RVG8tor
Well Known Member
Well the first time we tried to fly into Nehalem (3S7) we were weathered out due to an all day marine layer keeping it socked in. Today we made it there but had a late start due to a lazy morning. I always like it when I can convince my wife to make an outing in "Gator". She had an incentive since we plan a camping trip with our horses there sometime this summer.
I was able to experience first hand how the windsock lies. I flew over at 2000' to check out the field for animals and people and there were none. No airplanes in the pattern and just one aircraft on the field. Winds at airports north and south had wind north at 10 knots, which matched the windsock on the north end of the field. See Google Earth Photo.
On the turn to final for runway 33 I see what appears to be a balloon but as I get closer I realize that it is a kite. I also notice a very significant cross wind from the west. As we make our way down final I fell like the kite might be a factor and what goes through my mind is "what genius thinks the end of a runway is a good place to fly a kite" Well after walking the route, people on the sand when the tied is out have no signs or other indications that there is an airport there, and my circle at 2000' most likely went unnoticed.
Back to the approach now I was expecting the crosswind based on some other VAF member's post, thank you. What made this all difficult was to have to maneuver east to avoid the kite then get back to final, about this time I am low enough that the wind starts to shift big time, it was a dance on the rudder to keep things aligned and it was not my nicest landing. So beware, this is a great little airport with an attached state park but the winds will play tricks.
On our walk back a Kitfox, I think, made the approach and right at tree top level the wind shifted and rocked the plane pretty good, he added power and never came back!
We had a great day and are looking forward to the camping trip, you can see the camp grounds to the east. I will let my wife and her girlfriend make the 3.5 hour drive with the horse trailer and I will fly the 50 minute flight and meet them there!
Cheers
I was able to experience first hand how the windsock lies. I flew over at 2000' to check out the field for animals and people and there were none. No airplanes in the pattern and just one aircraft on the field. Winds at airports north and south had wind north at 10 knots, which matched the windsock on the north end of the field. See Google Earth Photo.
On the turn to final for runway 33 I see what appears to be a balloon but as I get closer I realize that it is a kite. I also notice a very significant cross wind from the west. As we make our way down final I fell like the kite might be a factor and what goes through my mind is "what genius thinks the end of a runway is a good place to fly a kite" Well after walking the route, people on the sand when the tied is out have no signs or other indications that there is an airport there, and my circle at 2000' most likely went unnoticed.
Back to the approach now I was expecting the crosswind based on some other VAF member's post, thank you. What made this all difficult was to have to maneuver east to avoid the kite then get back to final, about this time I am low enough that the wind starts to shift big time, it was a dance on the rudder to keep things aligned and it was not my nicest landing. So beware, this is a great little airport with an attached state park but the winds will play tricks.
On our walk back a Kitfox, I think, made the approach and right at tree top level the wind shifted and rocked the plane pretty good, he added power and never came back!
We had a great day and are looking forward to the camping trip, you can see the camp grounds to the east. I will let my wife and her girlfriend make the 3.5 hour drive with the horse trailer and I will fly the 50 minute flight and meet them there!
Cheers