- Joined
- Oct 30, 2003
- Messages
- 18,374
- Location
- Santa Maria, California
- Aircraft
- Givens Predator
- Total Flight Time
- 2600+ in rotorcraft
Yesterday had wet my appetite for flying.
I felt boxed in by the clouds and the box kept moving.
The weather today was similar to Tuesday but the fog cleared up sooner, unfortunately work didn’t.
After much angst I left for the airport at 2:30 with the top down and Hank Williams turned up loud working his way though amazing grace. I feel the spiritual aspect of aviation is not lost on me. I am always struck by the beauty and order as it is revealed from above. I once was lost until I learned to read a chart but now I’m found. I once was blind but now I see as I rise above the obstacles.
I finally reached the airport at 3:00 and Ed was still struggling with the Department of Motor vehicles so she told me to go ahead without her.
The air had that feel of rain in it and a little bit of a bite to it. The mist was all around and added an air of mystery to the hills.
Lockheed Martin had some low ceilings and mountain obscuration but the satellite picture showed it north and west of my route. There was no sign of precipitation before 24:00 Zulu.
The preflight went well and we were soon out the door.
The little wind gusts made the Predator look like she was wagging her tail and ready to fly.
“Clear Prop” came at 3:35 and she fired right up with the sound of power.
The new muffler has more base and less treble. I suspect the sound was coming right through the .030 walls of the other muffler and the .060 walls of the new muffler manage the high notes a little better.
We taxied to Alpha 10 and called ground with information Kilo.
“Experimental 142 Mike Golf, runway 30, taxi via Alpha.”
She was a little slow warming and the magneto check had to wait till the oil temperature was in the green.
“Experimental 142Mike Golf, straight out approved 30 clear for takeoff.”
The wind was 7kts straight down the runway and the blades came up quickly.
She lifted off in a serene casual sort of way and at 300 feet AGL I pulled the power back and lowered the nose for a steady 75kt climb.
I headed toward the water tower and the hills seemed to retreat in the mist.
I called San Louis Obispo tower from 13 miles to the south east at 1,500 feet with Juliet for an approach through the Avila pass. I was to ident and radar contact was established. I was to report established on the forty five for a left downwind for runway 29.
The wind was steady, the air was smooth and it felt cool and wet against my face as we turned west toward the shoreline at Pismo Beach.
The view of the shoreline never loses its impact on me and I snapped some pictures of the view ahead. The hills seemed to be floating on the mist.
We turned up the beach at 500 feet and the white water was all the way to the end of the Pismo pier.
The mist seemed to thin out as we got closer to Avila Bay but it still hid the white water so the hills left the impression of hovering over the water.
Highway 101 turns inland and winds gracefully around the hills on its way into San Luis Obispo.
I called ATC as we rounded the corner and entered the 45. “Experimental Gyroplane 142 Mike Golf, I don’t have a visual on you, call left downwind abeam the tower.” When I did he told me to continue downwind and he would call my base. “Experimental Gyroplane turn base when you have the departing King Air in sight and expect landing clearance.”
I reported the King Air in sight and runway 29 was clear to land with a Brasilia on a four mile straight in so no delay. I was to turn off at Foxtrot and taxi to parking on this frequency, no delay.
I flew down the runway at 85kts and set her down at the entrance to Foxtrot as nice as could be. As I taxied to parking ATC said, “Thank you for your help Vance! I haven’t seen you in a while.” I felt like I had walked into Cheers.
Thank you, Vance
I felt boxed in by the clouds and the box kept moving.
The weather today was similar to Tuesday but the fog cleared up sooner, unfortunately work didn’t.
After much angst I left for the airport at 2:30 with the top down and Hank Williams turned up loud working his way though amazing grace. I feel the spiritual aspect of aviation is not lost on me. I am always struck by the beauty and order as it is revealed from above. I once was lost until I learned to read a chart but now I’m found. I once was blind but now I see as I rise above the obstacles.
I finally reached the airport at 3:00 and Ed was still struggling with the Department of Motor vehicles so she told me to go ahead without her.
The air had that feel of rain in it and a little bit of a bite to it. The mist was all around and added an air of mystery to the hills.
Lockheed Martin had some low ceilings and mountain obscuration but the satellite picture showed it north and west of my route. There was no sign of precipitation before 24:00 Zulu.
The preflight went well and we were soon out the door.
The little wind gusts made the Predator look like she was wagging her tail and ready to fly.
“Clear Prop” came at 3:35 and she fired right up with the sound of power.
The new muffler has more base and less treble. I suspect the sound was coming right through the .030 walls of the other muffler and the .060 walls of the new muffler manage the high notes a little better.
We taxied to Alpha 10 and called ground with information Kilo.
“Experimental 142 Mike Golf, runway 30, taxi via Alpha.”
She was a little slow warming and the magneto check had to wait till the oil temperature was in the green.
“Experimental 142Mike Golf, straight out approved 30 clear for takeoff.”
The wind was 7kts straight down the runway and the blades came up quickly.
She lifted off in a serene casual sort of way and at 300 feet AGL I pulled the power back and lowered the nose for a steady 75kt climb.
I headed toward the water tower and the hills seemed to retreat in the mist.
I called San Louis Obispo tower from 13 miles to the south east at 1,500 feet with Juliet for an approach through the Avila pass. I was to ident and radar contact was established. I was to report established on the forty five for a left downwind for runway 29.
The wind was steady, the air was smooth and it felt cool and wet against my face as we turned west toward the shoreline at Pismo Beach.
The view of the shoreline never loses its impact on me and I snapped some pictures of the view ahead. The hills seemed to be floating on the mist.
We turned up the beach at 500 feet and the white water was all the way to the end of the Pismo pier.
The mist seemed to thin out as we got closer to Avila Bay but it still hid the white water so the hills left the impression of hovering over the water.
Highway 101 turns inland and winds gracefully around the hills on its way into San Luis Obispo.
I called ATC as we rounded the corner and entered the 45. “Experimental Gyroplane 142 Mike Golf, I don’t have a visual on you, call left downwind abeam the tower.” When I did he told me to continue downwind and he would call my base. “Experimental Gyroplane turn base when you have the departing King Air in sight and expect landing clearance.”
I reported the King Air in sight and runway 29 was clear to land with a Brasilia on a four mile straight in so no delay. I was to turn off at Foxtrot and taxi to parking on this frequency, no delay.
I flew down the runway at 85kts and set her down at the entrance to Foxtrot as nice as could be. As I taxied to parking ATC said, “Thank you for your help Vance! I haven’t seen you in a while.” I felt like I had walked into Cheers.
Thank you, Vance
