Cushing Field (0C8) - Oshkosh (OSH) - Wautoma (Y50) - Cushing Field (0C8), C150 'N109CF', 1993
The 150nm stretch from 0C8 to OSH was just a straight northerly run up to the west of Chicago, flatlands of Illinois and Wisconsin looked just like good old Cambridgeshire, except the place names on tha map made it seem like a world tour - I flew over Lake Geneva, and villages called Berlin and Ottawa.
The approach into Wittman Field was lovely - 20nm visibility, I could see OSH nestled in on the western shore of Lake Winnebago - called them up and curved my approach in over the lake to land on 27; greased her on, not a bounce. Trundled along until directed to leave next right, then taxied over to park up alongside Basler's DC3 turboprops. Wandered in to pay my landing fee and get the logbook stamped, refueled and then went off to spend a few hours in the EAA Museum; Kermit's Mosquito, the Mustang prototype, even an old Ford Trimotor taking folks up for pleasure rides out of the oldtimers strip. What a truly wonderful experience.
All too soon I had to leave and head back to continue my QXC. Taxied 109CF to the hold behind a BAe146 (first and so far only time I ever shared the circuit with a four engined jet!) and had to wait for what seemed like a week as his wake turbulence subsided. Lined up and departed on 27 for the short (40nm I think) hop to Wautoma, a quiet and sleepy little airfield way out in the Wisconsin sticks. Called them up a few miles out, no answer. Checked my frequency and called them again. Still no answer. A good look out ahead and to the sides made me think they were closed... do I land or just pass overhead and go find another field to get that all important second signature...? Called them up again for one last try, to be answered with "Cessna One Zero Niner Charlie Fox, nothin' in the circuit. C'mon in, son...".
Now maybe it was the unknown American's rather laidback attitude that swung it, but my approach into Wautoma was the worst I've ever flown. I just seemed to get far too complacent, with the result that at 500 feet - for the first time ever - I went around. Not because an instructor wanted me to practice it, but becuse I wasn't happy with it. Thankfully, the ensuing circuit was uneventful, and the landing was almost as smooth as at Oshkosh. After parking up I wandered into the office to get the booked stamped and signed, to be greeted by a couple of Wisconsans looking at me with bemusement. The first words spoken were "Where're you from, son?", to which I replied "England". "Aw s**t", muttered the second one and handed over a dollar to his mate "Ah thawt you was Australian..."
Turned out to be a great couple of lads, but after a coffee, I had to depart back to 0C8. The boys asked me to do a flyby after departure and I have to say I did oblige, albeit at circuit height! I think I saw the two of them down there by the office waving as I went past. I left Wautoma with the impression that I was probably te first visitor they'd had for a while...
The rest of the flight was uneventful, and I landed back at 0C8 after a very tiring but also incredibly rewarding day. The navigation wasn't hard, but during that flight I learned loads of things; importance of doing your FREDA checks regularly, how to integrate into circuits and approaches at busy regional airports, how to recognise when an approach looks dodgy (and more importantly what to do about it), how to deal with the admin when landing away, and how hard it is to stay alert and awake on long drags.
I'm now sitting at my desk grinning at the memory of that day, and my colleagues are looking at me as if I've gone mad...
