- Joined
- Oct 30, 2003
- Messages
- 18,391
- Location
- Santa Maria, California
- Aircraft
- Givens Predator
- Total Flight Time
- 2600+ in rotorcraft
I looked out the window Monday morning and everything was clear and sharp.
I walked outside and it was 51 degrees.
Two days of rainstorms have cleaned the air and primed me to go flying.
Friday I felt I had found the problem with the radio that I have been chasing since July.
We were having big gusting winds between the storms so I just did some stop and goes with one trip outside the pattern to test the radio. It seemed to be working but I was not certain it wasn’t wishful thinking.
The Predator was serviced and ready to go.
I had some tasks to perform and was out of the office by 10:00. I took the paved road because the dirt road across the creek has probably been affected by the rain.
Preflight went well and the call to Lockheed Martin yielded no bad news.
I met a new hangar neighbor, Renee and his family who have a Pitts, a 1945 Stinson V77 Reliant and a Bucker Jungmiester with a 135 horsepower Warner Radial. Renee is moving from Denver and the engine was in his trailer.
I checked ATIS and called ground for a taxi to runway 30.
Run-up went well and the radio sounded good.
I decided to fly out to Guadalupe and then up the beach past Oceano because it is a harsher test for the radio.
It was busy with five aircraft in the pattern but eventually I heard the magic words that launched the adventure.
“Experimental 142 Mike Golf, runway 30 clear for takeoff, slight left approved.”
The density altitude was -278 feet so she leapt into the sky. I pulled the power back and she rumbled across the fields at 65kts IAS.
We had picked up a little mist since my morning look but the valley still looked stunning with its patchwork quilt agricultural patterns.
The blue pacific looked rich and inviting in the distance. There was a steady 12kt head wind but no bumps.
It seemed there were hawks everywhere riding the wind still and graceful with only an occasional cock of the head or turn of their tail to let us know they were alive. I felt a bit of an intruder with all the noise and complexity.
I began my descent from 800 feet to 500 feet just past Guadalupe.
The magic is ever present as we descend over the dunes to start up the beach.
I called Oceano Traffic from 7 miles to the south transitioning north along the shoreline at 500 feet and 60kts. This is where the Snowy Plover has their wild sex parties so I am the only person enjoying the wide sandy beach.
The Predator was just rumbling along and her progress felt effortless and smooth. I pulled the power back and slowed to 50kts to try to hold onto this magic moment.
I marveled at what perfect flying weather was to be had in the middle of November. The air had a little bite to it but my new thermals kept me warm except when I took pictures. I was in aviation heaven flying The Predator along a route that I never tire of, enveloped in indescribable beauty.
All too soon I was overflying all the RVs that come to drive their sand buggies. They were sporting all around throwing up rooster tails of sand. Our shadow startled some as it slipped along the shore at 50kts.
I called Oceano Traffic at seven, five, three and one mile to the south and one and three to the north. Traffic was easy to manage and my friend Jack was dropping his skydivers. We managed to slip by as he was climbing out.
Abeam Shell beach we climbed to 700 feet and checked San Luis Obispo ATIS. There were none of the usual bumps in the sky and the wind at SBP was light and variable. I could hear ATC with very little noise even in the Avilla pass. My ANR seems to be working well and the combination made a wonderful difference in the flying experience. The Predator seemed to be running smoother and managing the flying experience effortlessly. I was very excited because I had made very little progress on the radio since July with several large setbacks.
The hills are already less gold and moving to green.
I was not the only person having flying fun on this beautiful day so the camera was put away as I managed ATC and the traffic in the Edna Valley.
The turn to base and final were smooth as silk and the windsock at my touchdown point was flaccid. I pulled the power back and made a wonderfully steady descent and touched down at Foxtrot without a single correction.
I usually only take time for afterglow in private. I found the feelings overwhelming as I tried to hold on to each moment of the flight. I sat in her for quite a while hoping no one would notice.
Jack was finished with dropping the skydivers and joined me for lunch. He is still excited about his ride In The Predator and wants to fly over Hurst Castle. I made him aware of the Hunter Low MOAs. It is another reason to not leave home without checking with Lockheed Martin.
He has also offered to help with my commercial. One of the things I love about aviation is how everyone wants to help me overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of aviation on a higher level.
I just received an email from Mary at Cable Airport confirming I will be flying a “Demonstration Flight” during The Cable Air Show in January. I love the way our horizons are expanding.
I have some great pictures from the flight back but the sky is calling and that will have to wait. The density altitude at SMX is -962 and winds calm. SBP is -1023 and winds 120 degrees at 3kts. It is 41F so I better bundle up.
Thank you, Vance
I walked outside and it was 51 degrees.
Two days of rainstorms have cleaned the air and primed me to go flying.
Friday I felt I had found the problem with the radio that I have been chasing since July.
We were having big gusting winds between the storms so I just did some stop and goes with one trip outside the pattern to test the radio. It seemed to be working but I was not certain it wasn’t wishful thinking.
The Predator was serviced and ready to go.
I had some tasks to perform and was out of the office by 10:00. I took the paved road because the dirt road across the creek has probably been affected by the rain.
Preflight went well and the call to Lockheed Martin yielded no bad news.
I met a new hangar neighbor, Renee and his family who have a Pitts, a 1945 Stinson V77 Reliant and a Bucker Jungmiester with a 135 horsepower Warner Radial. Renee is moving from Denver and the engine was in his trailer.
I checked ATIS and called ground for a taxi to runway 30.
Run-up went well and the radio sounded good.
I decided to fly out to Guadalupe and then up the beach past Oceano because it is a harsher test for the radio.
It was busy with five aircraft in the pattern but eventually I heard the magic words that launched the adventure.
“Experimental 142 Mike Golf, runway 30 clear for takeoff, slight left approved.”
The density altitude was -278 feet so she leapt into the sky. I pulled the power back and she rumbled across the fields at 65kts IAS.
We had picked up a little mist since my morning look but the valley still looked stunning with its patchwork quilt agricultural patterns.
The blue pacific looked rich and inviting in the distance. There was a steady 12kt head wind but no bumps.
It seemed there were hawks everywhere riding the wind still and graceful with only an occasional cock of the head or turn of their tail to let us know they were alive. I felt a bit of an intruder with all the noise and complexity.
I began my descent from 800 feet to 500 feet just past Guadalupe.
The magic is ever present as we descend over the dunes to start up the beach.
I called Oceano Traffic from 7 miles to the south transitioning north along the shoreline at 500 feet and 60kts. This is where the Snowy Plover has their wild sex parties so I am the only person enjoying the wide sandy beach.
The Predator was just rumbling along and her progress felt effortless and smooth. I pulled the power back and slowed to 50kts to try to hold onto this magic moment.
I marveled at what perfect flying weather was to be had in the middle of November. The air had a little bite to it but my new thermals kept me warm except when I took pictures. I was in aviation heaven flying The Predator along a route that I never tire of, enveloped in indescribable beauty.
All too soon I was overflying all the RVs that come to drive their sand buggies. They were sporting all around throwing up rooster tails of sand. Our shadow startled some as it slipped along the shore at 50kts.
I called Oceano Traffic at seven, five, three and one mile to the south and one and three to the north. Traffic was easy to manage and my friend Jack was dropping his skydivers. We managed to slip by as he was climbing out.
Abeam Shell beach we climbed to 700 feet and checked San Luis Obispo ATIS. There were none of the usual bumps in the sky and the wind at SBP was light and variable. I could hear ATC with very little noise even in the Avilla pass. My ANR seems to be working well and the combination made a wonderful difference in the flying experience. The Predator seemed to be running smoother and managing the flying experience effortlessly. I was very excited because I had made very little progress on the radio since July with several large setbacks.
The hills are already less gold and moving to green.
I was not the only person having flying fun on this beautiful day so the camera was put away as I managed ATC and the traffic in the Edna Valley.
The turn to base and final were smooth as silk and the windsock at my touchdown point was flaccid. I pulled the power back and made a wonderfully steady descent and touched down at Foxtrot without a single correction.
I usually only take time for afterglow in private. I found the feelings overwhelming as I tried to hold on to each moment of the flight. I sat in her for quite a while hoping no one would notice.
Jack was finished with dropping the skydivers and joined me for lunch. He is still excited about his ride In The Predator and wants to fly over Hurst Castle. I made him aware of the Hunter Low MOAs. It is another reason to not leave home without checking with Lockheed Martin.
He has also offered to help with my commercial. One of the things I love about aviation is how everyone wants to help me overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of aviation on a higher level.
I just received an email from Mary at Cable Airport confirming I will be flying a “Demonstration Flight” during The Cable Air Show in January. I love the way our horizons are expanding.
I have some great pictures from the flight back but the sky is calling and that will have to wait. The density altitude at SMX is -962 and winds calm. SBP is -1023 and winds 120 degrees at 3kts. It is 41F so I better bundle up.
Thank you, Vance
