I’m Back ….

So far the late fall and early winter has been tough. From holidays, work, family health issues and of course the WEATHER  it has been a challenge getting back into the air.  But I am happy to say things are settling down and this weekend in the Greater Boston area it is warm (for January) and beautiful.  We have a huge special election in Massachusetts on the 19th so I really had to get out today, since Obama is in town tomorrow and Clinton was here yesterday.  So with the TFRs around today was the day …. what a great morning to get back in the saddle.

There was nothing too fancy today, just a little traffic pattern work  Bright skies and light winds, it could not have been better and if I must say myself … I “greased” 5 of 6 landings.  The only reason I didn’t hit all 6 was probably a little bit of arrogance and not ensuring I fly the plane all the way through the landing.  It was my last touch down and I let the plane just drop a bit too much at the end.  It wasn’t bad but I can do much better and had, so I was not very happy with my self.  I really like it when those mains touch down and its as if the you were skimming a stone perfectly on a glassy pond.  Oh well … 5 of 6 ain’t bad.

Wondering about the Skycatcher 162

I’ve often thought it would be really cool to own an aircraft.  But of course the price and maintenance are a real issue.  So then I dream about joint ownership or a lease-back program.  But now there is a more affordable aircraft by Cessna in the Light Sport Aircraft category that just may entice me.  Of course it is still pretty expensive, but in a lease-back program at the local FBO … I may just jump in.  When my flight school EFA brings one on board I will definitely give it a ride to check it out.  But what I already like is large and low windows for great visibility, the wider cockpit and the control sticks rather than a yoke.  Check this out:

Skycatcher 162

Needed a fix ……

Well it has almost been a month and I was getting a bit antsy about not being in the cockpit. I was scheduled to fly this Sunday October 18th, but there is a Nor’easter headed toward the Boston area. We just had one slide through yesterday …. so my only hope was to find an available aircraft and get out there this morning. So I rushed down to the airfield and booked an aircraft.  Back to working full-time is great but definitely hinders the flight time …. especially with such unpredictable weather lately.

I wasn’t exactly sure where or when the weather was going to move in, but sure enough the winds where already out of the northeast between 8 to 12 knots with gusts up to 15 from variable directions.  Luckily the winds were from anywhere from 40 – 70 degrees so there was not a lot of crosswind on runway 5.  But I didn’t really do any flight plans so I was going to stay in the traffic pattern and just practice doing some touch and gos.  I needed the work and every time through the pattern the ATC provided a wind check …. and I didn’t even ask.  They were doing that today for virtually every aircraft landing since the winds were so unpredictable.   The gusts from any and all directions were the most unpredictable. 

Well Runway 5 is not one that I use very often … so it was a good day to fly the pattern and get use to the nuances.  They had us doing right traffic all day and the runup has really tight quarters compared to the other runways here at Hanscom.  Well I got my fix and I hope next weekend I can go somewhere fun and enjoy the foliage …. of course after this nor’easter we may have no leaves on the trees here in Massachusetts.

Landing on RWY 5

Colleague Landing with clouds moving in

September Flying ….

Well, I am officially back to work so my flying will be moved strictly to weekends from now on. But I did get a chance to fly this week prior to starting my new job. Which by the way is pretty darn good.  I flew on Tuesday and if anyone recalls the day, it was a beautiful clear September day, but a front was moving through and the winds were shifting from west to north east and gusting.  There were clouds scattered at about 2800-3000 feet which I found annoying since I was flying from Bedford to Hyannis, across the Cape Cod Elbow to Chatham and then up over Wellfleet and on to Provincetown.   I flew for about 3 hours sometimes above the clouds where the air was a bit smoother and then other times below the clouds in and around the Boston (bravo) airspace.  Below the cloud layer was definitely bumpy.

My other challenge was flying the glass cockpit (G1000).  It was my first time in several weeks so it took a little bit getting use to … but it came back after awhile and I was feeling much more comfortable.  I really need to keep practicing with the avionics. 

All in all it was a great day.    Take a look of the view I had …. this is from a very bad camera phone.  Not to shabby !!!

P-Town's Race Point

 

 Next flight in a week.  I am going to check out a low-wing Piper Arrow with retracable landing gear.  I’ll be doing that with my instructore … should be fun.

The new economy !!

Pilots always talk about the flights they take for that $100 hamburger … well, this week it was more like the $200 breakfast.  But even in this new economy, I must say it was worth the trip.  If you are in the New England area, check out the “Cockpit Cafe” in Sanford, Maine (KSFM).  They house the incredibly friendly Southern Maine Aviation FBO with virtually any service you will need.  The only change that is fairly recent to the airfield is the lack of self service 100LL, they use to have that but now it is basic auto fuel so you will have to use the FBO for fuel.  Not a big deal since they are so friendly … just have to be aware of their hours of operation.

I highly recommend this airfield and location.  They have two very well maintained runways over 3000 feet and the proximity to places like Ogunquit and Kennebunkport make it a great option for a southern Maine excursion.   Here are a couple of my very different neighbors where I parked as I had breakfast with the nicest people I have ever met.

 

How adorable is this little bi-plane

Low Wing with retracable gear - maybe next