Don
Well Known Member
Over the years I've been a member hear I've seen a lot of posts about the generosity of the RV community and what a great bunch of people they are. I've experienced myself a few times, too. Last week though Vlad stopped for a visit on his way to Triple Tree and Tennessee. He arrived early enough so I could add to my RV-9A time as I slowly finish my plane. We had tried flying together back in April but the weather cut our efforts short. Vlad, being the kind of person this board likes to talk about, wanted to come back and let me really fly his plane and see if he couldn't encourage me to finish my plane.
Normally you'd think 30 minutes or an hour would be generous. Vlad's comment was, lets use all the fuel in the tanks (with reserves, of course). We departed KOFP (just north of Richmond, VA), he gave me the controls and explored Lake Anna for a bit when I asked him if he remembered Bob Martin from this board. I told him Bob was based nearby so he let me do a low pass at Louisa and I was able to see Bob's hanger was open and just seconds later Bob was greeting us on the radio. Vlad let me actually land the plane, which revealed both generosity and trust.
After chatting with Bob and his friends for 20 minutes, Vlad talked Bob into going flying with us (and no, it wasn't a difficult task - Bob just needed an excuse). So we headed west, crossed the Blue Ridge, navigated between the Blue Ridge and the Massanutten mountains for a bit. The photo below was taken by Bob of Vlad and I as we were passing south of Charlottesville. After we crossed the Blue Ridge we'd planned to go further north but the weather was changing and clouds were just starting to obscure our way back over the mountains. So we turned east with Bob pointing out sights for us. Bob turned south for Louisa and Vlad and I kept heading east before eventually turning generally south for a touch and go at Blackstone (BKT). I work at the community college there and thought it would be fun to do a T&G with a Ruskie friend on a joint use (military-civilian) airport. My second RV landing.
We'd been dodging clouds most of the afternoon and Vlad suggested climbing to 4,500' to get over the clouds, and RIC's air space. The fuel gauges were showing that we needed to make a stop so we went off to KXSA, my home base, for "cheaper" fuel. It was time to learn more about the 9A - on my first approach I didn't slow down enough and we'd have landed mid field unless I did a slip. I chose to do a go around (more flying time and more time to learn to do it right). So this time I flew the last bit of down wind and base at 70 kts and final at 60 kts and made a respectable landing.
We filled the tanks and headed back to KOFP (Hanover) at near gross weight. Vlad was sure there'd be another go around as the 9A handles differently at gross weight vs empty tanks. It wasn't my inclination to do a go around - I wanted to show my gratitude for Vlad's great instruction on how to handle the 9. The plane was easy to stabilize at 60 kts on final and I swear the plane felt like it landed itself.
All told Vlad gave me 3.2 hours of RV time and 4 landings and lots of great advice on how to fly. Priceless.
Thanks Vlad!
Normally you'd think 30 minutes or an hour would be generous. Vlad's comment was, lets use all the fuel in the tanks (with reserves, of course). We departed KOFP (just north of Richmond, VA), he gave me the controls and explored Lake Anna for a bit when I asked him if he remembered Bob Martin from this board. I told him Bob was based nearby so he let me do a low pass at Louisa and I was able to see Bob's hanger was open and just seconds later Bob was greeting us on the radio. Vlad let me actually land the plane, which revealed both generosity and trust.
After chatting with Bob and his friends for 20 minutes, Vlad talked Bob into going flying with us (and no, it wasn't a difficult task - Bob just needed an excuse). So we headed west, crossed the Blue Ridge, navigated between the Blue Ridge and the Massanutten mountains for a bit. The photo below was taken by Bob of Vlad and I as we were passing south of Charlottesville. After we crossed the Blue Ridge we'd planned to go further north but the weather was changing and clouds were just starting to obscure our way back over the mountains. So we turned east with Bob pointing out sights for us. Bob turned south for Louisa and Vlad and I kept heading east before eventually turning generally south for a touch and go at Blackstone (BKT). I work at the community college there and thought it would be fun to do a T&G with a Ruskie friend on a joint use (military-civilian) airport. My second RV landing.
We'd been dodging clouds most of the afternoon and Vlad suggested climbing to 4,500' to get over the clouds, and RIC's air space. The fuel gauges were showing that we needed to make a stop so we went off to KXSA, my home base, for "cheaper" fuel. It was time to learn more about the 9A - on my first approach I didn't slow down enough and we'd have landed mid field unless I did a slip. I chose to do a go around (more flying time and more time to learn to do it right). So this time I flew the last bit of down wind and base at 70 kts and final at 60 kts and made a respectable landing.
We filled the tanks and headed back to KOFP (Hanover) at near gross weight. Vlad was sure there'd be another go around as the 9A handles differently at gross weight vs empty tanks. It wasn't my inclination to do a go around - I wanted to show my gratitude for Vlad's great instruction on how to handle the 9. The plane was easy to stabilize at 60 kts on final and I swear the plane felt like it landed itself.
All told Vlad gave me 3.2 hours of RV time and 4 landings and lots of great advice on how to fly. Priceless.
Thanks Vlad!
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