N81 Diverted to KWWD

Sporting my new - Our Wyoming Life T-shirt

I posted on FB asking if anyone was flying in the tri-state area for a breakfast run this morning.  Bob C posted on the North East Flyers group.  Chris was on board with his beautiful V tail Bonanza and I was flying our magic carpet, the Commander.

The plan was to meet at Hammonton, NJ (N81) at 9:30ish.  I could have left sooner but I needed fuel. The fuel truck wasn't up and running until 7:45.  The Commander took on 17 gallons, adding to what was on board (40 GAL) for a total new total of 57 gallons.  After tugging 3 Tango Charlie out we headed for runway three-two.  It was busy this morning, the jump plane was on its third load of dropping meat bombs, and the transient traffic was picking up.

With my run-up completed I rolled for three-two and climbed out.  On the last flight I missed setting the HDG on for the autopilot, even after checking to make sure the compass and Direction Gyro were in sync. One should have this HDG set in case the AP somehow comes online, it's good to keep flying on the correct heading without any sudden turns or surprises.  Today I made sure that task was completed. 

Climbing to cross the Delaware Bay

I climbed out fat dumb and happy to be flying on a beautiful day. Unfortunately my rust was showing as I missed my typical one thousand foot checks leaving the pump, and landing lights on. Duh! I mentally scolded myself needing to get in the game. I noticed my airspeed was slow, even with the nasty headwinds I knew I should be climbing faster. Ok, get the scan going. Manifold pressure and RPM's locked along with mixture near full rich. Hey, what are those three green lights doing on?  What a dumb butt, let's retract the gear and the one notch of flaps.  Wow, so embarrassed to even share this.

Now pointed for KWWD

Anyone that knows me and my flying can tell you how I run my cockpit. Sigh...Today wasn't pretty on the first leg. Somehow I manage to cross the bay and communicate with Atlantic City Approach.  I had been monitoring but I heard Chris's tail number and approach say they didn't hear them check in, meaning another plane.  I knew he was looking for me so I asked for flight following and approach passed along a message that the destination was changed. I had already noticed Chris flying south about my three o'clock, he was headed to Cape May (KWWD). I advised approach I was making a 180 and now headed to WWD too.

It was windy today and I had to dance on the rudder pedals to make a nice landing on runway two-eight. It felt great shedding the rust and getting back in the game. Gusty landing with a crosswind always provide a good test of skills and a workout.

There is NO indoor seating at Cape May, the party is strictly outdoors. I guess Chris and I waited fifteen minutes or so then secured seating in the shade. The place was really busy but the service and food were excellent.

Climbing over Cape May Harbor to recross the Delaware Bay

With breakfast complete we headed back out to the ramp. There were plenty of planes lined up and still a few arrivals.  Chris and I saddled up and taxied out for our separate destinations. I taxied out behind a Cessna who turned off on a taxiway for his run-up, I went to the hold short line. I launched for home and flowed through my checklist items, remembering gear, flaps, and thousand foot checks. I settled in for the Bay crossing, watching banner tow planes shadowing the shoreline. 

Crossing RT 54 at Fenwick, DE

Ocean City was busy with the jump planes still buzzing and other traffic mixing in for runway three-two. I swapped communications with a Cirrus on the practice GPS 32 approach as he was about six miles out.  I could have easily turned base and landed but I didn't want to mess up his approach.  I advised I would follow him, number two for the field. The cirrus pilot then declared it was a low approach only.  Oh well, I'm flying, it's fun, and I can fly over the water a few miles off shore and at least check out all the boats.

Overall a fun day once I cleaned up my procedures. Not flying every few days has really built up the rust and I need to keep flying to shed that. I hope to get in the air again this week.

Adding Chapters to a YouTube Video

Today I wanted to take some time to research and teach myself how to add time line chapters to my videos.  I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to add this feature to my video editing. 

There are a couple of ways to attack the issue. First, you can add the time line, and description, when you upload the video. 

Second, you can go back and add the time line by clicking on the "edit video" button on the bottom right of your video.  

Once you have all the time markers added with their description, click on save. When you go to your videos and view you will see the chapter markers. If you place your cursor over those markers it will show the chapter description you added to the video description.

Pretty easy peasy. Give it a try on your next video production. At the very least it will help you find the points of interest you want to review. 

Aircraft on Ramp Update

I received a text and a couple of emails about the Cessna 441 that I had posted pictures of, nose down, on the ramp here at Ocean City.

When I went flying yesterday I noticed the plane was sitting in her proper stance and the props were gone. Of course I had to take a closer look and noticed the engine nacelles are sealed up in plastic. Not only is she on her feet but the props and engines are out. There looked to be some runway rash under her nose, but, i didn't get out of my vehicle to get any closer. I can only imagine the expen$ive repair bill for this beautiful aircraft.

I'm sure it was a heck of a ride when the gear collapsed. Good job on the pilot for keeping all on board safe, and keeping the plane on the runway.

Katie's for Breakfast

It was a quickly put together fly-in breakfast meet through Facebook. We had four planes and five people attending. Chris and his bride made the hop in their V-tail Bonanza, Les arrived in his Sundowner, Bob in his 172, and me in our Commander.

It has been 25 days since I last flew and it showed on the flight from OCMD to Cambridge. The return trip was normal, checklist items flowing and no feeling of what did I miss. 

I was above the cloud layer at three thousand and had to find a hole to descend through to make my way towards the pattern for runway one-six. The pattern was an absolute beehive of activity, crazy busy, planes everywhere.

Approaching Cambridge MD KCGE

I had to go around due to a Cessna still on the runway when I was just coming over the numbers.  I side stepped right and climbed out. The rust was showing. The muscle reflex of Cram, Climb, Clean, Cool, Communicate wasn't there. Oh I went full power, left the gear extended, and slowly retracted the flaps. I didn't touch the cowl flaps. Somehow I did manage to communicate. The DA was around eleven hundred and 3 Tango Charlie was dragging around the pattern.  Ughh...not my best display of piloting skills.

Going around

Four of us waited for a good amount of time due to limited seating, a full ramp of planes, and some locals. When we were finally seated it took some time to take our order, which worked out perfect for Bob, who had a late start due to fog.

Bob landed just before they took our order and he walked by the restaurant windows just after we went around the table. I told the waitress he had to run out to his plane and was coming right back. She quickly asked did he leave his order and I gave the deer in the headlights look then said he did not. Busted! 

The conversations were fun, with multiple bucket list destinations discussed for each of us. I think we were all in agreement we want to do the Bahamas. 

We finished up and headed back out to the ramp, still busy with planes. I climbed aboard and got the fan turning, despite a bit of a long crank. With a short sputter and added fuel pump 3 Tango Charlie caught and came to life. 

It was a conga line getting out, I think I was third. I rolled on to runway three-four and made a longer then usual take off roll but was soon climbing out. I actually think there was a slight tail wind but I followed the line out anyway. I departed the area on the downwind and pointed for Ocean City.

It was still busy, even on departure

I skirted around Salisbury to the north wanting to remain below the cloud layer. I didn't want to climb above for the last twelve minutes of flight time to OXB.

Missing the Delta Space

I made a nice landing at Ocean City and tucked 3 Tango Charlie back in the hangar. It felt good getting back in the plane and I hope to build more time as weather permits. This weekends trip to meet the North East Flyers will be a no go for me. There is a Airshow TFR in place and I wont be able to get in until late in the day.

Fueling for Tomorrow's Flight

 

Today Mary and I made a quick trip to the airport to have 3 Tango Charlie fueled for tomorrow's breakfast flight to Cambridge Maryland (KCGE).  Ziva went for the ride and to get some play time, she totally wore herself out. 

As usual we were entertained by a couple of meat missiles that dropped in. I did see the jump plane taxi out when we arrived at the hangar. My total fuel order was nineteen gallons; nine on the left and ten on the right. My total for the planned flight is fifty point five, I'm plenty good to go. 

I am looking forward to getting back in the air. It will be 25 days since my last bit of air time.  That's way too long between flights, not good for the plane, and not good for my pilot skills.

Lunch with BAC Friends

I swapped text messages with fellow Beech Aero Club (BAC) member Les G.  Les and Nahia were planing on flying into Ocean City and asked Mary and I if we wanted to meet up for lunch around 2pm. The plan sounded great and we agreed to meet up at KOXB, we would provide the wheels. Les and Nahia rolled in right on time and secured their beautiful 1978 Beech Sundowner.

N6008L - 1978 Beech Sundowner (C23)

A little backstory here... 

Les and I met for the first time at Cambridge for breakfast and he really liked our Sundowner.  Les ended up having his Sundowner repainted (it looks beautiful) and updated his avionics.  The 78 Sundowner sports a Garmin stack with the FlightStream 210, and Les flies with ForeFlight so it's an easy program and upload to the 530W.  The interior is absolutely gorgeous too, this Sundowner is top notch. 

We all piled in Marys GLC300 and made our way to the Sunset Grille, maybe a mile or two from the airport.  I found a parking spot right out front despite vehicles everywhere due to the ongoing  white marlin tournament. I called ahead for reservations so we were immediately seated with a beautiful view of the harbor. 

There were huge boats, filling every slip. The four of us enjoyed our lunch and spent a good while chatting and catching up, a very enjoyable afternoon. Yes, the crab cakes were excellent.

This was for 08Romeo

Once we decided it was time to head back to the airport we took a short stroll along the waterfront to see all those boats. There was a lot of $ floating there. On the way back to the airport I made a small detour to head up to Rt. 50 and pointed out a very good crab house, Hoopers. Nahia liked the outlets that my bride pointed out, and Les and I were more concerned with Dummsers Ice cream location. We all have our priorities. 

We watched 08Lima climb out on runway two-zero and head back to KMTN, Martin State. It was a fun day and we are looking forward to catching up again soon. I think Mary and I are going to visit Martin State sometime soon.

Airport Time and Plane Watching

Mary and I decided to get Ziva out for a run while I checked on the plane today.  I know I should have gotten my lazy butt out early and go fly but I just didn't feel like it. My motivation with nowhere to fly can barely move the fun meter off the peg. 

Cessna 441

With the tropical storm Isaias heading up the east coast we thought it best to turn loose the beast. As we approached the airport I noticed a plane at the end of hangar row where accident aircraft get parked.  This bird looked nose low and I was afraid this twin may have some issues.  I was hoping I was wrong and it only needed a nose tire or air.  

Once in the gate I swung by for a closer look and sure enough both four blade props were curled and the nose gear was barely extended. As a matter of fact the left main wasn't looking much better.  All I could think about was $ cha-ching, two tear downs, gear repairs, and maybe belly repairs too. It was painful to look at.

Once at the hangar Mary poured Ziva some fresh water and let her run. I had my nose in the air and ears perked, I heard planes.  The cirrus I taxied by, sitting between the hangars, was now making its way to the runway. Out in front of the cirrus, on the runway parallel taxiway, the jump plane was making it's way to runway one-four at a brisk pace.  Following the jump plane was a CL30, Bombardier Challenger 300 and the cirrus held short but finally joined the procession. 

Bombardier Challenger 300

As soon as the conga line made their way to one-four and launched, I heard another aircraft spool up. This plane was also heading my way. This time a Beechcraft Super King Air 350 taxied by. 

Beech Super King Air 350

I enjoyed my plane watching and then some play time with Ziva. Mary and I packed up, I secured the hangar and we went off in search of lunch.  Today's selection was an Italian sub/hoagie from Southside Deli. It was very good.

With the wx forecast looking pretty nasty over the next few days I am planing on a Friday early launch for some air time. Lets hope the wx clears and I am motivated.