Homecoming

[Vance]

March 10 was the last time I flew The Predator.

It was close to my gust limit but I felt current then and managed the wind without drama.

We had several days of rain, then gusting winds following the storm. I had lots to do before I left on Friday, March 16 several hours before sunrise so I didn’t mind not flying.

The weather got ugly after I left with rain, wind and hale.

I returned from Bensen Days and Sun N Fun March 31 to 78kt winds.

Ed and I drove the M Roadster with the top down to Open Hangar Day on Sunday, April 1 because of the reported mountain wave activity near Santa Barbara. It was nice most of the day at Santa Paula but Santa Barbara did get windy so it was no joke.

Each evening this week I checked the weather only to find predicted gust spreads just a little over my limit.

If I felt current I might have pressed it.

I feel if I haven’t flown for a while I lose my edge and did not overcome my trepidation with overconfidence.

I checked the ATIS at SMX several times a day.

Occasionally I would get an ATIS that was near my limit only to find the winds pick up before I could get to the airport.

Each day the forecast called for lower winds tomorrow but tomorrow didn’t come until this morning.

I didn’t want any screw ups so I was very careful to bring all my flying gear that I had taken to Bensen Days. I checked it several times including laying everything out that was in my flight bag just to be sure.

When we arrived the wind was 290 degrees at 7kts.

I spent more than an hour on preflight.

The only things I found was a low front tire and a switch that will stop working soon.

I called Lockheed Martin and the briefer said simply; “I have no adverse weather to report and no NOTAMS.”

I felt an uneasiness as I slid the hangar door shut.

I climbed in and started down my preflight list; helmet, seat belt, plug in head set, plug in ANR, attach kneeboard???. I had left my knee board on the desk. Unplug head set, unplug the ANR, seat belt; I felt so stupid.

I slid the hanger door open just enough to slip through. I had my colored spectacles on and could barely see in the dim light. The kneeboard was right there on the desk. I grabbed it without turning on the lights and slid the hangar door shut with an elevated feeling of uneasiness.

I climbed in and started down the list with more emphasis. Seat Belt, Plug in Headset, Plug in ANR, Attach Kneeboard, Arrange Kneeboard??? AAARRRGGG!!! I had left the Santa Mara and San Luis Obispo radio call sheets on the desk. REMOVE KNEEBOARD, UNPLUG HEAD SET, UNPLUG ANR, SEALT BELT; I felt so stupid.

Once again I slipped through the door and quickly found the radio call sheets. I slid the hangar door shut with that uneasy feeling. I worked down the list, MASTER ON, MIXTURE RICH, ONE THIRD THROTTLE, MAGNETOS ON AND PRESS THE STARTER. I felt the emphasis helped.

The starter labored briefly and the engine reluctantly came to life, nearly died and then settled into a steady fast idle. Alternator on, Radio on, transponder to standby and check the ATIS. The winds were now variable at 14kts.

I asked ground to taxi to 30 with Golf. I felt better when I heard; “Welcome back Vance, Experimental 142 Mike Golf runway 30 taxi via Alpha.”

There was very little activity at the airport as I taxied a mile to the run up area for 30. Each of the five windsocks was pointed in a different direction, some fully erect.

The magneto check went well; 64 rpm drop on the left and 67 on the right.

I switched the transponder to mode C and changed to tower frequency. I reported ready departure and asked for left closed traffic. I know Santa Maria so well that I can tell much sooner if things start to go wrong. I wanted at least one practice landing before I ventured off to less familiar territory.

“Experimental 2 Mike Golf hold short of runway 30 for a pair of coyotes, report in sight.”

I replied “experimental 2 Mike Golf coyotes in sight!” It is spring I thought as I watched them lope along toward taxiway Hotel oblivious to everything but each other.

“Experimental 2 Mike Golf left closed traffic approved, report abeam the tower, 30 clear for takeoff.”

The magic begins!

I released the rotor brake, richened the mixture and gave her a little throttle as I pressed the prerotator button. The rotor rpm was at 100 before we reached the centerline and I was half back, 120 rpm came quickly and we were full back. I could feel her slow as the rotor caught hold and soon the front tire was up. Anti collisions lights on, Navigation lights on, left landing light on and right landing light on. I was starting to feel confident as I put the list away and advanced the throttle.

We were soon climbing out at 1,000 feet per minute at 65kts. As we approached 800 feet I pulled the power back and leveled out at exactly 800 feet. The crosswind turn felt very precise with the yaw string straight back throughout the turn. The downwind turn was the same and I began to feel that I had not forgotten how to fly.

I was home!

Abeam the tower I reported; “Experimental gyroplane 2 Mike Golf left downwind mid field for runway 30, stop and go then a straight out departure with a slight right.”

“Experimental 2 Mike Golf, runway 30 clear stop and go, straight out with a slight right approved.”

Reduce power 500 rpm abeam the touchdown point, left turn lined up with the runway end lights, left again when lined up with the runway edge, power to idle, look down the runway at 15 feet, flare at 5 and touchdown as nice as could be. “I love this stuff!” I shouted to no one.

I added a little power as I watched the digital rotor tachometer, 250, 245 240, 237, 238, full power and we were off quickly and soon bumping along across the patchwork of agriculture at 500 feet AGL. I felt at home in the air.

I circled Ed’s Sister’s house but there was no one outside. I called for the SBP ATIS and called the tower 13 miles to the south east at 1,100 feet and requested the Avila pass.

“Experimental gyroplane 142 Mike Golf ident.” She sounded a little harried as she told someone to turn left 30 degrees. “Ident observed 13 miles to the south east report inbound on the 45. Unidentified traffic at your twelve o’clock, 2 miles showing 1,200 feet, 90kts.” I reported traffic in sight and descending to 800 feet. He soon passed directly over us. Some of my uneasiness returned and when she told me that the jump plane was over the shoreline I told her I would skip the shoreline and modify my entrance to the Avilla pass. I could not find the jumpers and was glad to be clear of their jump zone. She was very busy but not too busy to offer me direct from where I was.

I responded that I would continue through the Avilla pass and report the 45.

Half way through the pass a Bellanca reported over Avila Bay at 3,500 feet inbound to land. ATC restricted him to 1,500 feet until he was past the experimental gyroplane at 700 feet in the pass. I was in her radar blind spot so I suspect it made her a little uncomfortable. She had eight in the pattern.

I called inbound on the 45 and she asked me to report abeam. When I did she said I was number two behind the Archer on a right down wind, report in sight. I did and it was “Experimental gyroplane 142 Mike Golf, runway 29 clear to land number two behind the Archer on a right base.” There were three more behind me.

I did the landing by the numbers and it was as nice as could be. I found joy in flying a familiar gyroplane at a familiar airport.

Once I had the rotor stopped I weaved my way through two rows of airplanes and found a nice spot on the front row.

I worked carefully through my shut down list and filled out my log book. I felt my trepidation was unfounded and basked in the joy of a job well done.

I love to fly.

Thank you, Vance

[SgurlEd]

Though we did not fly... we had an oppurtunity to visit with some amazing people. There in the one Hanger we sometime go by and say hello and visit...well we had more time to spend really getting to know the people.
All the men were at one end talking aircraft and at the other end were us women messing with jewelry craft at the other end We were there until about 5:30pm and they asked us to join them for dinner they were the nicest people now I feel there is a solid bond...I had a Great time and so did Vance though we did not fly. I cannot wait to go again!
Cheers! Ed

[SgurlEd]

Here are some photos I took as we were driving down through San Marcus pass. Please know these photos were taken with my cell so the quality is a lot different than my Cannon!

It is a much different view from the front of a car seat. This area is particularity popular with a lot of the Hollywood Folk as the beauty is incomparable!

We also have the Pozo Saloon which is a big attraction to bikers and outta towners. It has some of the best food ever and Outdoor Big Name Concerts that are just held out underneath our Live California Oak!

This drive is always a beautiful one with the Santa Margarita Lake to gaze at...then we pop over the other side of the Pass and there is the Beach...we Do Live In Paradise!
Cheers! Ed

[All_In]

Beautiful pictures!

Great adventure thank you so much for posting these.

I really do enjoy going alone with your flights.

I realize that I also miss Tim O pictures. Doesn't post as many as he used to.

[Gyro_Kai]

Great pictures and story, thank you two for the ride.

Kai.

[StanFoster]

Vance- I enjoy seeing you get so much out of life. Thanks for sharing your nice adventures.


Stan

[Vance]

Thank you John,

The frustration builds and then I get to fly and the magic returns.

I am grateful to have a place to share the fun.

Your welcome Kai,

We have so much fun sharing the fun. The drive to Santa Paula worked out much better than we expected. It ended up being a long fun day.

The flight to San Luis Obispo went remarkably well after such a rocky start.

Each time I fly I do an assessment of my body, brain and skills. I almost didn’t fly because I felt like I was having a bad day and if things became challenging I might not have been up to the task.

I only crashed three times in 23 years of road racing motorcycles and each time I had not had enough sleep.

I feel the difference between managing a challenge and being overcome by it is very small.

That is the reason for my personal assessment as part of my preflight.

Your welcome Stan, it adds to the fun for us.

I love to fly and we seem to attract some remarkable people that add to the fun.

Thank you, Vance

[Resasi]

You seem to have struck up a good relationship with the tower staffs in your area Vance, something I always thought was a good thing.

In my years in Saudi, flying on a daily basis one soon got to know individuals in the Centers by voice. And at most airfields since it was the tower we went to to file the flight plane, generally with the controller on duty, we got to meet the guys. I also let them know if we had a space on the flight and it wasn't with VIP's we could give them lifts.

It worked wonders and in many cases, because they knew us, and our capabilities, I am sure it may well have facilitated our general handling, a lot of our requests and sequences to land.

[All_In]

@Leigh
Good advice buddy.

Vance and Ed when is the next adventure?

[Vance]

Originally Posted by All_In

Vance and Ed when is the next adventure?

Hello John,

We don’t schedule adventures well; they just seem to work out.

On April 21 I will be addressing the San Luis Obispo chapter of the EAA. We will probably fly up together.

We try to make open Hangar Day at Santa Paula but it doesn’t always work out.

May 25th thru May 27th we will be going to the Hollister Air Show and I will be flying in it.

I will be solo at The PRA Convention July 31 thru August 4th.

I will be solo at Bonneville Speed Week August 11 thru August 17th.

August 24th through August 26th I will be flying in the Thunder Over The Valley air show at Santa Maria.

August 31st through September 3rd we are off to Watsonville.

September 26th through September 30th we will be at the Ken Brock Freedom Fly in.

The other adventures are simply targets of opportunity.

I continue to travel to Greenwood and Hollister to work on Mariah Gale.

Thank you, Vance

[okikuma]

Hi Vance,

Great photos and thanks for sharing.

You know I have to comment on the photo with the USMC T-34C. This example is from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron, VMFAT-101, The Sharpshooters, stationed at MCAS Miramar. I often come across their T-34Cs at various airports around the state, including KSZP!

Like all military aviation squadrons, there's a minimum number of hours each pilot needs to fly per month to remain current and receive flight pay. To keep their aviators current, the USMC decided to use the less expensive T-34C than fly their more expensive F/A-18 Hornets. This works out well because the T-34C can be flown to any civilian airport, safely operate in the traffic pattern at slower speeds, and be noise friendly.

Vance, you should have gone over and offer to trade rides! LOL

Wayne

[Vance]

Originally Posted by okikuma

Hi Vance,

You know I have to comment on the photo with the USMC T-34C. This example is from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron, VMFAT-101, The Sharpshooters, stationed at MCAS Miramar. I often come across their T-34Cs at various airports around the state, including KSZP!

Like all military aviation squadrons, there's a minimum number of hours each pilot needs to fly per month to remain current and receive flight pay. To keep their aviators current, the USMC decided to use the less expensive T-34C than fly their more expensive F/A-18 Hornets. This works out well because the T-34C can be flown to any civilian airport, safely operate in the traffic pattern at slower speeds, and be noise friendly.

Wayne

Thank you for the kind words.

As always Wayne you are a cornucopia of aviation information.

I have talked with some of the pilots at length. They have always been very friendly and generous with their knowledge and experience. They come over from the Valley too. I did not have a chance to interact with these particular pilots. SBP seems to be a common stop for lunch.

I took the picture because of their tasteful nose art.

Thank you, Vance

[tadgyro]

Hello Vance and Ed.
Great photos and story, and thanks for sharing.
See you soon
Teddy

[Vance]

Hello Leigh,

I feel that I have a good relationship with ATC at Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo.

They both allow us to fly 500 feet below pattern altitude and a close pattern.

Salinas is always very helpful and San Carlos has gone out of their way to extend courtesy to us.

My relationship with Santa Barbara and Camarillo is hit or miss although they both have asked me on several occasions to assist them is ways that a gyroplane is well suited for.

I am grateful for their help and if the frequency is not busy I say thank you each time they give me a clearance.

I love it that ATC’s mission is to help me have fun flying and keep me safe.

Most of my experience with flight following has been less positive.

Thank you, Vance

[Vance]

Originally Posted by tadgyro

Hello Vance and Ed.
Great photos and story, and thanks for sharing.
See you soon
Teddy

Thank you for the kind words Tadeusz.

We love to share the fun.

I don’t think we will be able to make the next chapter one meeting so it may be a while before we see you again.

It is always fun visiting with you.

Thank you, Vance