Dealing with the remnants of Fay

Flew a nice cross country to Grand Rapids (GRR) yesterday. The remnants of Fay built up from the southeast as our departure time approached. Visibility was fine, but clouds held us below our desired VFR cruising altitude until just a bit south of Lansing. Grand Rapids approached asked us to fly direct to the VOR (which is south of the airfield) and kept us at 4500 until we were due south of the airfield. One (sort of) slam dunk approach later we were talking to tower on an extended right base for runway 8L.

The FBO we parked at was "Rapid Air" and they were very friendly and accomodating. We got charged 15 bucks to use the ramp, but the facilities there are excellent and the entire FBO interior had been remodeled since the last time we were there. Departing from GRR is always fun because you get treated to the "big airport" atmosphere. After a quick word with Clearance Delivery we had our departure clearance, a squawk code, and we were ready to taxi. We taxied to, and departed from runway 8L with me nailing the correct airspeeds on climb out.

As soon as we checked in with departure we were cleared to 5500 ft and we turned direct YIP with the sun starting to set behind us. The cruise portion of our flight back was some of the smoothest flying conditions I have ever flown in, though we noticed the haze starting to build in around us. It was night by the time we landed back at Willow Run, and after a quick trip to the self serve fueling area, we parked the bird back in its nest.

Time this flight: 2.5
Total Time: 118.0
Landings: 356

Archer Checkout

This flight occurred Monday afternoon/evening.

I am now signed off to fly the Archer despite getting a good reminder about "IMSAFE" and human factors. Everything was going fine, slow flight, steep turns, power off/on stalls, coordinated turns, simulated engine out, and then we headed over to Ann Arbor for the various flavors of takeoff and landings. Well the tower had closed for the night and ARB was now an uncontrolled field, with the sun setting rapidly. I demonstrated Short and Soft takeoff and landing technique with varying degrees of success and got reminded about the importance of "F" and "E" in the aforementioned acronym. Fatigue and Eating (no dinner) found me slow on the controls and behind the airplane until I forced myself to push through the tiredness and focus on the task at hand. Definetly not a place I will put myself in again.

Time this flight: 1.5
Total Time: 115.5
Landings: 354


Later on today its back into the Warrior for a cross-country to Grand Rapids.

Thunder Over Michigan 2008

I ended up going to this year's event despite the fact that I was disappointed with the show from last year. What can I say... I can't stay away from airplanes. The organizers decided to put the aircraft back on the east ramp at Willow Run and so the show returned to its "classic" layout. In a strange (or maybe purposeful) move, the organizers moved the string of food vendors so that they were between the aircraft and the area set aside for viewing the flying part of the show.

There were some new visitors, I had not seen Tarheel Hal before, so I snapped a pic.


This was one of several Pacific Theater Warbirds present.


The guest that caused the biggest stir was this BF-109 from the Russell Aviation Group. There was a line just to take pictures of the cockpit.


I took a picture of this half-track because it is owned by a friend of mine, and I helped out with the nose art on his vehicle which he named "Mother Duce".

The show was enjoyable, parking and admission prices are still a bit steep until you remind yourself that the you are helping to rebuild the Yankee Air Museum. The US Navy F/A-18 demonstration was cut short by an engine flame-out during his Split-S maneuver. Some very brave paratroopers did a re-enactment by jumping out of a pair of C-47's. The most enjoyable part of the show is simply the sounds that old warbirds make, and I hope they remain flyable for a very long time.

The PPL, one year later.

Much has happened in the year since I passed my PP-ASEL exam. I've switched from the 172 back in my training days to almost exclusively Piper low wing aircraft. I've taken many people on their first flight in a general aviation aircraft, my 10th passenger was just tonight. I've joined a flying club, and have enjoyed the experience immensely even though I am still checked out in only 1 out of the 3 aircraft I "own". I fly out of a Class D (towered) airport with five long runways, which is a bit of a switch from the single 2300ft runway of my training days. I still like flying into Mettetal and other non-towered fields, and I am comfortable talking to and flying into Class Charlie airports.

My short terms goals are:
1) get checked out in the other two aircraft in the club.
2) set a date for the instrument written
3) get an instrument instructor
4) continue building cross country time
5) continue sharing my love of all things airplane with as many people as possible.

Time this flight: 1.5
Total Time: 114.0
Landings: 348

Flying club plane wash: Cessna draws blood.

I managed to make it completely through all my flight training in a Cessna 172 without committing the newbiest of newbie mistakes. Then out of the blue at the last club airplane wash I finally did it. I walked into the back of the wing!
Yes it hurt, and yes I shed some blood. Unlucky for me, my head was tilted down as I swung the leaf blower back and forth to clean out the dust from the hangar and blammo!. Lucky for me, my head was tilted down and so the injury was higher up on my head (that distinctive scar will be hidden from view until I lose alot more hair).

I am officially in the club of "those who have done it" now.

Leaving the "nest"

Cross country flight to Fort Wayne, Indiana (KFWA, Class C) on a hazy Sunday morning.

Downtown Fort Wayne, on our descent lined up for the straight-in approach to Runway 23.

It might look far away, but it isn't... it is just a freaking huge piece of concrete!


Looking down 11,981 ft of runway is impressive, this is the biggest runway I have landed on to date. It was a quiet morning, I was the only aircraft using the airport!


Proof of landing. This was taken on the taxi-back to the active.


Runway 5/23 from another perspective, climbing out on our left downwind departure. The wing tried its best to cover the runway, but ultimately failed.


A small town in Ohio, from 5500 ft.

Listened to Detroit approach as we left YIP, but they sounded way too busy to accept our request for flight following so called up Toledo approach as we passed by Adrian (ADG). We did hear alot of other aircraft getting flight following, the haze was enough to wipe out the horizon but still give you a good view of the ground and sky. Bunches of people were headed to Oshkosh that morning, and I was jealous. Everything went smooth on this flight, despite getting a little rushed at the end. ATC communications went well, as I was prepared with a scratch pad for my clearances, codes, and frequencies. The haze was simultaneously challenging and confidence building. Detroit even cleared me through a bit of the Class B on the return to Willow Run!

Time this flight: 2.5
Total Time: 112.5
Landings: 346

Give an artist a camera...

And then go flying, the results are shown below.




Had a first time GA flyer on board, and he admitted to being nervous but didn't show it. He took a bunch of great pics, these are just a sample. We flew three trips around the pattern to see how he felt, then departed the pattern and flew north to Mettetal to show him the difference between a tower controlled and an uncontrolled field. One full stop later, and it was back to YIP with another satisfied passenger.

Time this flight: 1.0
Total Time: 110
Landings: 344