This past Memorial Weekend did provide a bit of clearing. Lots of fat cumulus clouds scattered randomly into the blue. Ceilings in the 2,000 to 4,000 foot range. Time to fly! I had no particular place to go and no desire to go far afield as this kind of sky can change quickly. A friend who lives off a small grass strip suggested I drop in for a visit and to borrow a book we’d been discussing. So I made a 15 minute drive to the airport. There I spent a good half-hour preflighting the plane, pulling him out, taxiing and doing my run up. In the air (which was surprisingly bumpy) less than 10 minutes later I spotted my goal. The strip is short, surrounded by trees and has power lines at one end. One does not go in here without paying careful attention to business. I was setup nicely just about to pass over the power lines when an errant wind pushed me sideways. Whoops! I straightened out quickly, but the extra maneuver delayed full-flap deployment so I was too hot and not sinking as quickly as I wished. Just before I reached go around point everything came together and the landing was smooth, but a bit long. Well, actually quite a bit long. Adrenaline rush provides quick reflexes and residual shakes. Here is the field, looking North.
That’s me and Path just coming in. (Please note that this photo was taken late last summer, when the weather was really nice.)
Looks like a nice strip. except for the wires.
ReplyDeleteWires and trees do make one pay attention, especially with wind adding it's bit. My friend who lives here does it in a 150, but light load, and he has a climb prop.
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