humptybump
Well Known Member
KDOV, more widely known as Dover Air Force Base is a prominent land mark at the north end of the Eastern Shore. It is home to some very big aircraft. It is also a military base so it’s not found in most general aviation pilots’ log books. That changed for on Saturday.
The base hosted its first MACA (mid-air collision avoidance) safety seminar and fly-in. The opened the event to 25 airplanes. Thankfully, a fried or a friend emailed me the details and I was certain to get my paperwork in as quickly as possible.
The event was organized with military precision. I was issued flight instructions and an arrival window of 07:46 to 08:01 ! I was worried about being late so I made sure to take off with plenty of time. Too much time in fact. Good thing the RV-8 can fly slow … 80kts slow!
Rather than lots of words, here are some highlights of the day in pictures ...
(click any picture for a bigger one)
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0013-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=bbd8121a59e244536162b5a548c613c4)
06:40 preflight and ready to launch - woohoo!
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0182-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=14fcba7e2a4d40fe56405878c8a4f3fc)
up, up and away ... pretty quiet on the radio.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0239-tunes-575x323.jpg&hash=e75dd1c65036dc5f75af4431010b0851)
A quick pass to see the recent wind damage to the barley crop. The wind damage looks like someone clawing at styrofoam.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0251-tuned-575x323.jpg&hash=571c9051c3385c766f74a6f67dc2d129)
Turns out I'm not alone - wave hello to Carter who is already at work, spraying.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE1226-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=510e7546dc8e677452ec56cc4cc5a773)
after an hour of SLOOWWWW flight, I have the airport in sight
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE1257-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=ee08f82ed42c970d2ab8d50e6919b593)
waiting ... waiting ... waiting for the runway to arrive
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE1261-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=b7d9c51c04ec9dd00a8c6f8f9378ccfc)
on the numbers ... I hope 12,903' is enough runway
... to be continued ...
The base hosted its first MACA (mid-air collision avoidance) safety seminar and fly-in. The opened the event to 25 airplanes. Thankfully, a fried or a friend emailed me the details and I was certain to get my paperwork in as quickly as possible.
The event was organized with military precision. I was issued flight instructions and an arrival window of 07:46 to 08:01 ! I was worried about being late so I made sure to take off with plenty of time. Too much time in fact. Good thing the RV-8 can fly slow … 80kts slow!
Rather than lots of words, here are some highlights of the day in pictures ...
(click any picture for a bigger one)
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0013-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=bbd8121a59e244536162b5a548c613c4)
06:40 preflight and ready to launch - woohoo!
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0182-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=14fcba7e2a4d40fe56405878c8a4f3fc)
up, up and away ... pretty quiet on the radio.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0239-tunes-575x323.jpg&hash=e75dd1c65036dc5f75af4431010b0851)
A quick pass to see the recent wind damage to the barley crop. The wind damage looks like someone clawing at styrofoam.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE0251-tuned-575x323.jpg&hash=571c9051c3385c766f74a6f67dc2d129)
Turns out I'm not alone - wave hello to Carter who is already at work, spraying.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE1226-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=510e7546dc8e677452ec56cc4cc5a773)
after an hour of SLOOWWWW flight, I have the airport in sight
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE1257-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=ee08f82ed42c970d2ab8d50e6919b593)
waiting ... waiting ... waiting for the runway to arrive
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthesalmonfarm.org%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F05%2FFILE1261-tuned-575x431.jpg&hash=b7d9c51c04ec9dd00a8c6f8f9378ccfc)
on the numbers ... I hope 12,903' is enough runway
... to be continued ...
Last edited: