Faster than commercial (#36)

Pilots will tell you that they fly to save time.   Airplanes are often called time machines, not because you can go back but because you can save a lot.  We had a trip planned to Charlottesville, VA and you can drive or fly.  The Google says driving is a 9 hour affair.  The girls did it over the summer and it was North of 11 with stops. 

You can go commercially via Charlotte.  2.5 hours in the air, 1 hour connection and 3 hours on either end so door to door is about 6-6.5.  Doing it ourselves we can make 4-5 hours door to door.  The difference depends on the winds.  We headed up Thursday once Rachel got out of class.  When the kids were young they would fall asleep in their car seats as soon as the engine started.  Now as young adults they do the same just without the car seat.

I decided to plan a fuel stop at 2 hours as the Charlottesville gas is pricey.  While it looked like normal gas it must be somehow special based upon the cost.  We stopped just North of Fayetteville, NC.  The airport had good reviews and they were spot on.  They fueled me while I feasted on fresh cookies.

We were soon on our way again and less than an hour later touched down in Charlottesville.   The speed was due to the 33 knot tail wind.  We peaked at 201 knots in level flight.  That's 231 mph, not too shabby.

Now Signature runs the FBO and their prime customers are jets.  We arrived to a ramp full of jets, big jets, small jets, all kind of jets and figured we would get parked way out.  Surprisingly they waved us right up front and since we were small, we fit into an open space between several jets.

We soon had our rental car and headed into the city to eat, sight-see and check out UVA.  We were at UVA to see if Rachel wanted to go there next year.  The town and campus are quite nice.

We walked in the footsteps of TJ, you know Thomas Jefferson.  I am told that he hung out at the Rotunda too.

After taking a walk about, we dropped Rachel with some new friends and we went out for dinner.  I was liking the town even more when we found a 5 meat (with 2 mustard) platter.

We added a pizza and life was good.

In case you all missed it, we have landed in Virginia, #36 done.

Traffic 12 O'clock

Today I decided to do some training.  The mission, Fly 90 miles North, shoot an approach to KAMG (Bacon County) and then return to Jacksonville.  The morning had been cloudy but it was predicted to clear.  I did all the preflight work and was ready to head to the airport.

295 North was a mess, I could see something in the distance slowing traffic but it was not until I got off that I saw my traffic.  A police chopper on a trailer being towed.  They had not bothered to secure the rotor though and instead had a man hanging onto it as they towed it. Not only this but they blocked all lanes and wouldn't let people pass.  It took 6 police cars to escort this one chopper.

Don't see it?  Click on the image and look just left and above the trucks mirror.

Once I got past the traffic jam it was smooth sailing.  I got to climb through a deck on the way out and shoot a real approach.  I topped off and by the time I left the weather was much better.

These small airports can be quite nice.  Bacon has a fully stocked fridge for transient pilots.  They have a bucket of money to pay on the honor system.  I did not see the price list but they are usually very reasonable.  The overall facilities are also quite nice so if you need to divert for weather, you have a nice place to wait.

Outbound, even with full fuel the plane climbed 1000 feet per minute all the way through 7000.  At 8000 I enjoyed 20 knot tailwinds and made better than 190 knots.  It was a quick trip home. 

Returning I asked for a visual approach and the controller brought me down to 3000 and vectored me right through the deck.  When I was close he dropped me down and 100 feet later I had the field in sight.  I had to slow down as I was sequenced number 3 but soon I was touching down and back at the hangar.

You can go back

Just about a year ago CC and I went to 09J (Jekyl Island) to enjoy the cool red buggies. Today we just went for a nice flight and to take a stroll.  One year into the 48 state project and I have done 12.  One quarter down but my rate of new states has fallen off quite a bit.  The reality is that work and life have gotten in the way.

It will likely be second half of 2018 before I can start adding states again but until then I can visit some of the closer places again.  Today we landed and did not borrow a buggy, rather we did a walk along the waterfront.  It was unseasonably warm, a year ago we were chilly in our heavy jackets, today we used the AC.