Fog, Fog go away

Today was my last flight in 2018.  Overall a pretty good year.  I flew less than I wanted but I probably would say that any year.  There was the matter of work, family, and other responsibilities.   I had hoped to get a few more trips in at year end but the weather has been the pits.  First we had some extreme fronts and then the last few days some serious fog.  I still logged 157.7 hours.  I also did a good bit of training and maintained my instrument currency and proficiency all year.  Those are different but will be the subject of a future post.

Travel wise, we covered 6 new states.  I did 11 in year one so there are 31 left.  5 or 6 years and I will have them all.  Today we had early morning fog again but unlike Saturday when it hung around and around, I knew it would clear a bit earlier.

I decided to take CC to DeLand for a burger.  The airport restaurant advertises the best burger.  Heck their email is bestburger@airportginmill.com.  It is a fine burger but not sure if it is best.  It is feet from the ramp and has a nice outside deck.  It was 80+ today but with the breeze and some shade was quite nice to sit outside.  Did I mention December 31 was 80 degrees?

Climbing out we had a cloud deck to climb through. It was thin but fun as we leveled off right above the deck.  You get the sensation of really moving when you are just feet from the clouds.  The reality was that at 4000 we had a 30 knot headwind so in fact we were moving slower than normal.  Since DeLand is only 77 miles it did not prolong the trip greatly.

On the way home the headwind should have been a tailwind.  We got some of it but it had abated somewhat so we only had 25 knots pushing us North.  Seem like that always happens and the headwinds are stronger than the tailwinds.  I didn't mind too much as the weather was great and I was enjoying the flight.  Happy New Years!  More adventures to come in 2019.

Coast to Coast

Sunday I made up for leaving CC at home.  It was a clear brisk morning with great visibility. I figured greater than 50 miles which meant you could easily see across Florida.  Now we all know we live on a peninsula but standing on the ground you don't really get the sensation.

We climbed through the clear morning air to 8500 feet.  I had picked a spot about 10 Northwest of Ocala.  Florida gets skinnier and coast to coast distance is only about 90 nautical miles.  Crossing Palatka we knew that we were gonna have a good view as the West coast became pretty clear.  At 8500 we circled North and could clearly see both the Gulf and the Atlantic.  The above picture is the former and the latter below.  The Atlantic is grainy but was clear to us.

Sitting up there you really get the whole peninsula thing but that was yesterday.  Today we were off to the West coast.  One nice thing about the plane is you make some trips that just would not make sense in a car.  I had noticed that my second cousin and her family were in Clearwater and CC then mentioned that an old friend was back in Clearwater as well.

It is only an hour so I thought brunch.  Just about a year ago our friends were in St. Pete and we met them at KSPG. Today we were heading to KCLW, Clearwater Airpark.  The flight over was easy though we had a bit of headwind.  Clearwater Airpark is nestled among the houses which makes it a bit hard to see.  Also today was hazy, could not see across the state.  We still managed to find our way and our friends were nice enough to drive us to Brunch.

We ate at Lenny's which was packed and good.  My only complaint is the menu is long and complicated.  Our family met up at the restaurant.  It had only been about 35 years since we last saw each other.  We caught up but eventually Brunch was over and we headed back to the airport.  The selfie shows us with our family.  The flight home was quiet and uneventful.  We wished the controllers a Merry Christmas.  The plane is now fueled and in the hangar waiting for our next trip.

To Market, To Market

We had big plans today.  A family trip to the Immokalee farmers market.  I had waited out the bad weather and everything looked perfect.  We awoke to an odd smell.  Something was not right with the heat.  During the night it decided to break.  A quick look at the system showed me the fan was not fanning.  Removing the cover, the problem was apparent.  I studied mechanical engineering but know enough circuits to diagnose a fried relay.

Someone would need to be left behind to find and wait for a repair person who could get us running again.  Since I was the only pilot, I was off the hook and since CC was the only remaining person up to the challenge, she was left behind.....

With the heat challenge in capable hands we were quickly on our way.  It was supposed to be clear but we had a layer at 2000 feet on the way out.  We were soon on top and enjoying a smooth ride South.  The view was nice today and we could just about see both coasts as we flew down central Florida.

Arriving at KIMM I needed to be on my game.  The runway is 5000 feet with turn offs at 1000 and 5000 feet.  If I didn't want to have a long taxi, I needed to nail the landing.  Luckily the Bonanza makes this easy.  Fly a stable on speed approach, cross the runway end and pull power to idle and you can easily land and stop in 1000 feet.  I did all of the above and we did.

At Immokalee, we topped off for the flight home and went in to see about wheels.  The market was about 2 miles away.  The airport has a crew car you can borrow so we did.  It was a nice little Ford.  2 miles is not a really long walk but it would have been a schlep with all the produce we were about to buy.

The market is a series of stalls with independent vendors.  There is an element of haggling but in most cases the quoted prices were quite good and we just paid the tourist price. 

Rachel and I initially were going to look at all of the vendors before making any purchases but some vendors were better than others.  One engaged us as we walked by and sliced an apple for Rachel to taste.  It was our first purchase.  We kept adding on and periodically dropping things at the car.

Eventually we had as much as we felt we could eat before it spoiled.  Our total bill was $22 for all this:

Not too bad.  There were better deals if you wanted to buy by the case but we can't eat a case of tomatoes.  We already had some veggies at home so we should be set for the holidays.   Heading home was easy.  On the way back we added some gas to the airport car and remembered to leave the keys before flying home.

Usually when heading North they keep you between Orlando and Tampa to avoid restricted airspace.  I assume that it is not in use because of the holidays and they ran us up the West side of Orlando.  We were going to pass about 10 miles West of Disney.  A polite request to the controller and we were cleared to cross about 3 miles West which gave us a nice view.  The picture above shows the Kingdom as it retreats behind our wing.  While cool to see it is much less impressive from above.

We did have good Coast to coast views though.  I could clearly see the gulf coast to my left and the Vehicle assembly building on the East coast to my right.  Our arrival into Jacksonville uneventful and we soon had our produce home.  Also CC found a repairman and the heat is once again working.

Stearman

The Turkey had been roasted, carved and consumed Thursday but the main event was Friday.  Dad and I headed South for more flying fun.  A while back I read about flying a Stearman on Beechtalk.  I knew my Dad had never flown one and had always wanted to get a ride.

Luckily the school that taught in this classic plane was a quick one hour flight away at Winter Haven Airport (KGIF).  A few months back I made reservations to fly the plane but when the day dawned the weather was terrible low clouds and rain.  We cancelled and started looking for another day.

With Dad up here for the Holidays I figured we had another chance.  I booked the flights a few months back and then hoped for better weather.  Going to sleep Thursday night I figured we were sunk.  There were heavy rains and forecast was for more of the same until late afternoon.

Thankfully the forecast has been terrible the last week or so.  We awoke to clearing weather and headed off to the airport.  I prepped the plane in the hangar and just as I was ready to pull out, a rain shower passed over the field.  We hung out inside for 5 minutes while it passed and waited for the sunshine to return.

On the way down, we departed and flew our route, we got near one cloud but otherwise stayed in the bright sunshine.  Landing at Winter Haven I could see the Blue and Yellow Stearman on the ramp.  We were in the right place.  The operation is called Preston Aviation and is run by Peggy and Tim Preston.  Peggy was wonderful to work with on the scheduling and Tim was a great pilot for our rides.

Even if you are not a pilot, you might want to head down there and enjoy their hospitality and experience flight like the early pioneers did.  The Stearman, is a biplane introduced in 1934 as a military trainer.  This particular one was made in 1945.  The plane was younger than Dad but only by a few years. 

Arriving at KGIF, we headed in to meet Peggy and Tim.  We chatted a bit and then headed for the flightline.  I sent Dad first.  I figured he had been waiting 89 years, no need to make him wait longer.  Tim and Dad did the preflight while Peggy and I chatted.  Dad then hopped into the plane.  They had a step stool to get onto the wing but after that you need to grab a handhold on the wing, swing your right leg over the cockpit side and step on the seat.  Then you shift handholds and while grabbing the upper wing with both hands, swing the other leg in and slide down into the seat.

Dad was quite agile and Peggy was soon fastening his harness and getting his headsets set.  Then we backed up, Tim yelled "CLEAR" and the radial engine puffed a bit of smoke and started its low rumble.  They taxied out and Peggy had me hop onto a golf cart so we could get a good vantage point for the takeoff.

They flew for about 30 minutes and then returned.  Dad hopped out, ok, maybe slowly extricated himself is more accurate.  Now it was my turn.  I completed the needed gymnastics to enter the front cockpit and was soon briefed and belted in place.  The plane is fully instrumented with both airspeed and altimeter.    You don't need much to fly this plane.  Tim told me that some people claim they flew without airspeed.  You can sense your speed quite easily by the level of rushing air.

We taxied out and with the stiff breeze down the runway were off in a few hundred feet.  At 200 feet or so Time gave me the controls and I was off.  We climbed and I followed various highways as we worked out way North.  I could See Orlando in the distance and Lakeland off to my left.  It was a bit hazy, on a clear day you can see Tampa too.

Droning along in the cool winter air with the blue skies I was glad we had waited for the good weather.  Once we had reached out cruise altitude of 2000 feet, Tim started having me get a feel for the plane.  360 turns were first, left and right.  There are only 220 ponies up front but it has a good bit of torque.  As a Bonanza pilot that is used to the rudder aileron interconnect, I had to wake up my feet and make them work the pedals.  One I started keeping the ball centered, things were much better.

After turns it was power off stalls, they were much gentler than expected.  Then it was power on stalls, each was an easy recovery.  Then Tim had me do a power on stall but told me to keep it stalled.  It was a pussycat, the plane stalled and I kept the stick back,  A little work on the rudders kept the wings level as we mushed ahead.  Recovery only required releasing back pressure.

He also had me watch the ailerons as I approached a power off stall.  As you feel the controls buffet, you can actually see the fabric burbling as the airflow begins to detach.  Then it was some more sightseeing.  He took me over an elephant retirement home, it is Florida, everyone retires here.  Pretty cool to see the giant animals roaming about from 1500 feet.

Heading back, we did one more maneuver.  When we got to I-4, we did Lazy Eights.  At first I was a bit timid but with coaching, got more aggressive on the pitch angle.  I was rewarded as the plane basically flew the maneuver itself after the first 30 degrees of turn.  The nose gracefully dropped through the apogee and settled down ready to head the other direction.  Much more fun than when I had to do it on my commercial check ride.

Sadly the fun was nearly over, it was time to head back.  Now in my plane I have many GPS moving maps to guide me.  In the Stearman I had not even brought a map.  It was up to me to find my way home based on where I had been.  To complicate matters, the wind was about 30 knots at altitude and pushing me West.

I quickly picked out the lakes around the airport and headed that way.  I did have a trusty compass and when it showed South I knew I was at least heading mostly the right way.  A short time later I oriented myself and picked out the runway among the lakes and fields.  I joined a left downwind for 11 and was going to give the controls back but Tim told me to keep going.  I brought her around and established on short final.  At about 200 feet, Tim took the controls and we gently returned to earth.

The flight home was done with modern technology.  The weather had turned a bit back at home and we had to make our way through some bouncy clouds, some light rain and shoot the instrument approach.  In the span of a few hours we experienced the full spectrum of flying from the early days to high tech.

Tradition

Flying on Thanksgiving day is a tradition.  My Dad and I head off bright and early and enjoy a flight before heading home to begin preparing the bird.  Yesterday was no exception.  Luckily we fly much better than a Turkey.

We started our sightseeing journey heading South but there were some lower clouds so I decided to go North.  I remembered there was an Rice plantation up on the St. Mary's river.  A friend had shown it to me about 20 years ago and periodically I have dropped by to take a look.

The route there took us over Jacksonville International where we had a great view.

We continued up to the plantation.  According to a UNF website it is, "... a former rice field located on the south shore of the St. Marys River at its juncture with the Little St. Marys River. Constructed by enslaved Africans in 1768 and farmed until the American Civil War, the rice field is now part of White Oak Plantation."

You can clearly see the channels dug for irrigation.  After the rice field, we headed back to JAX for a landing and then back to our home base.  Why stop? Why not, they weren't busy and it was on the way. 

Returning home we had a great view of the Dames Point Bridge (really named the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge).  Then it was back in the hangar as we had an adventure planned for Friday.

Thanksgiving means flying

Yes it is not officially turkey day yet but Rachel arrived last night so the festivities began.  Thanksgiving is usually a day without a lot of things to do other than cook and eat.  Two things I enjoy a great deal but, the day is long and my stomach only stretches so much. 

It has been a tradition for my Dad and I to go flying Thanksgiving morning and then move on to the eating activities.  Today I got a head start, yes he won't be here for a few hours and we are two days out but the plane was ready, the weather was clearing and Rachel was ready to go.

We headed out for some fun flying.  Mostly sightseeing.  Our first sight was unscheduled.  There were P8s doing pattern work at Navy JAX.  We were up at 3500 and they were below us at 2000 so we were well clear.  Still we enjoyed watching the big planes slide below us.  P8s replaced the P3 Orions on for Sub hunting and are basically tricked out 737s.  The military pilots like them because when they finish their service they are trained in a Boeing Airliner.

Once clear of the traffic, Rachel took a turn flying and headed us over towards Saint Augustine.  We did a few loops around downtown to get some pictures and recon the fort.  The Castillo De San Marco was still where we left it last time.

We headed South to get a look at Fort Matanzas.  For a while the National Parks water taxi was down but today we saw it docking at the fort.  May be time for another visit.

We then continued down to Marineland and were surprised that we could see the dolphins in the tanks from 1500 feet.  Then it was back to Saint Augustine to top the tanks to prep for the weekend.  Weather is a concern but we have more flying planned.  We shall see if we can work around any bad stuff.  Right now I am not confident in the forecasts.  They have been wrong since Saturday.

Grass

When the Wright Brothers got started, there were no airports.  This was not like the chicken and the egg.  Airplanes came first, then airports.  Early airports did not have miles of concrete.  They were mostly pastures that had been hijacked for other uses.

Slowly people started creating purpose built airports but grass was the preferred surface.  Now I have landed on grass before but it has been over 20 years.  When I owned Mooneys, they had poor prop clearance so I avoided grass.  Also with so many nice concrete strips, who need grass but sometimes the location does not have an alternative.

Today there was a Young Eagles event over at a nearby strip.  It is private but I had permission to land so I headed over.  Now grass can be smooth or rough.  It is not so much the grass but the dirt underneath.  Also if the grass is too tall it makes takeoff harder as it creates drag.

This was Haller airpark and it has a really nice strip.  Very smooth.  It is sort of short, 2600 feet with 660 feet at each end then big trees.  Getting in was easy,  fly on airspeed, watch the trees, once clear, reduce power and gently flare.  On touchdown I was pleasantly surprise at the smoothness during the roll out.  They had a mess of planes and the Coast Guard had stopped by to do PR.  Easier when they are based a few minutes away.

After parking I went over to register to fly Young Eagles.  When they put the word out, they thought they needed more planes.  When I arrived they were so busy launching planes, that I waited an hour and they still did not have me in the rotation.  The guy in charge thought it would be a few more hours so I decided to give up.  It was a great event regardless.  I soon reversed the process and was headed home.  I used the extra time to change my oil, which went smoothly and I was happy with the very clean filter.  I am ready for another 50 hours of flying now.