kimberlyanne546
Final Approach
This thread is meant to be like the years old thread of "make me jealous of your airport."
That was when I wanted to learn why everyone loved the airport(s) they flew out of.
Now I propose "make me jealous of your weekend."
What totally awesome aviation weekend did you have?
I will start:
My weekend was supposed to be flying a long cross country in a Piper Cub to the annual Piper Cub Fly-in located in Lompoc, CA. This fly-in included a hotel stay (the hotel has views of the runway from your window). It also included flour bombing, formation flying, spot landing contests, off airport (beach) landings and take offs, and much more. Sounded amazing.
I was all set to go until I ended up at a different fly-in / air show. This was because my friends from the 2012 Reno Air Races volunteer crew were in attendance. We needed to discuss if I will work High G Ridge this year.
So off I go for (to date) the best flying weekend of my life.
It begins early (7am) Saturday morning in the SF Bay Area airspace. We depart in a 1946 Vintage Cessna 120 taildragger. 85 hp but what a blast to fly.
We fly a cross country that includes my FIRST ever flying / transition / radio work over class charlie. Reported the Oakland Collesium and the two niner numbers of Oakland International Airport. Way cool. The marine layer was an issue and I got to go both above and below it, updating ATC on conditions. Another first.
Continued on the cross country towards Rio Linda. Small airport where we picked up a SECOND 1946 Vintage Cessna 120 Taildragger. We were now a flight of two.
Flight of two Cessnas went from Rio Linda to KGOO (Grass Valley) for the Nevada County Grass Valley 2013 Air Fest. Got there just in time for the air show because they close the airspace between 10am - 3pm for the flyby aircraft to perform.
Landing with an airboss and ground control - another first. They asked on CTAF if we wanted to static display the two vintage planes as part of the show. We said yes. Another first!
Airspace closed from 10 - 3 so we got some breakfast thanks to a local EAA chapter. Wandered around and saw my friend (who flies a Cozy Jet). Small world!
Children surrounded the plane. It got hot and people took shelter under the wing. It is very delicate so I "guarded" the plane. Described instruments and flight surfaces to the kids. Did that whole "you know when you stick your hand out the window in a car" thing to demonstrate how the changing of the shape of a flight surface makes the plane go in different directions. They were wide eyed and bushy tailed. Stuck them in the pilot seat. Gave the parents photos. All smiles.
After the DC4 and the Patriots flew by, we were allowed to leave. Ground crew pushed all the planes out to the taxiway and one by one we departed.
We lost our 120 but gained a PT-26 trainer. Finally caught up with him and did some air to air talk, formation, photo, and video.
The PT-26 landed at Ranchaero for gas. Ranchaero is a tiny airport with a grass strip and a runway. We were joined moments later by a Citabria (friend from the airshow). A girl pilot co-owns this beautiful bird and she is getting her CFI soon! We now had two girl pilots and two boy pilots at Ranchaero.
The PT-26 departs but the Citabria stays and we fly formation to Chico. So cool to tell a towered airport "flight of two" and land on the same runway.
Once the planes are put away, we all join up in one hangar. Three girl pilots now and 3-5 boy pilots. Beer and BS. I even got to work on an experimental (for about 30 seconds) before we all went to dinner. I got to bore holes in some metal so the rivets would be flush. Used a hand crank looking thing that dug into the metal. I was bummed I did not get to do more. Another pilot was working on a new panel for his RV (where the throttle and prop controls sit).
Dinner followed by a visit to a lovely house to watch the sun set high on a hill overlooking the canyon. Breath taking. Huge fireplace and deck.
Early Sunday morning it is off to Chico to retrieve the plane and fly to breakfast at Willows. We meet three other pilots: an Aeronica, a Taylorcraft, and an RV. All awesome. I even rode a little 50 (moto).
We depart flight of three with Chico tower and all take off together staggered on the runway. So cool. I've only done that once before in formation training class (as a passenger).
We switch from tower to air to air frequency. The RV soon catches up and does some demonstration in front of us.
We split up with our 85 hp and leave the two 65 hp to fly for a while. We explore the local rivers and rejoin them later. We are a flight of three again.
We land in Willows and have breakfast at Nancy's. We show the pilots our photos and videos from the air show the day before. Some of the pilots during these two days were my "friends" on facebook and I didn't even know it.
We all leave but not before a demonstration of (don't try this at home) hand prop. I am a qualified pilot so I sit in the plane and follow instructions given. Another first.
Everyone goes home but not us. On the way back we stop by Petaluma where apparently I complete my first wheel landing.
I show off the plane to my O69 buddies (most are gone) and then we head south.
Later that night I'm with another friend in downtown SF for an all night comedy show with 10 comedians.
And that was just Sat / Sun!
So . . . make me jealous of your weekend!
(PS - I really want to buy an old tail dragger now)
That was when I wanted to learn why everyone loved the airport(s) they flew out of.
Now I propose "make me jealous of your weekend."
What totally awesome aviation weekend did you have?
I will start:
My weekend was supposed to be flying a long cross country in a Piper Cub to the annual Piper Cub Fly-in located in Lompoc, CA. This fly-in included a hotel stay (the hotel has views of the runway from your window). It also included flour bombing, formation flying, spot landing contests, off airport (beach) landings and take offs, and much more. Sounded amazing.
I was all set to go until I ended up at a different fly-in / air show. This was because my friends from the 2012 Reno Air Races volunteer crew were in attendance. We needed to discuss if I will work High G Ridge this year.
So off I go for (to date) the best flying weekend of my life.
It begins early (7am) Saturday morning in the SF Bay Area airspace. We depart in a 1946 Vintage Cessna 120 taildragger. 85 hp but what a blast to fly.
We fly a cross country that includes my FIRST ever flying / transition / radio work over class charlie. Reported the Oakland Collesium and the two niner numbers of Oakland International Airport. Way cool. The marine layer was an issue and I got to go both above and below it, updating ATC on conditions. Another first.
Continued on the cross country towards Rio Linda. Small airport where we picked up a SECOND 1946 Vintage Cessna 120 Taildragger. We were now a flight of two.
Flight of two Cessnas went from Rio Linda to KGOO (Grass Valley) for the Nevada County Grass Valley 2013 Air Fest. Got there just in time for the air show because they close the airspace between 10am - 3pm for the flyby aircraft to perform.
Landing with an airboss and ground control - another first. They asked on CTAF if we wanted to static display the two vintage planes as part of the show. We said yes. Another first!
Airspace closed from 10 - 3 so we got some breakfast thanks to a local EAA chapter. Wandered around and saw my friend (who flies a Cozy Jet). Small world!
Children surrounded the plane. It got hot and people took shelter under the wing. It is very delicate so I "guarded" the plane. Described instruments and flight surfaces to the kids. Did that whole "you know when you stick your hand out the window in a car" thing to demonstrate how the changing of the shape of a flight surface makes the plane go in different directions. They were wide eyed and bushy tailed. Stuck them in the pilot seat. Gave the parents photos. All smiles.
After the DC4 and the Patriots flew by, we were allowed to leave. Ground crew pushed all the planes out to the taxiway and one by one we departed.
We lost our 120 but gained a PT-26 trainer. Finally caught up with him and did some air to air talk, formation, photo, and video.
The PT-26 landed at Ranchaero for gas. Ranchaero is a tiny airport with a grass strip and a runway. We were joined moments later by a Citabria (friend from the airshow). A girl pilot co-owns this beautiful bird and she is getting her CFI soon! We now had two girl pilots and two boy pilots at Ranchaero.
The PT-26 departs but the Citabria stays and we fly formation to Chico. So cool to tell a towered airport "flight of two" and land on the same runway.
Once the planes are put away, we all join up in one hangar. Three girl pilots now and 3-5 boy pilots. Beer and BS. I even got to work on an experimental (for about 30 seconds) before we all went to dinner. I got to bore holes in some metal so the rivets would be flush. Used a hand crank looking thing that dug into the metal. I was bummed I did not get to do more. Another pilot was working on a new panel for his RV (where the throttle and prop controls sit).
Dinner followed by a visit to a lovely house to watch the sun set high on a hill overlooking the canyon. Breath taking. Huge fireplace and deck.
Early Sunday morning it is off to Chico to retrieve the plane and fly to breakfast at Willows. We meet three other pilots: an Aeronica, a Taylorcraft, and an RV. All awesome. I even rode a little 50 (moto).
We depart flight of three with Chico tower and all take off together staggered on the runway. So cool. I've only done that once before in formation training class (as a passenger).
We switch from tower to air to air frequency. The RV soon catches up and does some demonstration in front of us.
We split up with our 85 hp and leave the two 65 hp to fly for a while. We explore the local rivers and rejoin them later. We are a flight of three again.
We land in Willows and have breakfast at Nancy's. We show the pilots our photos and videos from the air show the day before. Some of the pilots during these two days were my "friends" on facebook and I didn't even know it.
We all leave but not before a demonstration of (don't try this at home) hand prop. I am a qualified pilot so I sit in the plane and follow instructions given. Another first.
Everyone goes home but not us. On the way back we stop by Petaluma where apparently I complete my first wheel landing.
I show off the plane to my O69 buddies (most are gone) and then we head south.
Later that night I'm with another friend in downtown SF for an all night comedy show with 10 comedians.
And that was just Sat / Sun!
So . . . make me jealous of your weekend!
(PS - I really want to buy an old tail dragger now)
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