AX-O
Well Known Member
Warning: The below write up is long and an attempt to share my flight experience with you all. I am very sure I won?t come close to describing my emotions or everything that occured but ???.
Originally I planned on flying to Detroit, MI on Dec 10th. After looking hard at the weather I decided that it would be better to leave one day earlier due to a front that extended from the North to the South of the U.S on Saturday. I tried to change my airline ticket however, it was more expensive to change my ticket than it would have been to buy a new one, so that is what I did (figure that one out). I left Inyokern, CA and travelled to Detroit on Dec 9th. The weather was already bad in that area. I had a layover in Chicago and the snow started falling. We were deiced and departed to Detroit. The previous owner picked me up and we drove to Wolflake airport (26W). A very nice private air strip.
Mike, the previous owner, and his family welcomed me to their beautiful home. They allowed me to stay in their home so I could depart early in the morning if weather allowed. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and I had to wait longer than I planned. The ceilings and Vis were low. Mike left to work and an hour later so did his wife. I was alone in Mike?s home and hangar. RV people are awesome. He did not know me, nor did he need to be that kind. Finally I got my courage up and decided to take off. Below are a few pics of mike?s home, the airplane and route. Side note: As I was getting dressed in the morning, I put a pair of socks on. One had a hole on the toe and I remember thinking, man this would be embarrassing if TSA was going to search me but I have my own plane now, no need for that pain.
As I took off from the unfamiliar strip, with unfamiliar white precipitation on the ground, with an unfamiliar aircraft and less than unrestricted Vis, my belly was going crazy (Ok, so I live in CA, the weather is nice here). Butterflies because of all the previous mentioned stuff and the fact that it was my first flying RV that I owned (well just half) and I had a 1700 nm trip ahead of me. The original plan was to travel from 26W to KGLY (Clinton Memorial) and stop in F82 (Town and Country) to stay the night and visit my family. I did land in KGLY after a 3.9 hour flight. Now to attempt my first landing?.. I will admit that I was way behind the aircraft. Speed control around the pattern was difficult and the addition of an unfamiliar cockpit was not helping. I did sit down for about a week with pictures of the cockpit and went through numerous scenarios (normal and emergency ops) in order to reduce risk. Once I was on short final, I pulled the throttle. The plane did not want to come down. Every time I pull on the stick, I climbed. Finally got it on the ground and logged 3 touch and goes. Filled her up and sat down for a few minutes to replan my route for the day. Unfortunately I did not have enough day-light to make it to Lubbock, TX. No need to fly at night with an unfamiliar aircraft. So I decided to fly to KTCC (Ponca City, OK) and stay the night. Pic after my first landing, the plane survived!!!
Took off and headed to Ponca. I landed there right before sunset. I put her in the hangar because the next day?s forecast was for winds from 15 to 20 kts. Well turns out the winds were 35 gust to 40 for the majority of the day. I made the decision to wait until 1500 for the Go/NoGo. 1500 came around and I cancelled the plans to travel to TX. I felt like a wimp after I saw a little LSA land and then take off after he had lunch. But the decision was final. I told my wife prior to my departure that I would not be taking any unnecessary risk during my flight. I ended up hanging out all day at the FBO and at the local airport restaurant. The people there were awesome and very nice to me. If you want a place to eat good Mexican food and good FBO services, give them a try. Some pics at Ponca below.
Originally I planned on flying to Detroit, MI on Dec 10th. After looking hard at the weather I decided that it would be better to leave one day earlier due to a front that extended from the North to the South of the U.S on Saturday. I tried to change my airline ticket however, it was more expensive to change my ticket than it would have been to buy a new one, so that is what I did (figure that one out). I left Inyokern, CA and travelled to Detroit on Dec 9th. The weather was already bad in that area. I had a layover in Chicago and the snow started falling. We were deiced and departed to Detroit. The previous owner picked me up and we drove to Wolflake airport (26W). A very nice private air strip.
Mike, the previous owner, and his family welcomed me to their beautiful home. They allowed me to stay in their home so I could depart early in the morning if weather allowed. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and I had to wait longer than I planned. The ceilings and Vis were low. Mike left to work and an hour later so did his wife. I was alone in Mike?s home and hangar. RV people are awesome. He did not know me, nor did he need to be that kind. Finally I got my courage up and decided to take off. Below are a few pics of mike?s home, the airplane and route. Side note: As I was getting dressed in the morning, I put a pair of socks on. One had a hole on the toe and I remember thinking, man this would be embarrassing if TSA was going to search me but I have my own plane now, no need for that pain.
As I took off from the unfamiliar strip, with unfamiliar white precipitation on the ground, with an unfamiliar aircraft and less than unrestricted Vis, my belly was going crazy (Ok, so I live in CA, the weather is nice here). Butterflies because of all the previous mentioned stuff and the fact that it was my first flying RV that I owned (well just half) and I had a 1700 nm trip ahead of me. The original plan was to travel from 26W to KGLY (Clinton Memorial) and stop in F82 (Town and Country) to stay the night and visit my family. I did land in KGLY after a 3.9 hour flight. Now to attempt my first landing?.. I will admit that I was way behind the aircraft. Speed control around the pattern was difficult and the addition of an unfamiliar cockpit was not helping. I did sit down for about a week with pictures of the cockpit and went through numerous scenarios (normal and emergency ops) in order to reduce risk. Once I was on short final, I pulled the throttle. The plane did not want to come down. Every time I pull on the stick, I climbed. Finally got it on the ground and logged 3 touch and goes. Filled her up and sat down for a few minutes to replan my route for the day. Unfortunately I did not have enough day-light to make it to Lubbock, TX. No need to fly at night with an unfamiliar aircraft. So I decided to fly to KTCC (Ponca City, OK) and stay the night. Pic after my first landing, the plane survived!!!
Took off and headed to Ponca. I landed there right before sunset. I put her in the hangar because the next day?s forecast was for winds from 15 to 20 kts. Well turns out the winds were 35 gust to 40 for the majority of the day. I made the decision to wait until 1500 for the Go/NoGo. 1500 came around and I cancelled the plans to travel to TX. I felt like a wimp after I saw a little LSA land and then take off after he had lunch. But the decision was final. I told my wife prior to my departure that I would not be taking any unnecessary risk during my flight. I ended up hanging out all day at the FBO and at the local airport restaurant. The people there were awesome and very nice to me. If you want a place to eat good Mexican food and good FBO services, give them a try. Some pics at Ponca below.
