Decided to evacuate Florida, partially for the adventure and partially because work said I needed to be available all weekend and next week, and I didn't think that would happen in Tampa.
We have an office in Plano, so it was a perfect excuse to take a trip out west. I had less than a day to plan the trip and prep the property to leave, so needless to say it was rather impromptu.
Got a bunch of firsts for me as PIC:
As hard as it was to see Addison at night, I think it would be even harder during the day. If it weren't for the airport beacon, and then eventually the strobe up to the threshold, I would have never seen it. It's a good thing I've been doing a lot of non-standard pattern landings lately as the dive from 1900 AGL 4 miles from the runway was quite interesting in the Mooney. I didn't want to slow down and put the gear down until I got real close, but I probably should have done it sooner than I did. At any rate, I made the first turn-off without even needing to slip, so no problem.
I'm very proud of my performance, and how "not a big deal" this trip was, from planning quickly to flying into unknown, busy, controlled airspace without getting anxious about it. Honestly, this forum has a lot to do with that. Reading about other's experiences and asking really really stupid questions has made a difference and made me stretch myself in ways I might not have if you weren't here.
875 miles in 6 hrs 8 min for 143 knots average groundspeed.
We stopped in Mississippi for fuel and to wait out some crappy weather over Dallas.
We have an office in Plano, so it was a perfect excuse to take a trip out west. I had less than a day to plan the trip and prep the property to leave, so needless to say it was rather impromptu.
Got a bunch of firsts for me as PIC:
- Flight across the Mississippi
- Flight West of the Mississippi
- Landing in Mississippi
- Landing in Texas
- Flight inside a Bravo (Barely. They let me fly at 2500 in shelf that begins at 2500)
- First time my wife was more anxious than I (Normally she trusts me more than I do, but we arrived in Dallas just after dark and she wasn't real keen about all the other planes she was seeing around us)
As hard as it was to see Addison at night, I think it would be even harder during the day. If it weren't for the airport beacon, and then eventually the strobe up to the threshold, I would have never seen it. It's a good thing I've been doing a lot of non-standard pattern landings lately as the dive from 1900 AGL 4 miles from the runway was quite interesting in the Mooney. I didn't want to slow down and put the gear down until I got real close, but I probably should have done it sooner than I did. At any rate, I made the first turn-off without even needing to slip, so no problem.
I'm very proud of my performance, and how "not a big deal" this trip was, from planning quickly to flying into unknown, busy, controlled airspace without getting anxious about it. Honestly, this forum has a lot to do with that. Reading about other's experiences and asking really really stupid questions has made a difference and made me stretch myself in ways I might not have if you weren't here.
875 miles in 6 hrs 8 min for 143 knots average groundspeed.
We stopped in Mississippi for fuel and to wait out some crappy weather over Dallas.
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