- Joined
- Oct 30, 2003
- Messages
- 18,357
- Location
- Santa Maria, California
- Aircraft
- Givens Predator
- Total Flight Time
- 2600+ in rotorcraft
SBP again!
SBP again!
Wind variable at 3kts.
Blue skies, summer temperatures and Lockheed Martin had nothing bad to say.
Lately I have been enamored with how slow The Predator can fly so I headed out across the fields making less than 50kts of grounds speed and the engine at 1,950 rpm. I loved the way the warm air felt and could not contain my joy so I began singing Lost Highway.
I soon heard a flight of three experimentals request a low pass at SMX with a departure to the west. I was to the west and was concerned that people who want to show off may not be giving their full attention to flying. I decided to head a little further south in an effort to avoid traffic.
When they were cleared for a low pass I turned around and started back toward the airport. I saw three Glasairs make a low pass and then depart to the north.
I finished my flight to the beach and called Oceano Area Traffic from seven miles to the south, transitioning to the north along the shoreline at 500 feet and fifty knots.
They had just dropped parachutes over Oceano and the jump plane was reporting his intentions when the flight of three reported a five mile straight in to land at Oceano. I was pleased they would be down before I passed Oceano.
The vehicles were scattered like match box toys along the beach.
I reported every odd mile and when I was abeam the Oceano airport I saw a yellow Stearman takeoff.
He never reported on the CTAF and was probably at 300 feet and flying in an erratic manor.
When he turned around I snapped a picture. I was flying at 500 feet so you can get a feel for his altitude. He departed south along the shoreline without making a radio call.
It seemed to be my day for aircraft conflicts.
I called San Luis Obispo and was to make left traffic for runway two niner and report down wind.
There were as many as six aircraft in the pattern and I was number three behind a Cessna on a five mile straight in.
We were off quickly and I was to taxi across Alpha to restaurant parking. The first row was filled up so I pulled into the second row and secured The Predator.
SBP again!
Wind variable at 3kts.
Blue skies, summer temperatures and Lockheed Martin had nothing bad to say.
Lately I have been enamored with how slow The Predator can fly so I headed out across the fields making less than 50kts of grounds speed and the engine at 1,950 rpm. I loved the way the warm air felt and could not contain my joy so I began singing Lost Highway.
I soon heard a flight of three experimentals request a low pass at SMX with a departure to the west. I was to the west and was concerned that people who want to show off may not be giving their full attention to flying. I decided to head a little further south in an effort to avoid traffic.
When they were cleared for a low pass I turned around and started back toward the airport. I saw three Glasairs make a low pass and then depart to the north.
I finished my flight to the beach and called Oceano Area Traffic from seven miles to the south, transitioning to the north along the shoreline at 500 feet and fifty knots.
They had just dropped parachutes over Oceano and the jump plane was reporting his intentions when the flight of three reported a five mile straight in to land at Oceano. I was pleased they would be down before I passed Oceano.
The vehicles were scattered like match box toys along the beach.
I reported every odd mile and when I was abeam the Oceano airport I saw a yellow Stearman takeoff.
He never reported on the CTAF and was probably at 300 feet and flying in an erratic manor.
When he turned around I snapped a picture. I was flying at 500 feet so you can get a feel for his altitude. He departed south along the shoreline without making a radio call.
It seemed to be my day for aircraft conflicts.
I called San Luis Obispo and was to make left traffic for runway two niner and report down wind.
There were as many as six aircraft in the pattern and I was number three behind a Cessna on a five mile straight in.
We were off quickly and I was to taxi across Alpha to restaurant parking. The first row was filled up so I pulled into the second row and secured The Predator.