Photos of private flying
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
We did a little XC practice today. C77, overflew RPJ and onto SQI. A couple of T&Gs and we headed back. I'm teaching my kid pilotage and dead reckoning. We will leave the electronic gizmos for later.
Tomorrow the weather looks better and we are going to fly up to Oshkosh.
Tomorrow the weather looks better and we are going to fly up to Oshkosh.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
Weather today was spectacular. Clear, smooth, low surface winds. We made it to Oshkosh. Trip was 101nm. Last time the airplane was here it was in parts at the Sonex factory. True for the engine also.
In two weeks we are launching on a 450nm trip to visit my parents in eastern Tennessee. Plus one of the goals is to take my 87 year old father for a ride. He was a pilot and is the reason I'm into building and flying.
Funny story, when I was 12 or so he brought home an info pack for a Pitts Special kit. He was going to build one with our chief pilot at Sikorsky. Then the Blackhawk program hit and he dropped that dream. I was wildly disappointed. I'm all better now.
In two weeks we are launching on a 450nm trip to visit my parents in eastern Tennessee. Plus one of the goals is to take my 87 year old father for a ride. He was a pilot and is the reason I'm into building and flying.
Funny story, when I was 12 or so he brought home an info pack for a Pitts Special kit. He was going to build one with our chief pilot at Sikorsky. Then the Blackhawk program hit and he dropped that dream. I was wildly disappointed. I'm all better now.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 295
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
I’m visiting my son in Comox BC and I popped down to Courteney Airpark (CAH3) to see what was going on.
Nothing happening, but “Aaaah de Havilland!”
Courteney Airpark is the epitome of a “downtown airport”. The runway is 100 metres from Courteney’s main street.
Nothing happening, but “Aaaah de Havilland!”
Courteney Airpark is the epitome of a “downtown airport”. The runway is 100 metres from Courteney’s main street.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
Was going to fly to Tennessee today to visit my parents. Mom ended up with a bad cold and they waved us off yesterday. Today we flew to the halfway point (KBMG) and back. 4.5 hours of cross country practice for my son.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 295
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
Last October, I migrated to Saigon to get away from the Prairie winter. Originally, I was due to return last week, but I changed my plans and returned a month early, in order to spend some time with my kids on Vancouver Island and then return to Calgary for the start of the gliding season.
This time last year, we were already flying. This year it will be at least another three weeks!
This was our first movement of the year. The immaculate C185 had a hydraulic failure, which meant the skis could not be lifted in order to allow a wheel-landing at their home base of Springbank, just west of Calgary.
After an overnight stop and repair the next day. I videoed the departure. I was asked to move back, since ski planes are not very maneuverable on the ground. Clearly I should have been much further back!
Click Quote to see the video link.
A few days later, when it was warmer and the runway had been snowploughed, our Chief Tow Pilot and I got our Pawnee out of the hangar and he took off for the fifteen minute flight to High River to have the annual done.
It's a good job that there are fenders/mudguards on the mainwheels!
Click Quote to see the video link.
This time last year, we were already flying. This year it will be at least another three weeks!
This was our first movement of the year. The immaculate C185 had a hydraulic failure, which meant the skis could not be lifted in order to allow a wheel-landing at their home base of Springbank, just west of Calgary.
After an overnight stop and repair the next day. I videoed the departure. I was asked to move back, since ski planes are not very maneuverable on the ground. Clearly I should have been much further back!
Click Quote to see the video link.
A few days later, when it was warmer and the runway had been snowploughed, our Chief Tow Pilot and I got our Pawnee out of the hangar and he took off for the fifteen minute flight to High River to have the annual done.
It's a good job that there are fenders/mudguards on the mainwheels!
Click Quote to see the video link.
Last edited by India Four Two; 5th April 2023 at 06:08.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 295
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
More time in a pawnee than any other single type in my logbook but it has been over 10 years.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 295
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
Sorry about that SD. Fixed.
Worth watching. The guy pushing on the wing strut had already got me to move back, but clearly it wasn't far enough. One of my friends said "There are easier ways to get a haircut!"
Worth watching. The guy pushing on the wing strut had already got me to move back, but clearly it wasn't far enough. One of my friends said "There are easier ways to get a haircut!"
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
Likes: 686
From: Twickenham, home of rugby
That reminds me of the time I was sailing a Hobie Cat around Cardigan bay in Wales one Easter back in the early '90s, and I lost one of the boots off my wetsuit. My left foot still feels the pain! The Irish Sea in April is still bloody cold.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 295
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
Looks like Geneva Lake
The 40" Yerkes refractor, the biggest telescope in the world when it was inaugurated in 1897:
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
Here is a picture and you can see Yerkes in it - draw a line between the tip of Williams Bay and the corner of my white CO detector.
Not the greatest picture. We took the kids there when they were small. The observatory was closed for a while and has recently reopened. We were talking about going back.
Not the greatest picture. We took the kids there when they were small. The observatory was closed for a while and has recently reopened. We were talking about going back.