Vern
Well Known Member
Deb and I took our first xcountry in our 6A yesterday. It's been years since we flew together that long. Some general observations:
>With our RV-6A slider, we hung her clothes on the canopy brace at the rear of the baggage area. She liked that idea of keeping her clothing 'fresh.'
>I had arranged all the charts-folded and in order-with a big spring clip so she could hold the charts in her lap and help navigate. She really liked having a role in the trip.
>The panel-mounted gps (396) was just another toy until she started using it. By the end of the trip, she was excited about the different menus and pages and was really into tracking our position. Coming home,a large series of thunderstorms were paralleling our track and forced us to deviate. When the 396 started showing thoses storms, she squealed with excitement. She could hardly believe that a device could show storms like that (nor could I-that 396 is wonderful !!!!). She started asking "why those clouds are red and yellow and those over there do not even show up", etc.
>I taught her to change the frequencies and run the radio. Even tho she had brought a book bag and talked about a nap, because she had a role in the flight, she said 'no way I'm going to read now-I want to look outside."
>I was so glad to be in a side by side because-in my family's case- I could involve Deb in the flight to the point she is looking forward to our next trip.She also now has understanding of why we need some upgrades in equipment,etc. If she had been in the rear 'pit of a tandem, it would have made a different outcome of our day.
>With our RV-6A slider, we hung her clothes on the canopy brace at the rear of the baggage area. She liked that idea of keeping her clothing 'fresh.'
>I had arranged all the charts-folded and in order-with a big spring clip so she could hold the charts in her lap and help navigate. She really liked having a role in the trip.
>The panel-mounted gps (396) was just another toy until she started using it. By the end of the trip, she was excited about the different menus and pages and was really into tracking our position. Coming home,a large series of thunderstorms were paralleling our track and forced us to deviate. When the 396 started showing thoses storms, she squealed with excitement. She could hardly believe that a device could show storms like that (nor could I-that 396 is wonderful !!!!). She started asking "why those clouds are red and yellow and those over there do not even show up", etc.
>I taught her to change the frequencies and run the radio. Even tho she had brought a book bag and talked about a nap, because she had a role in the flight, she said 'no way I'm going to read now-I want to look outside."
>I was so glad to be in a side by side because-in my family's case- I could involve Deb in the flight to the point she is looking forward to our next trip.She also now has understanding of why we need some upgrades in equipment,etc. If she had been in the rear 'pit of a tandem, it would have made a different outcome of our day.
