Chester County, KMQS

I woke up this morning with an upset stomach but it settled down when I had a few Club crackers and hot tea.  Mary showed me the new feeding routine for the cats and I manage to get the boys fed without screwing it up. Our George boy is on a diet, he really blew up when we were forced to feed Inky a special diet of DM dry food to deal with his diabetes. Jake is taking a pill, crushed into dust, for his thyroid issues.  Our fur babies are getting up in age, they are all 14 this year. After Ziva was fed I decided to do some wash and then get my gear together to fly.

The weather looks great and 08Romeos pre-heats have been on since Friday afternoon, it's time to fly. I posted on Facebook and Adam Z was a go to meet up for breakfast. We swapped phone calls and a final confirmation around 10am as I was heading out of Ocean Pines for the airport. The winds were blowing as I opened the hangar door, removed both moving blankets and nose plugs to tug the plane out. I closed the hangar door and with my preflight checks completed climbed aboard 08Romeo.

The plan was a straight shot to Chester County, picking up flight following if it seemed busy. The ride on climb out was bumpy but in cruise at four thousand five hundred it was hands in my lap smooth. I gave some thought to sirus radio for some sing along time but instead made my call to Dover Approach for flight following. With my position confirmed I continued north enjoying the view. Dover called me to change my squawk code from 22 something to 5 something, odd, I cant remember the last time my transponder code was changed with the same approach control. Traffic picked up north of Dover with a few DSU planes in the training area and crossing my flight path. Once clear Dover handed me off to Philly.

I switched to Philly approach and waited for a break in the action, it was busy. Before I could jump in ATC was giving one aircraft instruction and rolled right into calling me to see if I was up (on frequency). I responded and continued on for MQS.  Once clear of Wilmington and the outer ring of Philly's class Bravo I cancelled flight following.  I was ten minutes out from my destination so I started down, the ride certainly got interesting.  The video shows some of the rolling action but it doesn't show the few times the bottom dropped out and my seat and I separated.

The pattern was busy at Chester County and in that buzz of position reports I heard Adam check in.  I followed with my position report and worked my plan of entry. Since there was Adam in his Bonanza and a cirrus I would be at least number three for the airport. Instead of entering the down wind at midfield I decided to turn away from the airport, circle and then re-enter on a 45 for the left down wind runway two-nine. The plan worked out perfect, the spacing was the right call and I fell in line behind the cirrus. As the cirrus passed my left side,on final, I made my base turn and followed them to the runway. 

KEVY - Summit

Now turning final myself I watch the cirrus roll out clearing the runway. I added the last notch of flaps, despite the wind gusts, and continued for the numbers.  Gusting winds are from the left side on runway two-nine. The thought is to plant my left main on the runway followed by the right and then hope to ride it out and get the nose wheel down.  As soon as I rolled the left main on I felt a gust lift the left wing as the right main felt like it started to side load. I added some power to salvage the landing and get enough air to try rolling it on again only to bounce it in. I immediately went full power so I didn't plant the nose wheel and start the downhill slide of a porpoise to an ugly ending. Grrr...last week my landings were most excellent, today, I paid for them.  I announce going around and make one more lap in the pattern for a second try.  Attempt number two was back to normal and I rolled it on, oh the life of a pilot.

Adam and I walked into the terminal only to find out that the Flying Machine café is closed. Closed as in out of business.  The line guys seem to think someone will reopen, I hope so. At least for today we caught a ride with the FBO line guys to the airport entrance on RT30 and enjoyed breakfast at the Lincoln Diner.  Service was excellent and the food was good too.  It was great to catch up with Adam and talk flying. We finished up and headed back to the airport with another ride from the FBO line guys.

Delaware river and Salem nuke plant in NJ

We each did a walk around and climbed aboard our aircraft. Adam was headed to Reading for a few more landings and I was going straight home. I did consider making a side trip over Lewes to take a few job photos but didn't want to deal with the winds. I launched and climbed out riding the bucking horse once again until above three thousand five hundred, and settling in at five thousand five hundred for the cruise home.

I eventually picked up flight following with Dover and worked my way south. Once clear of Delaware Coastal (KGED) I canceled flight following and let down to clear the scattered to few cloud layer at four thousand. Delaware coastal is only a ten minute hop home so how bad could it be.  Well buckle up cowboy the ride is on. The gusty winds are still hanging out below three and those last few miles were game on.  I made my position calls and set up for a straight in on runway two zero, I had the airport to myself.  I ended the day with an ok landing and taxied back to the hangar. Overall, a good day flying despite the rough ride and blown landing at MQS.