ApacheBob
Cleared for Takeoff
Bouncy by Aurora today. Winds 280 at 15 gusting to 28. Partly sunny skies. How bad can it be?
Halfway to Pontiac, I was still trying to tighten my seatbelt. It was that third head bounce on the roof that inspired that.
While waiting for departure at Aurora (I was number four), a TBM on downwind asked to be made Number 1 for landing. "One of my passengers would like to get on the ground as soon as possible."
"November one two three, are you declaring an emergency?"
"Negative, just seeing if we could change the plan"
"Roger, follow the twinstar on base, number two, cleared to land."
My departure was also delayed due to a disabled aircraft on Runway 27. Low level windshear? It looked like a Cherokee 160. The line guys who usually fuel me were dragging the aircraft off the runway. So I taxied over to Joliet Avionics for 100LL.
I was watching foreflight carefully for my flight to Pontiac. There is a gun range just southwest of Morris Municipal that I wanted to avoid. Surface to 5,000 msl warning for the gun range.
The sky was pretty empty despite the relative good visibility. Just too bumpy, I guess.
I wanted to get lunch at Pontiac, but the 45 minute delay at Aurora put the kibosh on that plan. I overflew the airport at 2,000 msl to enter the left traffic pattern. Then, I teardropped into the left downwind on a 45 degree angle. I did a touch and go on Runway 24. I was the only aircraft in the pattern.
On departure, I climbed on the left downwind until I was at 2000 msl to exit the pattern over the top of the field.
Returning to Aurora (I used the "REVERSE" on foreflight for the flight plan), it seemed less bumpy. Maybe I was just used to it. I received VFR advisories from Chicago Center and then Chicago Approach Control.
Aurora tower asked me to make a short approach for traffic on the opposite downwind. I responded that I would like to fly a normal pattern due to the gusty winds. They didn't object. The winds were twisting left and right with some vigor. I was not far from touching down when I needed to swap a crab to the left with a crab to the right. In the flare, everything seemed to calm down and I was able to put the aircraft in a gentle slip to the right just before touchdown to avoid a side load on the gear. I was able to exit at Alpha 3.
I like the challenge. Every day isn't just droning along the magenta line.
Halfway to Pontiac, I was still trying to tighten my seatbelt. It was that third head bounce on the roof that inspired that.
While waiting for departure at Aurora (I was number four), a TBM on downwind asked to be made Number 1 for landing. "One of my passengers would like to get on the ground as soon as possible."
"November one two three, are you declaring an emergency?"
"Negative, just seeing if we could change the plan"
"Roger, follow the twinstar on base, number two, cleared to land."
My departure was also delayed due to a disabled aircraft on Runway 27. Low level windshear? It looked like a Cherokee 160. The line guys who usually fuel me were dragging the aircraft off the runway. So I taxied over to Joliet Avionics for 100LL.
I was watching foreflight carefully for my flight to Pontiac. There is a gun range just southwest of Morris Municipal that I wanted to avoid. Surface to 5,000 msl warning for the gun range.
The sky was pretty empty despite the relative good visibility. Just too bumpy, I guess.
I wanted to get lunch at Pontiac, but the 45 minute delay at Aurora put the kibosh on that plan. I overflew the airport at 2,000 msl to enter the left traffic pattern. Then, I teardropped into the left downwind on a 45 degree angle. I did a touch and go on Runway 24. I was the only aircraft in the pattern.
On departure, I climbed on the left downwind until I was at 2000 msl to exit the pattern over the top of the field.
Returning to Aurora (I used the "REVERSE" on foreflight for the flight plan), it seemed less bumpy. Maybe I was just used to it. I received VFR advisories from Chicago Center and then Chicago Approach Control.
Aurora tower asked me to make a short approach for traffic on the opposite downwind. I responded that I would like to fly a normal pattern due to the gusty winds. They didn't object. The winds were twisting left and right with some vigor. I was not far from touching down when I needed to swap a crab to the left with a crab to the right. In the flare, everything seemed to calm down and I was able to put the aircraft in a gentle slip to the right just before touchdown to avoid a side load on the gear. I was able to exit at Alpha 3.
I like the challenge. Every day isn't just droning along the magenta line.
