I had a couple missions recently that justified renting the R182, which I hadn't flown since January. I took my uncle Greg for a quick local flight and some pattern work to refamiliarize myself before I stuffed it full of people. Greg
logged almost 100 transatlantic crossings as a light aircraft ferry pilot in the 1980s, and then finished out his career flying Caravans for a FedEx feeder. This was my first time having the opportunity to fly with him.
Next up, a family friend from Kenya was visiting the states for the first time - we took him on a scenic tour of the fall colors (and cloud tops) in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota, before putting him on the Amtrak 'Empire Builder' and sending him across the American west to visit friends in Sacramento.
A few days later, a friend invited my wife and I to join him and his wife in attending a food festival a few miles from KANE. He recently earned his Private certificate and was excited to fly us, but we ran the weight & balance figures and it was clear his club's 172 wasn't up to the task. We booked the R182 again - his first exposure (from the right seat) to cowl flaps, the blue knob, and a gear lever.
Greg and I, probably looking at a checklist.
KSTC from right downwind rwy 31.
Lake Sagatagan, Collegeville, MN (St. John's University)
Phil from Nairobi