Geico266
Well Known Member
A huge weather front passed though my area the Wednesday before OSH. The same front that dropped up to 8" of rain on Wisconsin. Thusday morning winds on the surface were 15MPH right down the runway so I didn't think twice about launching. I had not checked the winds aloft and I thought I would use my XM Weather to get a handle on that in route. After climb out to 5,500 and the usual in flight preparations, I leveled off to enjoy the view and ponder the upcoming week at Oshkosh. I was going to OSH in my newly completed homebuilt! I was having a moment.
I scanned the panel like a good pilot. Airspeed; Check, Oil Temp; Check, EGTs & CHT's; Check, GPS Ground; 181 MPH! For a second I thought I was in my -10! I looked at the Dynon and sure enough I had a 60 MPH tail wind! Before I knew it I was over Omaha / Offutt AFB and moving along like my RV brothern! (Of course they would have been going 250 MPH ) I double checked on my XM and I was in a sweet spot for tail winds! Higher and I was in the clouds so this level would have to do.
I had not "flown back wards in the -12 before so it was time. I turned 180 and slowed down to find I was going back wards about 20 MPH! Sweet!
I then pointed the nose to Rockford, IL to make a overnight stop to visit my mom and the tail winds stuck with me most of the way. Travel time was 2.3 hours average ground speed was around 170 MPH! The weather was getting pretty bad at KRFD so I asked for and received permission to go "Special VFR". "Remain VFR & clear of clouds"; the controller said, and I was able to comply. It was nice to get on the ground.
It was a good day, a great way to start OSH, and one more item to check off on my bucket list of things to do in the -12. 181 MPH straight & level ground speed at 75% cruise & flying back wards is always a good story to tell at fly in breakfasts.
I scanned the panel like a good pilot. Airspeed; Check, Oil Temp; Check, EGTs & CHT's; Check, GPS Ground; 181 MPH! For a second I thought I was in my -10! I looked at the Dynon and sure enough I had a 60 MPH tail wind! Before I knew it I was over Omaha / Offutt AFB and moving along like my RV brothern! (Of course they would have been going 250 MPH ) I double checked on my XM and I was in a sweet spot for tail winds! Higher and I was in the clouds so this level would have to do.
I had not "flown back wards in the -12 before so it was time. I turned 180 and slowed down to find I was going back wards about 20 MPH! Sweet!
I then pointed the nose to Rockford, IL to make a overnight stop to visit my mom and the tail winds stuck with me most of the way. Travel time was 2.3 hours average ground speed was around 170 MPH! The weather was getting pretty bad at KRFD so I asked for and received permission to go "Special VFR". "Remain VFR & clear of clouds"; the controller said, and I was able to comply. It was nice to get on the ground.
It was a good day, a great way to start OSH, and one more item to check off on my bucket list of things to do in the -12. 181 MPH straight & level ground speed at 75% cruise & flying back wards is always a good story to tell at fly in breakfasts.
Last edited: