We decided to go visit our Nephew and while I have typically flown into Peechtree, PDK, the fees and fuwl cost seemed a bit high to just stop by for lunch. Also I wanted to take them on a qiuck ride and PDK can be a pain to get in and out of due to the volume of traffic.
I decided to try Gwinnet county airport. It was 10 minutes farther for my brother but 5 minutes closer for us. On the fee side the fuel minim was 20 vs. 30 gallons and no other fees compared to PDK which also had a parking and Security fee. Gas was also almost $2 less per gallon. Traffic wise, it was easy in and out and when we went on the ride it was quick. They have rental cars so this may be my go to in the future.
I had filed direct and the computer gave me direct. I did not believe it. PDK means taking the WRGNZ3 arrival and even though it would be just as easy to just vector for LZU as it is further East, they don't. We did the normal, JAX APR, JAX Center, ATLCenter and just before ATL approach I was asked to look up the WRGNZ3. I said I was familiar and to go ahead. Frankly did not really care as the difference was less than a minute.
The funny thing is that once you cross WRGNZ and start the arrival they almost immediately vector you. You just need to go through the gate. We had great weather except for 25 knot headwinds but it was smooth so all was good. It's a short 251 miles so the headwind only added 10 miuntes. Actually, all was good until we were established on final.
We were cleared to land, configured, stable and then I saw the first splat. Then it started pouring bugs. My recently cleaned plane got pounded. Upon landing the wings, engines, spinners, nose, windshield looked like they had been hanging out in Florida during love bug season. I cleaned up the windshield and took my passengers for a quick ride and once again outbound and inbound we got covered.
Returning to the airport, I cleaned the window again and some from bugs from the nacelles. We headed off for some BBQ and I hoped that later in the day the bugs would move. That was wishfull thinking. on departure we picked up another set.
We had filed direct but was given radar vectors EATWO MADDI DBN direct. On departure we were given 180 heading and 3000, then direct MADDI, which is pretty on course, before long it was 9000 and direct home. All these fixes that we never really go to. I was curious weatehr EATWO is supposed to be EAT - WO or EA TWO. I sort of liked EAT - WO.
The good news was that we had a nice tailwind. The trip only taking only 1:18 in the air. That time we saved was then spent removing bugs. I sprayed, let them soak, wiped, added a bit of soap, wiped again and then CC followed up with more water and wiping. Overall a great day and nice to have easy weather.
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