After a long week of work I was ready for another adventure. I had read about a fly in around central Florida at a small grass strip. I called and got information and confirmed I was allowed to land at the private airport.
Osborn Field 02FA (No relation to Ozzy) is located about 17 miles West of Disney World. It is a grass strip, not quite as flat as the last one I visited but very smooth. The strip is 3700 feet long which was plenty for us. Getting in is not an issue but grass increases the take off roll. Our normal 1000 feet was closer to 1200.
They were advertising BBQ and cool planes so we decided to sign up. When I spoke to the owner, she gave me the info and requested I sign up using the Google form. In the old day these things were all word of mouth or airport bulletin board. Today it was Social flight, Facebook and Google forms.
Getting there was a bit different. I filed IFR so I would not have to worry about airspace. There are many restricted areas and it is near the Orlando class B airspace. The computer initially added a huge detour to the flight which would have made our 40 minute run an hour. The en-route controller was helpful and when I gave him a fix near the airport he put us direct which was only 6 miles from destination.
Arriving there was traffic below so we were kept high until very close. We broke out of the clouds around 3000 and picked up the field soon after. There was a plane on final so we continued for an overhead entry and joined the downwind for our turn to land.
The other difference is that the GPS did not know this airport. I have terrain avoidance that warns me when I get near terrain or obstructions. Around an airport the GPS understands that you are getting lower to the ground but when it is just flying to programmed position it gets nervous for you when you get near solid objects like the ground and cell towers. Entering the traffic pattern both screens lit up warning me I was getting close to the ground. Oddly this was comforting as we were trying to land.
The event started at 9AM, food at noon. We were arriving around 11:30. This meant that everyone would be watching and grading the arrival. I also had never landed there. I was counting on the published information, the talk with the owner and the fact that 50+ planes had landed ahead of me. It all looked good.
Someone planted a big tree at the road at the end of the runway but we cleared that with plenty of room and the landing went as planned. Nose high, slow speed,the mains gently rolled on and I kept the yoke all the way back to keep the nose wheel off as long as possible.
Coming in we received a radio call to taxi to the South end upon landing and look for a person to park us. I kept it on the roll and at the end we found the person with the batons who clearly motioned us to do a 270 to park next to the Luscombe. We acknowledged the instructions and soon were in our spot.
Lots of planes had come in for the festivities as well as some helicopter. It is a different environment when you are literally parked on the runway. We walked about looking at planes, watching them come and go and enjoying the warm sunny weather.
Soon we heard the sound all pilots respond to, food served. We lined up and piled our plates with Sonny's BBQ. They had tables set up in one of the hangars and there was a nice breeze. After eating we looked at more planes and then watched several departures. We also chatted with some of the local firemen who had dropped by and showed them the plane.
It was then our turn to depart. Operations are different at a strip like this. After starting I was told to keep right on the runway as I back taxied. Yes, planes were going both directions on the same runway. Reaching the end we turned around. Generally I don't like to stop on grass as it is harder to get going again and there is more of a chance to pick up junk in the prop.
When I turned around I saw 2 planes had followed me out, both Piper cubs. One was still in the center of the runway. I let everyone know I was holding until clear. The second cub then pulled to the far right side and it was my turn to go. I applied power slowly to get rolling and kept the yoke back to keep the weight off the nose.
We were soon airborne, gear in the wells and climbing strongly. We cleared the area and switched to Orlando who was expecting us as I had filed a flight plan home. CC captured the take off with the GoPro. A bit bouncier than pavement but the plane was designed for this type of environment. Now to plan Sunday's adventure.
Osborn Field 02FA (No relation to Ozzy) is located about 17 miles West of Disney World. It is a grass strip, not quite as flat as the last one I visited but very smooth. The strip is 3700 feet long which was plenty for us. Getting in is not an issue but grass increases the take off roll. Our normal 1000 feet was closer to 1200.
They were advertising BBQ and cool planes so we decided to sign up. When I spoke to the owner, she gave me the info and requested I sign up using the Google form. In the old day these things were all word of mouth or airport bulletin board. Today it was Social flight, Facebook and Google forms.
Getting there was a bit different. I filed IFR so I would not have to worry about airspace. There are many restricted areas and it is near the Orlando class B airspace. The computer initially added a huge detour to the flight which would have made our 40 minute run an hour. The en-route controller was helpful and when I gave him a fix near the airport he put us direct which was only 6 miles from destination.
Arriving there was traffic below so we were kept high until very close. We broke out of the clouds around 3000 and picked up the field soon after. There was a plane on final so we continued for an overhead entry and joined the downwind for our turn to land.
The other difference is that the GPS did not know this airport. I have terrain avoidance that warns me when I get near terrain or obstructions. Around an airport the GPS understands that you are getting lower to the ground but when it is just flying to programmed position it gets nervous for you when you get near solid objects like the ground and cell towers. Entering the traffic pattern both screens lit up warning me I was getting close to the ground. Oddly this was comforting as we were trying to land.
The event started at 9AM, food at noon. We were arriving around 11:30. This meant that everyone would be watching and grading the arrival. I also had never landed there. I was counting on the published information, the talk with the owner and the fact that 50+ planes had landed ahead of me. It all looked good.
Someone planted a big tree at the road at the end of the runway but we cleared that with plenty of room and the landing went as planned. Nose high, slow speed,the mains gently rolled on and I kept the yoke all the way back to keep the nose wheel off as long as possible.
Coming in we received a radio call to taxi to the South end upon landing and look for a person to park us. I kept it on the roll and at the end we found the person with the batons who clearly motioned us to do a 270 to park next to the Luscombe. We acknowledged the instructions and soon were in our spot.
Lots of planes had come in for the festivities as well as some helicopter. It is a different environment when you are literally parked on the runway. We walked about looking at planes, watching them come and go and enjoying the warm sunny weather.
Soon we heard the sound all pilots respond to, food served. We lined up and piled our plates with Sonny's BBQ. They had tables set up in one of the hangars and there was a nice breeze. After eating we looked at more planes and then watched several departures. We also chatted with some of the local firemen who had dropped by and showed them the plane.
It was then our turn to depart. Operations are different at a strip like this. After starting I was told to keep right on the runway as I back taxied. Yes, planes were going both directions on the same runway. Reaching the end we turned around. Generally I don't like to stop on grass as it is harder to get going again and there is more of a chance to pick up junk in the prop.
When I turned around I saw 2 planes had followed me out, both Piper cubs. One was still in the center of the runway. I let everyone know I was holding until clear. The second cub then pulled to the far right side and it was my turn to go. I applied power slowly to get rolling and kept the yoke back to keep the weight off the nose.
We were soon airborne, gear in the wells and climbing strongly. We cleared the area and switched to Orlando who was expecting us as I had filed a flight plan home. CC captured the take off with the GoPro. A bit bouncier than pavement but the plane was designed for this type of environment. Now to plan Sunday's adventure.
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