When Was Your First Flight In "09"

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by Mel

Just back from flight test after condition inspection. Now off to east Texas to visit my sister.
N168TX left the ground at 9:35 am CST, 1/1/2009.

We have an unoffical winner! Mel is in 1st place.

Anyone else beat Mel out?

[DispatchDave]

Steve,
Nice paint on that bird. Black with yellow scallops and checkerboard VS.

Dave

[174Bob&Nancy]

In the air by 8:30 Eastern time vis was at leasr 100miles and the air was smooth as glass!

[flion]

Just back from another fuel consumption test flight. I'm now at 19.8 on my 40 hours and the plane, while unpainted and ugly, is beautiful. Sorry for any cognitive dissonance there; either you understand or it can't be explained.

[lightning]

looks like we got a new winner!!

Bob & Nancy were weight off wheels at 1330z!!

must've been nice with 10000 mile vis!! happy new year!!

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by Steve Sampson

Larry, Could we do this using zulu time please. We are talking aviation :-)

I left the ground at 08:30 zulu in the Supercub, though not until 13;30 zulu in the -4. My one up manship will be short lived though, some Australian convict will appear out of the woodwork now :-)

I would be grateful if the Ozzies could send some spare sunshine. Blowing warm air in the engine for 2 hours before start up is no fun.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Originally Posted by lightning

looks like we got a new winner!!

Bob & Nancy were weight off wheels at 1330z!!

must've been nice with 10000 mile vis!! happy new year!!

We have a tie?

Next year I can see a formation flight coming at 11:59PM local time.

[Geico266]

Who was the first one to do a roll this year?

[terrykohler]

Perhaps not the first flight today, but at approximately 1015 this morning, a three ship RV flight departed Pontiac Michigan with a mission to overfly Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) as a final salute to friend, fellow pilot, LongEze builder, and senior controller at Detroit TRACON, Alex Becker. While tomorrow is officially Alex's last day on the scope before retirement and a move South, we decided to launch today to take advantage of the good weather. Alex was not aware of our plan.
In lead was Dave Pohl in his RV7A with Harry Manvel (Defiant builder/pilot) in the right seat. DAR Ted Gauthier followed solo on the right in his RV6 ,and amphib Rebel builder/pilot Curt Martin joined me in my 9A.
We had briefed to fly "the cage", a series of VFR corridors leading into Class B, over the top of Willow Run Airport (KYIP) for alignment, and then over the active approach end of DTW at 2500 MSL. This route allows you to watch the big guys landing underneath and offers an interesting perspective for anyone who has little exposure to high density traffic.
On climb-out, we contacted Detroit Approach, requested the Cage, and also requested that they alert Alex as we passed over DTW. Unfortunately, the controller advised us that Flow Control was in effect and it would be at least 40 minutes before they could accept an overflight. At that point, we then requested vectors to the sector that Alex was assigned today to at least make a pass thru his zone. After a brief "standby", Alex came up on the radio to thank us for making the attempt. Detroit approach is a busy place, so we quickly advised that we were pivoting for a return to Pontiac, some 30 miles away. Fortunately for us, we left the radio set to approach on the return, and halfway back got another call. "RV flight, we should have an opening in the line in about 15 minutes, if you want to try an overflight". We confirmed, reversed course, and started heading back to DTW. Just outside of the Class B once again, Alex came back on the radio and advised that he was handing over his mic and heading for the tower. Inbound, we were cleared to enter the airspace and proceed directly to the approach end of 22R. As we got within about 5 miles, approach cleared us down to 500 AGL, with a pass close to the tower. It was like the parting of the Red Sea. The big guys were being advised of a low overflight of RVs crossing midfield. As we passed the tower, we clicked the mike once again and said, "this one's for you Alex". Approach then vectored us onto an Eastbound heading toward the Detroit River, and a clearance to fly upriver between Detroit and Canada - they had already cleared Canadian airspace for us. Upriver, we climbed again to 2500. We had circled the city of Detroit, overflown two major airports, and had straddled the only international border where Canada actually sits South of the U.S. More importantly, we had properly said goodbye to a friend and fellow builder/aviator.

As a postscript, we could hear Alex working traffic as we returned. It was clear he was reminding some big guy of the heading he had been assigned. The pilot's response was that he was on that assigned heading. Alex came back with, "our equipment may be old, be we can actually see what direction you're pointed. Turn right heading --- '.

Every day in the air is a good day. This one was even better.

Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP

[TankerBob]

ok so it wasn't in an RV, but when it was new years on the east coast I was over the Pacific, when it was New Years on the west coast I was about 30 minutes from coasting in to WA. As soon as the weather gets warmer, and I catch up on my sleep the RV will be coming out.

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by terrykohler

Every day in the air is a good day.
Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP

Roger that.