We'll discuss emergencies . I'll show him how to use the harness, headset, door handle and how to eject the door for water landings.
Then we'll talk about the exact method by which I will give him the flight controls to fly the aircraft.
Then, we'll go on the planned cross-country trip to Sebring, home of the famous race track. For a while. Then we'll cancel that plan and he'll have me do other maneuvers like stalls, steep turns, ground reference maneuvers and landing all the while distracting me in various ways, if I allow it.
Immediately after the flight I'll know pass or fail. Fail rates a do-over later on the things failed. A large portion of student fail the first checkride. The examiner has the power and knowledge to fail anyone. I just hope we get along!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Frustration with the wind!
Is not a healthy exercize. I know and understand that, but emotion and intellect don't live in the same areas of he brain. Just knowing that the weather here has been 100-year unusual, and has killed off palms and other plants due to cold helps me to understand that a normal March/April trip would be tranquil wind and water with temps in the 80's and flying everyday. Doesn't squelch the little green guy that lives in my head and gets pissed when he doesn't get to go play!
Yesterday, I had a very narrow window and managed to get airborne with Sherman, then the traffic stacked up and we did two nicle lazy circles around the ICW watching the sailboats race before scooting in and landing.
Sherman was going to get out and let me go solo, but I declined. The weather was rapidly deteriorating and the pattern was full. At least I got another landing.
WhenI soloed, Sherman took some pictures including Micky watching me fly and my first landing. Enjoy!
Yesterday, I had a very narrow window and managed to get airborne with Sherman, then the traffic stacked up and we did two nicle lazy circles around the ICW watching the sailboats race before scooting in and landing.
Sherman was going to get out and let me go solo, but I declined. The weather was rapidly deteriorating and the pattern was full. At least I got another landing.
WhenI soloed, Sherman took some pictures including Micky watching me fly and my first landing. Enjoy!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Oh Yeah!, I Soloed too!
How in the world did I let the blog miss my solo? Bad blog! Bad!
I guess other than my buddy Robert, not many people solo after only a week of instruction, but that's what I did.
I did it as a "DAWN PATROL".
SportPlanesFlorida.com is really busy right now. Jim Julius warned me at signup that there were several other guys on accelerated schedules after the 19th. Marc is down on vacation for 8 days, Chris is also time limited. So the pattern is full and the airplane is scheduled from 8 AM to 6PM. I have a 4-6 slot everyday. If the weather is good, that's great because nobody's behind me and I can play until civil twilight. But like every other place in the peninsula, or the world, the really primo time is dawn. Smooth low winds and little traffic.
So Sherman arranged for my solo at 7AM Tuesday. Normally, the student doesn't know about the solo date or time, but mine was unusually obvious due to the rigmarole of getting the student ticket as the last item.
I brought Micky along, and the weather was perfect! Final signoffs completed, and preflighted.
It felt weird not having Sherman in the seat. the visibility to the right was improved drastically. Ready for taxi, I called ground and announced that I was student pilot on his first solo, had the ATIS info and was ready. They cleared me to 32 with the normal hold at 22. I've learned to leave the left shoulder harness just a tad loose so I can set the parking brake, but I forgot and had to loosen it to set the brake for the runups. Ready to go, called the tower and waited for another guy to land.
Then it was my turn. They still had the runway lighting on which made the scene even prettier and since I was cleared, I did a rather fast taxiout and did not stop. A smooth increase to full power and rotate at around 40 the aircraft flew off smoothly at 60 and we were a rocket ship! The Remos shot up at 1100 feet per minute and way before the intersection I was established cross wind and nearly at pattern height. Throttled back to stay below 100 and settle in downwind. The nice thing about a controlled field is that I don't have to announce my position. The tower calls the turns. Or at least that's what they did.
cleared to land, I turned base and final and had a really pretty setup. The GPS lady said, "Five Hundred" in that sexy voice just as I'm sure to make the field gliding, my speed is at 80 and the Rotax is idling. Ten thousand feet of MY runway awaits, but I'll only use maybe 500 feet total.
Ooze down fly just above the overrun and touch on the numbers, hold the nose off and let it drop well below flying speed, then add power and right rudder because of the aluminum magnet they put in the left side all runways and we're screaming back up. Left turn before the intersection, and I'm looking at the bench outside of Dolphin for Micky. She must be inside.
On downwind and do it again, only even smoother. This is really nice when the wind isn't slamming you around. I purposely extended the climbout to get even closer to Dolphin for a look. Still no redheads jumping up and down. Bummer!
The third approach, I tell tower that "Nine Romeo Echo will be full stop." and made a truly slick landing. Then as I'm expediting down the runway to get to A5 and my turn the tower tells me "Good Job!"
It's rare as hen's teeth for a cab operator to have any opinion, so I'm tickled to death and say "Thank You, sir!"
Taxi in as Micky and Sherman come out of the lobby where they had watched and monitored the radio. Good... they heard the controller!
Too bad the Flip camera fell down on the first landing because the first approach was a beaut!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Solo Cross-country, all alone and loving it!
There are two big deals in any pilot's initial training. The first is when your instructor trusts your ability to put the aircraft down at your home airport. I did that yesterday morning with 12.1 hours of instruction. Now I've got 12.6 hours and Sherman cut me loose on my solo cross-country.
The requirement is that you go on a minimum of 75 mile roundtrip and land at an airport that's not home base. it is the culmination of everything you've been taught. You must plan and execute the entire package, the instructor has to approve your plan and sign-off your student certificate and logbook that you're allowed to take the plane to the chosen airport(s) and return. You have to prove that you and the airplane are capable of safely completing the trip. That includes the weather, fuel, time-of-day (I can't fly at night by law), and communications.
My plan was a bit more ambitious. I wanted to leave Sarasota and go to Venice, which is like a second home now, and then go to Punta Gorda (Charlotte county). I'd done a low pass there.
The timing and fuel worked well. I figured it as a fuel usage of 3.5 gallons for 100.5 miles. And around an hour or so. Since I had to be back at SRQ before civil twilight at 2008 I knew that with the fudge factors thrown in, the latest I wanted to be off was around 1745. That would get me back at a reasonable 1915 with plenty of daylight left.
We briefed with Sherman, reviewed the routing, fueled and did a good preflight. I got off in good order at 1727 and enjoyed the view at 1600 feet. My nav log was working out well and my checkpoints were doing fine. The wind was a little stronger than predicted so ground speed stayed near 100 mph. Okay it was going to be slower, but not much.
I went toward Venice and about 8 miles out tuned the radio. To the wrong frequency. Nobody was talking to 199RE. Odd. Checked the frequency on the chart, and then corrected the radio. Still nobody in the Venice pattern was talking. I didn't see anybody, but still wanted to know the radio worked, so I called the FBO and asked which runway they were using. Nice lady told me what I already knew, that 31 was it. The little airplane on the segmented circle looked right, so I called traffic and went in. For some reason, I turned in early and let my speed stay up, so I was high and fast. Even though it's a fine, long runway, I chose not to use my extraordinary skills, and called for a go-around. The pattern was still very empty, but I'm yakking away letting all the 747's and Airbus's know that I was taking a Light Sport Remos into 31 at Venice, dammit!
Turned to Base and Final and this time it looked real good. Nobody talking in the pattern, and nobody in sight. Way too good to be true. Let down to the flare and shifted my gaze to the far end of the runway. Now I'm flying the Remos 3 feet off the ground and I see a pretty, yellow, 65 horsepower Piper Cub sauntering in to land on runway 13. My runway from the other end. I yell in the radio "aircraft on opposite end of 31" and he slowly turns to enter the crosswind and come around to my end of the runway. Looking back at it, he really wasn't that low.
I finished my ,now ugly landing, slowed to a taxi and took back off muttering to myself, "I'll bet that's one of those idiots from the flight school down here!" So I turn into the pattern and determine to watch him land and if its a blue airplane with yellow wings, I'm gonna call his instructor and chew the guy out.
Wrong! He turns to final and I figure it out. He's justa really pretty J-3 Cub that probably has the doors open, wind in his teeth and no radio at all. No problem, but I wish he had swung out to sea like I did to avoid low flight at the end of a runway. But, all in all, no problem. Even if he had landed, I had enough performance at hand to avoid him.
On to Punta Gorda! I'm listening to the weather down there and trying to visualize the traffic pattern when I think, "Man, I remember what it looks like, but a picture would be oh-so nice. Wait! I've got one in my flight bag strapped here beside me!"
Then I re-learn how nice an autopilot, or right-seat slave would have been.
Trying to fly with the left hand and monkey with the zipper, and rummage through the bag with the other hand, is distracting. Next time I'll organize better with the bag.
Got the directory out and was looking for a runway to choose, when I heard a guy announce he was ready on runway 4. That answered my needs, so I put the directory away, and announced the wide body Remos was entering the pattern. Checked the wind by reference to ripples in all the ponds down there and flew a decent pattern, but turned in too close. Another low altitude tour of the airport. Climbed back to the pattern and talked my way around for another go. A guy in a Mooney squeezed in and took off, but he talked to me and it wasn't an issue.
This time I crabbed in really pretty and kicked her straight for a very credible landing. I love it when the centerline stays between the wheels!
Off to Sarasota.
Nice low sun angle off the Gulf really gave good contrast to the shoreline and a couple of high-altitude stratus clouds made pretty sun-dogs way up high. We got to 2000 feet with no problem and I backed off from 120 mph to smooth the ride out. This was living! Watching the world slide under the nose, ticking off the waypoints, and watching Lake Myakka swim out of the haze.
Looking around I thought, "Ya know...If I wasn't doing this student solo thing, I'd deviate west. I don't like being in the middle of this swamp!" Really! I thought that if the noise maker quit, I'd have to glide in and fight the gators. But the Rotax kept percolating on.
At the right distance, I called Tampa and warned them that I, steely-eyed aviator man, was going to land at my airport. They submitted and told me to keep my speed up and expect straight-in runway 32. So I didn't change a damn thing. Kept right on in my comfortable cruise and headed for 32.
Shortly after I could spot the airport, they turned me over to the tower controller, who promptly ordered me to keep my speed up. See above for hurried reaction. He also told to "continue" for 32.
Now "continue" is just the controller dude leaving himself an out at my expense. It was not a clearance to land, and I couldn't break off the approach either. So I kept going and let down since the runway was in sight. Now my speed is up to 120 mph, I'm happy, but the runway is getting too big, too quick.
Finally about a mile and a half out, I key the radio and squawk, "Tower, Remos 9RE is a STUDENT PILOT! AM I CLEARED TO LAND 32?"
Now a female controller comes on and clears me to land. AHA! Shift change!
I pull the throttle all the way back to idle, and slow to approach speed.
This was one slick landing. the centerline and markings were like railroad tracks, and the nose stayed up as I slowly pulled the stick to my crotch and the airplane slowed. At 35 mph the nose eased down and we're a ground vehicle again!
Tower lady in my ear asking me to turn at A7, which is right where I am!
I push the brakes on and made a better than ninety-degree swing to A7 and clear the active.
I'm talking to the ground controller and whoosh! An AirTransvestite MD-80 comes by on 32. That's why the wanted my speed up!
He lands, I taxi, no problem. Except that now he's on MY taxiway and I'm between him and the terminal. I hold at 22 for a Cirrus to takeoff and then Ground lady asks me to take the first Dolphin Aviation entrance. Hey!.... Priority Handling!
Swoop in to Dolphin and the Trannie passes well behind me.
Stop, note the times and push the cute little thing into her spot. Called Micky. Then my phone rings. It's Sherman. We talk about the fun times and the two go-arounds, the Cub on touchdown, and what a great thing this flying stuff is!
Dropped off the key and log and drove away for my redhead wife and big,fat motorhome.
Lessons learned, juggling books and stuff alone in a cockpit requires forethought, guys without radios fly too, and ATC wants stuff for a reason sometimes.
I'm ready to go again!
The requirement is that you go on a minimum of 75 mile roundtrip and land at an airport that's not home base. it is the culmination of everything you've been taught. You must plan and execute the entire package, the instructor has to approve your plan and sign-off your student certificate and logbook that you're allowed to take the plane to the chosen airport(s) and return. You have to prove that you and the airplane are capable of safely completing the trip. That includes the weather, fuel, time-of-day (I can't fly at night by law), and communications.
My plan was a bit more ambitious. I wanted to leave Sarasota and go to Venice, which is like a second home now, and then go to Punta Gorda (Charlotte county). I'd done a low pass there.
The timing and fuel worked well. I figured it as a fuel usage of 3.5 gallons for 100.5 miles. And around an hour or so. Since I had to be back at SRQ before civil twilight at 2008 I knew that with the fudge factors thrown in, the latest I wanted to be off was around 1745. That would get me back at a reasonable 1915 with plenty of daylight left.
We briefed with Sherman, reviewed the routing, fueled and did a good preflight. I got off in good order at 1727 and enjoyed the view at 1600 feet. My nav log was working out well and my checkpoints were doing fine. The wind was a little stronger than predicted so ground speed stayed near 100 mph. Okay it was going to be slower, but not much.
I went toward Venice and about 8 miles out tuned the radio. To the wrong frequency. Nobody was talking to 199RE. Odd. Checked the frequency on the chart, and then corrected the radio. Still nobody in the Venice pattern was talking. I didn't see anybody, but still wanted to know the radio worked, so I called the FBO and asked which runway they were using. Nice lady told me what I already knew, that 31 was it. The little airplane on the segmented circle looked right, so I called traffic and went in. For some reason, I turned in early and let my speed stay up, so I was high and fast. Even though it's a fine, long runway, I chose not to use my extraordinary skills, and called for a go-around. The pattern was still very empty, but I'm yakking away letting all the 747's and Airbus's know that I was taking a Light Sport Remos into 31 at Venice, dammit!
Turned to Base and Final and this time it looked real good. Nobody talking in the pattern, and nobody in sight. Way too good to be true. Let down to the flare and shifted my gaze to the far end of the runway. Now I'm flying the Remos 3 feet off the ground and I see a pretty, yellow, 65 horsepower Piper Cub sauntering in to land on runway 13. My runway from the other end. I yell in the radio "aircraft on opposite end of 31" and he slowly turns to enter the crosswind and come around to my end of the runway. Looking back at it, he really wasn't that low.
I finished my ,now ugly landing, slowed to a taxi and took back off muttering to myself, "I'll bet that's one of those idiots from the flight school down here!" So I turn into the pattern and determine to watch him land and if its a blue airplane with yellow wings, I'm gonna call his instructor and chew the guy out.
Wrong! He turns to final and I figure it out. He's justa really pretty J-3 Cub that probably has the doors open, wind in his teeth and no radio at all. No problem, but I wish he had swung out to sea like I did to avoid low flight at the end of a runway. But, all in all, no problem. Even if he had landed, I had enough performance at hand to avoid him.
On to Punta Gorda! I'm listening to the weather down there and trying to visualize the traffic pattern when I think, "Man, I remember what it looks like, but a picture would be oh-so nice. Wait! I've got one in my flight bag strapped here beside me!"
Then I re-learn how nice an autopilot, or right-seat slave would have been.
Trying to fly with the left hand and monkey with the zipper, and rummage through the bag with the other hand, is distracting. Next time I'll organize better with the bag.
Got the directory out and was looking for a runway to choose, when I heard a guy announce he was ready on runway 4. That answered my needs, so I put the directory away, and announced the wide body Remos was entering the pattern. Checked the wind by reference to ripples in all the ponds down there and flew a decent pattern, but turned in too close. Another low altitude tour of the airport. Climbed back to the pattern and talked my way around for another go. A guy in a Mooney squeezed in and took off, but he talked to me and it wasn't an issue.
This time I crabbed in really pretty and kicked her straight for a very credible landing. I love it when the centerline stays between the wheels!
Off to Sarasota.
Nice low sun angle off the Gulf really gave good contrast to the shoreline and a couple of high-altitude stratus clouds made pretty sun-dogs way up high. We got to 2000 feet with no problem and I backed off from 120 mph to smooth the ride out. This was living! Watching the world slide under the nose, ticking off the waypoints, and watching Lake Myakka swim out of the haze.
Looking around I thought, "Ya know...If I wasn't doing this student solo thing, I'd deviate west. I don't like being in the middle of this swamp!" Really! I thought that if the noise maker quit, I'd have to glide in and fight the gators. But the Rotax kept percolating on.
At the right distance, I called Tampa and warned them that I, steely-eyed aviator man, was going to land at my airport. They submitted and told me to keep my speed up and expect straight-in runway 32. So I didn't change a damn thing. Kept right on in my comfortable cruise and headed for 32.
Shortly after I could spot the airport, they turned me over to the tower controller, who promptly ordered me to keep my speed up. See above for hurried reaction. He also told to "continue" for 32.
Now "continue" is just the controller dude leaving himself an out at my expense. It was not a clearance to land, and I couldn't break off the approach either. So I kept going and let down since the runway was in sight. Now my speed is up to 120 mph, I'm happy, but the runway is getting too big, too quick.
Finally about a mile and a half out, I key the radio and squawk, "Tower, Remos 9RE is a STUDENT PILOT! AM I CLEARED TO LAND 32?"
Now a female controller comes on and clears me to land. AHA! Shift change!
I pull the throttle all the way back to idle, and slow to approach speed.
This was one slick landing. the centerline and markings were like railroad tracks, and the nose stayed up as I slowly pulled the stick to my crotch and the airplane slowed. At 35 mph the nose eased down and we're a ground vehicle again!
Tower lady in my ear asking me to turn at A7, which is right where I am!
I push the brakes on and made a better than ninety-degree swing to A7 and clear the active.
I'm talking to the ground controller and whoosh! An AirTransvestite MD-80 comes by on 32. That's why the wanted my speed up!
He lands, I taxi, no problem. Except that now he's on MY taxiway and I'm between him and the terminal. I hold at 22 for a Cirrus to takeoff and then Ground lady asks me to take the first Dolphin Aviation entrance. Hey!.... Priority Handling!
Swoop in to Dolphin and the Trannie passes well behind me.
Stop, note the times and push the cute little thing into her spot. Called Micky. Then my phone rings. It's Sherman. We talk about the fun times and the two go-arounds, the Cub on touchdown, and what a great thing this flying stuff is!
Dropped off the key and log and drove away for my redhead wife and big,fat motorhome.
Lessons learned, juggling books and stuff alone in a cockpit requires forethought, guys without radios fly too, and ATC wants stuff for a reason sometimes.
I'm ready to go again!
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