Sunset over the Santa Maria Valley!

[Vance]

Tuesday I was done with work by 5:00 and I let Edna know to meet me at the airport already fed around 6:00. We were up in the air by 6:30. Sunset was at 6:54.

Even with Edna in the back seat the coastal air allowed us to climb out at 400 feet per minute with almost full tanks.

It was warm and I felt somehow a better pilot from my success going to El Mirage. I loved knowing what I was doing, who I was talking to and where I was. Familiar felt very good. We were drawn into the wind toward the coast. We were showing 45 miles per hour ground speed at 58 miles per hour indicated airspeed. I set the throttle at 2,450RPM and used airspeed to control altitude. 800 feet msl, 500 agl wandering across the evening sky.

We were captivated by the beauty of the sunset. Ed was experimenting with the camera and I was in heaven. The warm breeze on my face was sumptuous.

After running up the beach briefly we headed home. “Santa Maria Tower, Experimental Gyroplane 142MG inbound over Guadalupe, 800 feet, victor, land.” We were told to enter left downwind, report mid field. I didn’t need a chart, I knew exactly what to do and I did it. I reported mid field and atc came back 30 was clear to land. I did the landing by the numbers and it was great. I love a perfect flight after all the challenges of the past week. YYYAAAHHHOOO!!!

Thank you, Vance

 

[Vance]

A few more of Enda's sunset flight pictures!

 

[okikuma]

Hi Vance,

Again, another wonderful flight in the sunset. Great shots Edna!

Wayne

 

[tyc]

Very, very nice!

Depending on the camera you two may be using, have a go at it, at sunrise. The air seems to be cooler, crisper, cleaner and may make for some surpurb shots to.

tyc

 

[Vance]

Thank you Wayne,

I feel the post loses some of the drama when everything goes so well.

I do not have the words to describe the joy we found in the perfection of that flight.

Thank you for the advice Ted.

Ed loves the encouragement.

It is a 6 year old Sony for the time being. It is not at the top of the expenditure list.

The artist in Ed causes her to experiment constantly. We go walking at 6:30 AM and sometimes the sunrise is spectacular. She got some great pictures the other morning from our back yard. I will try to get her to post a couple on this thread. Usually this time of year it is fogy both morning and evening. It is what gives us our mild climate.

Ed works weekdays and we just try to go flying when we can. The beauty of the sunset was just a byproduct of that opportunity.

Part of what makes these flights so precious is waiting for the weather window and the opportunity window to be aligned. I was finished with work at 9:30 this morning so I had the opportunity to go flying but it started to drizzle about twelve minutes after I arrived at the airport. There is a 50% chance of rain on Saturday. We didn’t get the chance to fly together last weekend because of my bizarre schedule and the high density altitude at El Mirage. I hope to take her flying on Sunday and give her some stick time. She can’t take pictures when she is flying.

Thank you, Vance

 

[barnstorm2]

ethereal!!

Fantastic shots thank you!

.

 

[SgurlEd]

Howdy folks...I just want to say sometimes paradise is where you find it and it maybe only as far as your own back yard...Enjoy as we did! Vance and I go walking very early every morning and this is the spectacular delight that greets us when we are done with our walk...how lovely.

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2911337330_1c520088e7.jpg

 

[tyc]

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I've seen pictures like that before - and no, I for one never cease to enjoy them.

Wait until you see (if you haven't already) one of the "blood red" early morning skys; "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morn', sailor take warning." Got several of these while sitting on the surface when we were charging batteries, just before the storms swept over us. More by accident than intent, the slides came out well.

tyc

 

[SgurlEd]

TYC...
then I know you know exactly what I'm talking about...mother nature gives us such beauty, but do we ever truly take the time to appreciate it!
I for one do!
I too have heard the old saying Red sky at night sailors delight... Red sky at morning sailor take warning...does this hold true for Avaitors??
The temptataion to fly seems to always be there...
SgurlEd

 

[StanFoster]

Edna: As always...nice pictures. You and Vance are the dynamic dual. Way to enjoy life and share it with us.


Stan

 

[automan1223]

Why we fly !

Why we fly !

Vance,

This is why we all fly. That flight, you can realize all the pain sweat and tear$ was well worth it.

Those extra special flights keep us warm in our hearts and high in our soul.

There is just nothing better than "being there". Of course the smell of the air and the terrain below adds that extra thing you just cannot capture on film.

Good work.

Jonathan

 

[Vance]

Thank you Stan,

I feel Ed and I complement each other.

I love sharing the adventure with you.

Thank you Jonathan,

I found magic in the flight but do not have the words to describe the feelings.

You are correct that the smells are an important part of flying open.

I love to feel the terrain through the cushion of the air.

I felt that without challenges it made less interesting reading.

Thank you, Vance

 

[RockyMeLad]

Vance and Edna,

It's already been said, but thanks again.

I've been gone for a week with another hobby, amateur astronomy.
Nice dark skies up in the panhandle of OK.

 

[tyc]

... I too have heard the old saying Red sky at night sailors delight... Red sky at morning sailor take warning...does this hold true for Avaitors??

Ohhh yes indeed! Especially aviators!!

tyc