CapnMike wrote:

RanchPilot wrote:Had a neat experience on takeoff. The sun hadn't come up yet on our ground roll, and as soon as we took off we "made" the sun come up by climbing above the horizon.

If you have an airplane that can do a minimum of around 2000 fpm climb, you can make the sunset into a second sunrise. Timing is pretty critical, though - you have to be starting your climb just after the last rays wink out. It is kind of cool though!

I remember a few very early morning flights in the ultralight where I'd take off before sunrise, see the sun come up, then land and see it come up a second time. Mountain ranges may have helped...... Nothing finer then watching a sunrise from the air.

Been out flying the lakes and sky's of Maine.

very nice Tom, thanks.

Tom, looks light Richardson lake area?

Today was fun looking at colors with Debbie...

Pilotos at the hangar

Well, today was another banner day for my aviation bucket list.

This is a TBM Avenger. It is owned by a friend of a friend of mine. It's a taildragger. With a hook!




I spent just under 2 hours riding around in it today, in the womb-like embrace of the ball turret. We were part of a 19-ship mass formation flight that also did a rubber chicken bombing run...











It was a pretty freaking cool day. I also had two other sorties in Nanchang CJ-6's with members of the formation aerobatic demonstration team called the Yak Attack. My friend Randy "DaBear" DeVere flies the #4 (slot) for them. Nothing like pulling 4-5 G's in tight diamond formation acro after riding around in an Avenger. Awesome!

my god you lucky bugger! my mates also got one but Im still to squeeze in a ride!

BRD, fantastic pics! Keep em coming. By the way, is that your daughter?

VERY cool Mike!!!

G44

BRD, what filter if any are you using?

G44

Between gusty rainstorms we had about 2 hrs of dry dead calm, and I went up behind my place up into a few of the canyons only to see, as expected, that the leaves had already started to fade in color. This was at 6K+. But, all I had to do was fly upcanyon to the 7 and then 8K level to see the colors at their peak, I kind of felt like I was cheating, especially as I know in a few more days I can repeat the process clear up to the 9K level. This is a very convenient way to extend the foliage flights. Played around a bit on the edges of a fog bank on the way down, only .2 hrs flight but a huge moral booster on what again is a rainy gloomy day. Snuck one in

Not today, and no pretty blonde lady, but a week ago, I like BRD's better. I need to get into that whole RAW editing thing, I have a good Nikon so no excuse other then ignorance and sloth.

We flew out to Half Moon Bay again for lunch, a bike ride, and of course a growler of IPA to bring back home!

Mike, fun to ride in the TBM!

Daughter?? No, that is Debbie, a very lovely lady I'm getting to know. (mucho' accomplished gal, hope I can keep her interested!)

No filter in this case, shooting in RAW with a 1D Canon and 70-200mm L series lens. Then process with lab color mode in PS. It drives Zane nuts...

Yesterday- A strip mine road.





Today- a new SE Ohio strip. "Crazy Bone"
800ft long. Gets narrow in the middle wider at both ends. The strips owner wasn't around and time was limited tonight. I think swingle is the only other one to land it before it was "improved". I think a helicopter landed here too. But those don't count.





My second oil change this year. I've put almost 120 hours on the savage in 7 months.

I love how aviation works. Had to run across the state for work last week so I decided at the last minute to fly instead of drive.

I'm walking out of the FBO ready to go to the hotel and sit around doing nothing for the evening, when the following conversation occurs in the parking lot:

That's a good looking PA-12.

--Thanks. Are you a taildragger guy?

Yeah, I'm an instructor here and I fly a Husky for work, along with some other birds.

--Do you happen to know ______ by any chance?

Yeah, I taught her how to fly. How do you know her?

--I make these little flying videos, and she subscribed to my FB page. I go by RanchPilot.

I've seen your videos. Want me to call her and see if she'd be willing to let us go take her plane for a ride?


20 minutes later, I'm in the front seat getting to wring out this beautiful High Country Explorer on a short little farm strip! Needless to say, I was very impressed. Felt like an awesome combination between a Super D and a Scout. Lands in a few hundred feet, and hammerheads like a dream! Always wanted to fly one of these, and can't believe how fortunate I was to have an encounter like this.

Isn't aviation great!!!

rob56: Love that folding bike trailer combo, though at 46 I don't think my daughter will fit. A great reminder how a bit bigger plane offers much greater utility when needed, very cool!

RP: sounds like you scored, and I agree on how things happen to us lucky pilots, like me dropping into the biggest private strip in several western states (pretty sure of that) and besides getting the grand tour, invited back any time! We can't make stuff like that up.

Crenshaw wrote:Sand dunes.

Are these the ones down by Alamosa, or the smaller ones up by Walden Jackson?

(I have been wanting to take a trip to see these as well!)

courierguy wrote:rob56: Love that folding bike trailer combo, though at 46 I don't think my daughter will fit. A great reminder how a bit bigger plane offers much greater utility when needed, very cool

I'm really glad we got the trailer. It was only $100, folds up quickly, and fits perfectly in the extended baggage area. We haven't used the folding bikes in a long time because we had no way of taking Aubrey with us until now.

Still room for a lot more stuff too!

Haha, nice Rob!

motosix wrote:

Crenshaw wrote:Sand dunes.

Are these the ones down by Alamosa, or the smaller ones up by Walden Jackson?

(I have been wanting to take a trip to see these as well!)

I recognize those as the ones by Alamosa. Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Took a friend's Dad flying the other day. He was a CFI with multiple ratings and a C172 squaretail like mine. Even after not flying for a while he is impressively smooth on the controls. A great time and a privilege.