Please note, I'm not a CFI, CFII, and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. My 'How to" videos are based on my experiences only.
In response to a viewer question I put together a short "GPS How To" on eliminating the Procedure Turn (PT) on the approach when not needed, with regard to approach plate notes like this one listed on the RNAV 28 at KOEO.
On the Garmin GNS 480, once the approach is selected, the SUSP will illuminate when within 1 mile of the PT. At this time press the SUSP button once, and it will eliminate the PT and continue to the initial fix selected. From that point it will turn to fly the next segment (next leg) to the final approach fix (FAF)and then to the runway.
Introducing
our newest member of the family, Binx, a domestic short hair. Yes, we know it's a male cats name
from the movie Hocus Pocus, but we decided to keep it just the same for this
little girl. We adopted this cutie from Town Cats, the local cat shelter here in Ocean City, MD.
Binx is slowly making her way out of hiding, she is absolutely a night-stalker. Our new little huntress eventually made her rounds through the house under the cover of darkness on night two. Her prowl started at 1am and she secured around 5am, unknowingly she was captured on security cams. This little lady even made herself at home on Ziva's bed. I'm sure there will be more to come once she meets Ziva face to face.
It will be nice to have another cat in the house. We lost our Inky back in April 2018, Jake in March 2019 and George quickly followed just two weeks later.
The weather in the mid-Atlantic is absolutely gorgeous for our Labor Day weekend. Humidity gone, rain nowhere to be found, sunshine in abundance.
Mary wanted to join me for a short breakfast hop to Cambridge, MD - KCGE. I am always happy to have my bride fly with me; we were both excited to get in the air.
I did need to stick the tanks, and confirm fuel on board 3 Tango Charlie. I thought I had thirty-five gallons left after my last flight but honestly could not remember the exact number. After using the fuel stick I was able to confirm forty-three gallons. No fuel would be needed for the hour round trip. Saddle up!
I climbed away from ocean city on a 320° heading, and then turned direct CGE. The ride was smooth, cool, and the view unlimited. I did not video today, instead, I enjoyed my time with my bride. Patuxent approach was quiet as we skirted the north side of the Salisbury Class Delta. I switched com two over to pick up the weather at Cambridge. Winds were 260° at nine knots, making runway three-four my choice.
The on-field restaurant, Katie's, was busy with the one waitress playing hostess and bus boy. Thankfully, everyone was patient. It was nice to just sit and chat with my bride while we watched the many hummingbirds swarm the multiple feeders on the windows.
Once we finished up we headed back out to the plane to head home. I did a walkaround and then climbed aboard. When we arrived there were only two planes at the tie downs. On departure the front row was full, we had beaten the lunch crowd.
The return flight was a simple course reversal, again avoiding the Salisbury Class Delta. As we passed by the north side of the Delta airspace at two thousand six hundred, Patuxent approach called us out as a target for an American Airlines Embraer-145 crossing our path, south to north, at three thousand. The Embraer was cleared to nine thousand and we stayed on our heading and altitude.
Once clear of the Delta airspace I switched over to CTAF at Ocean City. There were a few calls from Woodbine NJ and zero traffic at the home base. The position calls at ten and five miles went unanswered and I made a nice landing on three-two to end the day.
I decided it's been way too long since I had 3 Tango Charlie in the air, 21 days, so today I got some fly time. The plan was to bug out early, just after sunrise but instead I watched the news then an episode of JAG. It was now just past ten and I needed to get moving.
The airport was busy and that motivated me to get it in gear. I still needed to sump since I last took on fuel two weeks ago. I completed my pre-flight and the fuel check then tugged 3 Tango Charlie into the sunshine. I set up a few video cameras and shortly there after got the fan turning. The air felt good, a welcome relief to the climbing temps.
I taxied for runway two-zero and launched. The density altitude was just over 1400 feet and it took a bit longer on the takeoff roll. Once in the air and noting a positive rate of climb I retracted the gear and flaps. All cleaned up and flying the pattern for my south heading.
Along the coast it was hazy but overall the ride was smooth. I did have some traffic along the way south and then a few more aircraft once pointing north for home. I guess Salisbury (KSBY) was busy.
Overall a fun short hop to shed some rust and enjoy the quiet time in the air. We have a few flights planned for September; Jekyll Island, GA and then on to visit HGTV's Home Town location in Laurel, MS. Stay tuned!
My hangar neighbor and fellow pilot, Chet, added a new plane to his stable. Today he flew in with his new to him 1968 Cessna 182L. What a beautiful plane, and in Flyers orange and black. I only note this since Chet is from New York. I should note Chet still has his Cherokee 180 and it's currently at Republic Airport located in Farmingdale, New York - KFRG.
Avionics include a Garmin 430WAAS and a Garmin GTX 345 Transponder. I didn't note the audio panel. The paint and interior are in very good condition, the plane has been well cared for. I'm looking forward to a flight in the 182 some time soon.
I think I'll find a Flyers decal to pass along. <evil smirk>
Sometimes you just need some flight time. This morning I told my bride I was going to take the plane and fly the coast north then head to Delaware Coastal for one autopilot approach then home. The temps were cool and there was a very nice breeze keeping the humidity lower then it has been the last couple of weeks. 3 Tango Charlie needed her oil to circulate and I surely needed some fly time.
I tugged 3 TC out and hooked up a few video cameras, even added one to the tail tie down. I replaced the ear seals on my Lightspeed headset since they were starting to leave little black specs all over my ears. The swap was easy peasy, and the new ear seals look and feel great!
I taxied out to runway three two and completed my run and pre-take off check lists. There was traffic inbound but I had plenty of time to make my call and roll out for departure. 3 Tango Charlie came off the runway just under sixty knots and smoothly climbed away. I tucked the gear up and retracted the one notch of flaps as I pointed for the coast. I would stay on the Bay side of Ocean City since there was one aircraft shadowing me just off the coastline.
Once the "shadow traffic" was clear I had one more plane come down the coast line. Thanks to ADS-B for the call out, I would not have seen him in the haze.
With a small portion of the coastline tour complete I made my turn for Delaware Coastal. The Garmin 480 was set up for the GPS RNAV RWY 4 direct ZARVI. Enjoying a smooth ride I still had to view the smokey haze covering the area which makes for poor video. At least the temps stayed cool at 65 degrees, cruising along just under two thousand feet.
The STec 60-2 autopilot handled the approach flawlessly. The GPSS was selected for navigation along with the ALT hold for altitude. Once inbound and established I selected NAV and the plane did the rest, I just monitored systems. The localizer was alive and I awaited the glideslope. Once the glideslope was alive I adjusted power to maintain 110 knots. Typically I drop the gear about a half dot above glideslope intercept, but today, I let it ride. I was going to go missed and climb out for home, no sense cycling the gear for no reason. I had one bit of traffic pass me as I pointed for Ocean City, thanks to ADS-B for the heads up.
The remainder of the flight was uneventful, that's always a good thing. I crossed over midfield and repositioned for the left down wind runway three-two and flowed through my GUMPS check multiple times. I ended the day with an ok landing, feeling like I rolled the mains on with a short hop. Reviewing the video it didn't look as bad as it felt.
