Finally, Air Therapy

It’s been 33 days since my last flight time. Granted the weather hasn’t helped and my knee issue has diminished my desire to climb aboard.  

I am happy to report that my knee issue is feeling better and I am awaiting a date to have three gel injections administered. I’m also now the proud owner of two new knee braces which I thought were ancient history after ditching the last issued orthopedic gadgets many years ago.

It was a beautiful day and I desperately needed air therapy, so the plan was hatched. I was going to fly up towards Wilmington and meet Charles for lunch since I assumed his plane went in for an avionics remake. Instead the shop pushed his start date so he also wanted to fly.  We agreed to meet at noon in Cape May NJ.  

I did a quick flight plan and was looking at just under a half hour trip each way.  I wanted to start up at 11:15 and have fifteen minutes to warm up before launching at 11:30. I set a few cameras up and after my preflight and tugged 3 Tango Charlie out into the sun. Once warmed up I taxied for runway one-four and was number two for departure. The aircraft ahead of me departed from the intersection and I waited for the student solo flight announced on base. The student pilot greased his final landing and I added my two cents with a simple call, butter!  The pilot thanked me.  With that I back taxied and launched for Cape May.  

Just getting back in the air felt great. No autopilot today, just hand flying, and enjoying the view. 3 Tango Charlie was as smooth as ever and very responsive, I’ve missed the interaction.

It was busy here at the beach as I followed the coast towards Cape Henlopen and the Delaware Bay. I crossed the bay at fifty-five hundred feet, surrounded by Cirrus aircraft. I heard ATC ask why all the traffic to First Flight and the response was a special event for Cirrus owners. 

Once half way across the bay I started letting down for the Jersey coast and the airport. There was a Navy King Air in the pattern doing touch and goes but we easily coordinated for landing. 

I taxied clear and made my way to the restaurant trying to find the perfect parking spot. I circled behind the front row hoping to clear all and take the closest spot to the operations building.  Bad choice, I barely squeaked by the fence and the first plane then ran out of room. I didn’t want to chance passing behind the next plane and the fence so I shut down. Well this was a fine mess! I broke out the tow bar and ended up pushing my tank back and around the corner of the fence. Yes, it was snug but safe. Good job pushing my knee more then I needed to, insert eye roll. 

Charles landed and taxied in, taking a normal parking spot. As Charles walked over towards me and the gate he looked at my plane and said you’re boxed in.  A yup.

We were quickly seated and enjoyed our lunch while talking airplanes, flying to new destinations and avionics upgrades. 

When we headed back out to the ramp the plane in front of me was gone so I had a clear start up and taxi out. I followed Charles in his Piper 140 to runway one-nine and completed my run up. Charles was rolling  and I held short. There was a Piper on a three mile final but I could not see it at all. The pilot asked if I wanted to depart they would slow up. That works for me, 3 Tango Charlie departing one-nine, no delay. 

I climbed out over cape May and circled until I passed through six thousand, then pointed across the bay. It was a smooth flight all the way to the pattern at Ocean City, then it decided to be bumpy. I made a nice landing and taxi clear for my hangar. It sure felt good getting in the air. I'm ready for the Savannah trip next week.