Plane: Cessna 150
Route: 40I-MRT-I74-I73-40I
Weather: Clear, 61 degrees, wind calm
I'll keep this brief and may update with more later, as my free time seems like it's a negative number of hours per day right now - if that's even possible. After our fun in the Cub last night, Rob and I made a run up to Urbana for a bite to eat. Like yesterday, the weather was unbelievably nice and it made for a great day in the sky.
Since Urbana-Grimes is only about 41 nm away from Stewart, I first flew to Union County Airport (MRT) so I could log the time as cross-country. We landed there and then spent some time sightseeing over top of the Honda Proving Grounds just West of nearby Marysville, which was cool to look down upon. We had a great meal in Urbana and then flew just about over top of Wright-Patterson AFB on the way back to Dayton and made a landing over at Moraine (I73) before returning to Stewart. I had a little fun enroute as well, showing rob the famous "turn the little 150 by opening your door in flight" trick. It was a great time all around and I'm glad Rob had a blast.
He took a bunch of photos and video from today's flight (and last night's as well) so I'll stick those on here eventually when he sends them along. Until then, I'm beyond busy trying to move into the new house and working long hours at the office so I might not be flying too much. Oh, and just a note that the batteries in the GPS Tracker ran out partway thru the day so the log file kind of ends suddenly around MRT.
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 2.3 hours
Total Time: 99.6 hours
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Introducing Rob to the mighty Cub
Plane: Cub, 85 hp
Route: 40I, Local
Weather: Clear, 62 degrees, wind 060 degrees at 6 knots
My good friend Rob is down visiting so we can go to Thunder Over Louisville this weekend and he's never been up in a Cub. Need I say more? Today was definitely the most gorgeous day of the year so far (surpassing that of my last flight) with ridiculously good visibility and completely blue skies. And there's no better way to enjoy it than zipping around low and slow in a bright yellow Cub. It's a great stress-reliever after a hellish week at work, too!
We didn't do anything too fancy, just taking my standard scenic route over the lake and down to the bridge on I-71 over the gorge. I climbed up and did a few steep turns and a stall, which Rob got quite the kick out of. Up at altitude, I pushed the nose over to build up speed and pulled back quickly out of the dive to feel some Gs here and there too. Just a good, fun time in a plane that embodies everything about classic aviation.
My first landing was a tad bumpy and, as Rob said, "you can't walk away after that!" Indeed, I made another pass around and this time wasn't feeling it after a bounce off the muddy grass so I elected to go around. The third approach was great all the way down to a total greaser, the perfect way to end a great evening in the air. Rob had a blast and was totally geeked afterwards so I'm glad I had the chance to step out of the Cub with yet another excited passenger!
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 1.3 hours
Total Time: 97.3 hours
Route: 40I, Local
Weather: Clear, 62 degrees, wind 060 degrees at 6 knots
My good friend Rob is down visiting so we can go to Thunder Over Louisville this weekend and he's never been up in a Cub. Need I say more? Today was definitely the most gorgeous day of the year so far (surpassing that of my last flight) with ridiculously good visibility and completely blue skies. And there's no better way to enjoy it than zipping around low and slow in a bright yellow Cub. It's a great stress-reliever after a hellish week at work, too!
We didn't do anything too fancy, just taking my standard scenic route over the lake and down to the bridge on I-71 over the gorge. I climbed up and did a few steep turns and a stall, which Rob got quite the kick out of. Up at altitude, I pushed the nose over to build up speed and pulled back quickly out of the dive to feel some Gs here and there too. Just a good, fun time in a plane that embodies everything about classic aviation.
Over the river and over the woods...
My first landing was a tad bumpy and, as Rob said, "you can't walk away after that!" Indeed, I made another pass around and this time wasn't feeling it after a bounce off the muddy grass so I elected to go around. The third approach was great all the way down to a total greaser, the perfect way to end a great evening in the air. Rob had a blast and was totally geeked afterwards so I'm glad I had the chance to step out of the Cub with yet another excited passenger!
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 1.3 hours
Total Time: 97.3 hours
Monday, April 6, 2009
This pretty much sums up the TSA
UPDATE: I finally posted the photos from taking my friends up sightseeing, so head over to that post if you'd like to see the pics.
I just had to share this with my fellow pilots. Enjoy! :)
I just had to share this with my fellow pilots. Enjoy! :)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Cubbing around
Plane: Cub, 85 hp
Route: 40I, Local
Weather: Clear, 57 degrees, wind 260 degrees at 7 knots
Today was probably the most beautiful day of the year so far... couldn't have asked for better weather to take Gina up for a short hop in the Cub and enjoy the spring scenery. The trees are beginning to flower and bloom and it's great to see the land turning green beneath the wings once again. There was a slight chill in the air from the wind but once inside the cockpit, the sunlight kept it nice and warm through the plexiglass.
We took off down the soft grass and climbed up and out of the pattern to look down on Caesar Creek Lake. Then I climbed up a bit and showed her a few forward slips and made a steep turn here and there. Given the nice weather there was some traffic in the area and gliders over at the gliderport, but Gina did a great job helping me spot it all from far away. I followed I-71 down to the bridge over the gorge and followed the path carved by the river from 1,800 feet back into the pattern at Stewart.
Turning base to final with the sun in my eyes, it looked like a good approach. Clear of the trees, I put in a slight forward slip before flaring. I added in about 100 RPM into the flare and held it off, bringing the stick back and back. Honestly, the first thing I noticed was the sound of the wheels on the grass... total three-point greaser! Those don't come very often and there's nothing like nailing a soft grass landing in a taildragger.
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 0.8 hours
Total Time: 96.0 hours
Route: 40I, Local
Weather: Clear, 57 degrees, wind 260 degrees at 7 knots
Today was probably the most beautiful day of the year so far... couldn't have asked for better weather to take Gina up for a short hop in the Cub and enjoy the spring scenery. The trees are beginning to flower and bloom and it's great to see the land turning green beneath the wings once again. There was a slight chill in the air from the wind but once inside the cockpit, the sunlight kept it nice and warm through the plexiglass.
We took off down the soft grass and climbed up and out of the pattern to look down on Caesar Creek Lake. Then I climbed up a bit and showed her a few forward slips and made a steep turn here and there. Given the nice weather there was some traffic in the area and gliders over at the gliderport, but Gina did a great job helping me spot it all from far away. I followed I-71 down to the bridge over the gorge and followed the path carved by the river from 1,800 feet back into the pattern at Stewart.
Turning base to final with the sun in my eyes, it looked like a good approach. Clear of the trees, I put in a slight forward slip before flaring. I added in about 100 RPM into the flare and held it off, bringing the stick back and back. Honestly, the first thing I noticed was the sound of the wheels on the grass... total three-point greaser! Those don't come very often and there's nothing like nailing a soft grass landing in a taildragger.
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 0.8 hours
Total Time: 96.0 hours
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Checked out in the Cub
Plane: Cub, 85 hp
Instructor: Dave
Route: 40I, Local
Weather: Broken clouds, 55 degrees, wind 090 degrees at 8 knots
While I flew the Cub a few times during my primary training, I've never been officially checked out in one for solo flight. So I scheduled some time with Dave to add another airplane to my list at Stewart. The same front from last night was still moving in, but it held off long enough for us to go up for about an hour.
The 85 hp Cub is about as much fun as you can have for $62/hour. Takes off and lands on a dime, but has more than enough power to quickly climb away. We launched and I climbed while circling up through a hole in the broken clouds to 3,500 feet. Ironically, there was some virga (rain that evaporates before reaching the ground) up there above the low clouds and we got a free windscreen cleaning. I wish I had my camera with me, as the view when we broke through the hole and climbed above the lower layer was spectacular.
I did some steep turns and then transitioned into slow flight and then to a power-off stall. The Cub just about flies at a standstill and the stall was very tame. Then I added in power and made two power-on stalls. The first I let a little aileron in by accident so a wing dropped and I corrected with ailerons level and opposite rudder. I paid better attention to the stick position and hung it on the prop next time. Again, it's got so much power that at full throttle it sort of just hangs there in a coordinated power-on stall. Unfortunately the clouds made it impossible to do any spins since we could have accidentally dropped into one, so those will have to wait for a future flight.
A quick descent via some left and right forward slips took us down 2,000 feet and into the pattern. I made takeoffs and landings of the short/soft field and normal variety. For the short field takeoff, we were airborne by the third cone lining the runway, or in less than 300 feet. Good times. Compared to the Champ (which will float for miles) the Cub really drops when you cut the throttle. For the soft field landings I just kept in a couple hundred RPM in the flare and she sat down ever so softly. I swear, I land the taildraggers better than the darn Cessna. Chalk up another plane on my list - I can now fly the Champ, Cubs, 150s, and 172 out of Stewart.
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 0.9 hours
Total Time: 95.2 hours
Instructor: Dave
Route: 40I, Local
Weather: Broken clouds, 55 degrees, wind 090 degrees at 8 knots
While I flew the Cub a few times during my primary training, I've never been officially checked out in one for solo flight. So I scheduled some time with Dave to add another airplane to my list at Stewart. The same front from last night was still moving in, but it held off long enough for us to go up for about an hour.
The 85 hp Cub is about as much fun as you can have for $62/hour. Takes off and lands on a dime, but has more than enough power to quickly climb away. We launched and I climbed while circling up through a hole in the broken clouds to 3,500 feet. Ironically, there was some virga (rain that evaporates before reaching the ground) up there above the low clouds and we got a free windscreen cleaning. I wish I had my camera with me, as the view when we broke through the hole and climbed above the lower layer was spectacular.
I did some steep turns and then transitioned into slow flight and then to a power-off stall. The Cub just about flies at a standstill and the stall was very tame. Then I added in power and made two power-on stalls. The first I let a little aileron in by accident so a wing dropped and I corrected with ailerons level and opposite rudder. I paid better attention to the stick position and hung it on the prop next time. Again, it's got so much power that at full throttle it sort of just hangs there in a coordinated power-on stall. Unfortunately the clouds made it impossible to do any spins since we could have accidentally dropped into one, so those will have to wait for a future flight.
A quick descent via some left and right forward slips took us down 2,000 feet and into the pattern. I made takeoffs and landings of the short/soft field and normal variety. For the short field takeoff, we were airborne by the third cone lining the runway, or in less than 300 feet. Good times. Compared to the Champ (which will float for miles) the Cub really drops when you cut the throttle. For the soft field landings I just kept in a couple hundred RPM in the flare and she sat down ever so softly. I swear, I land the taildraggers better than the darn Cessna. Chalk up another plane on my list - I can now fly the Champ, Cubs, 150s, and 172 out of Stewart.
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 0.9 hours
Total Time: 95.2 hours
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