tkatc
Well Known Member
I've read Doug's Safety Missive and agree with many of his personal limits, one of them being night flight. While I won't fly on just any night, I will occasionally accept the risk. I noticed the night before was bright and the moon lit up the sky. There was no wind and I thought to myself "What a perfect night to fly" I have been itching to test my newly rebuilt rudder in SMOOTH air to see if flew as straight as I thought. Testing in rough bumpy air leaves some doubt.
So there I was watching a few episodes of Flying Alaska while eating dinner when it dawned on me that there should be a large moon again. I remembered I was due to fill up the tanks but had plenty to make it to the cheapest fuel airport around with reserve. I set out just before dusk with my flashlights and a plan.
As I arrived at my fuel stop, I worry about descending into areas of darkness. I worry about obstacles even though there are none charted. Thankfully the RV allows for a steep approach. Safely on deck my anxiety subsides because I now have full tanks and I am headed to an airport I am intimately familiar. I set the course on the GPS and I take off into the darkness.
The air is smooth and my rebuilt rudder feels just fine. I am actually flying something I built! That big moon I was hoping for has not yet appeared....as I fly over a large dark area of unpopulated forest, I am amazed by my keen sense of hearing. I hear the engine making an unfamiliar sound or two. Richen the mixture just in case.
My next stop is a large international airport that has more lights than my neighborhood. Short final to Runway 13 at Atlantic City. (sorry, crappy cell phone pics)
I did a full stop-taxi back. Holding short of Runway 13..
On the hold runway 13
Back in the air checking out the scenary. It's not Vegas but it's nearby!
I made a 180 over the Atlantic and gazing out to the east I realized there was a dark haze, a black ocean, and absolutely no reference point. Reminded me of what JFK Jr was probably dealing with before he died.
Anyway, back at home I recorded 1.2 hours of night flight in the log book. Under 10 hours of night in my 400 PIC flying...
So there I was watching a few episodes of Flying Alaska while eating dinner when it dawned on me that there should be a large moon again. I remembered I was due to fill up the tanks but had plenty to make it to the cheapest fuel airport around with reserve. I set out just before dusk with my flashlights and a plan.
As I arrived at my fuel stop, I worry about descending into areas of darkness. I worry about obstacles even though there are none charted. Thankfully the RV allows for a steep approach. Safely on deck my anxiety subsides because I now have full tanks and I am headed to an airport I am intimately familiar. I set the course on the GPS and I take off into the darkness.
The air is smooth and my rebuilt rudder feels just fine. I am actually flying something I built! That big moon I was hoping for has not yet appeared....as I fly over a large dark area of unpopulated forest, I am amazed by my keen sense of hearing. I hear the engine making an unfamiliar sound or two. Richen the mixture just in case.
My next stop is a large international airport that has more lights than my neighborhood. Short final to Runway 13 at Atlantic City. (sorry, crappy cell phone pics)
I did a full stop-taxi back. Holding short of Runway 13..
On the hold runway 13
Back in the air checking out the scenary. It's not Vegas but it's nearby!
I made a 180 over the Atlantic and gazing out to the east I realized there was a dark haze, a black ocean, and absolutely no reference point. Reminded me of what JFK Jr was probably dealing with before he died.
Anyway, back at home I recorded 1.2 hours of night flight in the log book. Under 10 hours of night in my 400 PIC flying...
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