New Garden for Service

This morning was to be an early start to catch the sunrise over Ocean City.  Something about the best laid plans… I didn’t go back to the hangar last night to plug in, I should have. It took awhile to start, and then warm up 3 Tango Charlie.  I set up four cameras this morning so I hope the video turns out interesting and entertaining.  

I roll for take off at 7:45 sunrise was 7:16.  The ride was smooth and 3 Tango Charlie made very good power on departure. Density altitude was -1,800 feet. I picked up flight following with Dover as I approached Delaware Coastal. The ride along was quiet and after being handed off to Philly I canceled once clear of Wilmington’s class Delta and below the Philly class Bravo.

There was one plane in the pattern at N57, and he was landing in the grass. I made my worst landing since my PPL days. I did my typical couple of swipes up nose trim then somehow got slow.  It was a very firm plant but the wheels stayed on and I think I only lost one filling, kidding.  I did give the firewall and gear a once over after taking a peek at the runway for miscellaneous parts that may have been left behind. 

Scott is working on my plane today outside on the ramp since the shop was full. There was plenty of airport activity with school planes doing laps in pattern and the occasional owner and transient. Charles G stopped by to take me out to lunch so we headed to Two Stones in the Lantana Square. I had the classic cheeseburger with a side of sweet potato fries. Charles had pan seared salmon with rice. Good eats and as always good conversation. 

When we returned Scott was finishing up with the panel reinstall and then adjusted my down lock switch on my left main gear. When I did the run-up test the green light for the gear indication was on. There were no leaks from the gauge install. With everything checked out Scott printed out the entry for my airframe log and said they would email the invoice. 

I saddled up and followed a Cessna Cardinal to the runway for departure. Once I was wheels up I climbed out to three thousand feet and pointed my Commander direct to home, KOXB. I stayed below Philly class Bravo and above Wilmington’s Delta airspace. 

I did pick up flight following with Dover once I heard Jon (from N57)heading north with a plane he got running, now following him back to New Garden from Delaware Coastal. I never did have a visual but ADS-B was tracking. 

I canceled with Dover and made my way into OXB. The ride home was a bit bumpy but I finished off with a super smooth landing, erasing this mornings ugly version of getting the plane on the ground. 

Next up Asheville NC to visit the Biltmore Estate.