Haha! No kidding Rich! Glad you made it up.


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asa wrote:

8GCBC wrote:A total eclipse occurred while sitting on my sailboat. It really is not a big deal. Lasts a few minutes. Dark clouds during a TS make the same effect in my opinion.

Not to argue on opinions, but what I just saw from Harford Field in WY was nothing short of fucking amazing (cursing used on purpose for emphasis). Maybe you're trying to make people feel better about not being able to see it, but it is hard to describe. I only had to fly 1.5 hours north, but I'd consider it an experience worth driving or flying quite a bit further for. 0%-99.9% coverage were just "well this is pretty cool, the moon is in front of the sun" then at 100% it was instantaneously like a different world for a couple minutes with some alien thing up in the sky and no need for the glasses.

-asa

Re: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_July_11,_1991

I never thought anything of it when the July 11, 1991 eclipse occurred. Just went on with my day. Now, you mention typhoon or tsunami, in Hawaii, and people start to get excited. But, the people I knew didn't really get off on the last eclipse in Hawaii. Which was the darkest for the next 800 years (out doing this last eclipse).

Mainlanders have different opinions from what I read.

Here's the takeoff queue at Madras. Why bother? If I saw that going on, I wouldn't even start up. I'd go find an iced coffee and kick back.

Click to play:

My compound (love that term) overlooks I-15 from 1200' above it and a few miles away. As a result, I can see a 12 mile swath of it. Last night I saw something I have never seen before (two things in one day I had never seen before) a constant and close together stream of headlights as far as I could see, they appeared to be moving about 35-40 mph, but moving anyway. This was still going on with no let up the last time I looked at 11:00 PM. Poor bastards!

Whee: I think that picture of me you posted must have been me northbound while making a flyby over the Mackay airport? I was making about 29 MPH over the ground, (just one notch of flaps, could have gone slower with more flap and more power) it gave me plenty of time to check out the planes parked there.

My takeaway from this whole event was:partial eclipses are "OK,", but no big whoop. That is, before totality hit, it was a somewhat subtle event, and I at least hardly noticed what was going on until I used my glasses (2 pairs of sunglasses and welding lens) and only then did I notice the sun was getting occluded. BUT when totality hit, it was a whole different ballgame, and so worth it to make the effort to see. Combined with the perfect flying conditions (smoke aside), the super friendly crowds wherever I went, and then the off airport site I ended up (and I mean UP) at to view it, and then the quick and uneventful flight back to the compound, I am seriously considering a 2 star entry to my log book. I have never made a 2 star entry before, previously one star was as excited as I got about a particularly cool flight. And how about a shout out to the eggheads who came up with the mathematical calculations to predict the exact time this event would hit us, we just take that for granted I guess, but that is pretty amazing when you think about it

WYflyer wrote:I was the old fat guy walking around doing meet and greet (Zlin cub in hangar). I am old so I am poor with names but what ever you name was it doesn't matter because everyone I met at Harford was terrific. I know 22 planes doesn't sound like much but me and one other guy are the only people that fly out of there anymore and it was beyond great to see that many folks show up to see a really cool event. I couldn't of hand picked a better crowd to share the eclipse with. Thanks for coming.
Mike

My friends and I really appreciate Robin and the locals allowing us to fly in, and wow that runway is nice. When I called Robin a few weeks ago he said "Oh just a few friends, you're welcome to come up". My passengers weren't pilots and they got a big kick out of the whole experience. Thanks for having us.

-asa


^ That was taken by the guy laying on the ground looking through the 600mm lense on the left:

Left Carson City in the Cub on Sunday morning with my oldest daughter (who isn't really fond of flying). Elko for breakfast, Jerome ID for fuel and ended up in Mackay, ID after 6 hours of flying time. 7 planes there when we arrived. Set up camp, had a nice dinner and a beer and then wandered into town for another that evening. Met Dustin (member here) from So Cal and got some info on the Sept. Kern Valley fly in when they stopped by that afternoon. More arrivals on Monday morning (including a King Air). I read earlier that there were 40 some planes there. Parking got a little tight but the only thing annoying I saw was a 182 pilot try a tail wheel type turn to fit into a tight space and prop blast an RV pretty good in the process. Watched Courierguy make his pass over the airport on the way north. As far as the eclipse goes, it was awesome. I've seen a lot of things, but the difference between 99% and 100% is not 1%, it's more like 100%. Very cool to see and the shared experience with my daughter is something that we will never forget. We left Mackay about 45 minutes after totality and after 2 rest and fuel stops got back home just before sunset.

We left Mackay about 45 minutes after totality and after 2 rest and fuel stops got back home just before sunset.

Saw you fly over the house in Dayton.

Gump

NevadaBill wrote:Left Carson City in the Cub on Sunday morning with my oldest daughter (who isn't really fond of flying). Elko for breakfast, Jerome ID for fuel and ended up in Mackay, ID after 6 hours of flying time. 7 planes there when we arrived. Set up camp, had a nice dinner and a beer and then wandered into town for another that evening. Met Dustin (member here) from So Cal and got some info on the Sept. Kern Valley fly in when they stopped by that afternoon. More arrivals on Monday morning (including a King Air). I read earlier that there were 40 some planes there. Parking got a little tight but the only thing annoying I saw was a 182 pilot try a tail wheel type turn to fit into a tight space and prop blast an RV pretty good in the process. Watched Courierguy make his pass over the airport on the way north. As far as the eclipse goes, it was awesome. I've seen a lot of things, but the difference between 99% and 100% is not 1%, it's more like 100%. Very cool to see and the shared experience with my daughter is something that we will never forget. We left Mackay about 45 minutes after totality and after 2 rest and fuel stops got back home just before sunset.

You were in the Carbon Cub? When my wife and I road by on our bikes she was like, " Hey, what's that one? I like it." That's a huge compliment come from her. I really wanted to wander around the ramp and talk to folks be never got the chance. I enjoyed your intersection departure.

I had a little patch of totality all to myself in western Wyoming.

"...but the difference between 99% and 100% is not 1%, it's more like 100%."

That is spot on!

Dee had a 55K (35 mile race) on Saturday (I paced her for 19 of it) so we couldn't leave until Sunday morning. We met up with a FB friend in his 206 in Gooding for fuel, then into Warm Springs. I think it was one of the eclipse best kept secrets. We opted for it because it had water, bathrooms, hot springs and...most importantly, was one of the closest to the center or totality. As a bonus, we saw lots of BCP friends there. Rob and Staci were there with their kids and we camped with them and our 206 friend Nick and his two kids. The kids had a blast playing with each other. We went down to the hot springs and the kids loved it too. I though the springs might be super busy, but it wasn't bad. In all I think there were 27 airplanes, but they were spread out and you could see most of them with the bow in the runway. So it felt like 8-10. The only down side was a Bonanza that landed long and over ran into the trees the day before we got there. Luckily just scratches and bruises.

The eclipse was awesome. Honestly I still can't put words to it. Breath taking, brilliant, moving, spiritual...like I said before, I didn't expect the temp to drop so fast or so low, I didn't expect it to get so dark, and I didn't expect the corona to be so brilliant. Or the diamond ring! One of the coolest experiences of my life. Amazing.

And the icing on the cake? Dee's FB comment:

"Flew to a grass runway in Idaho for the eclipse. Before we went, I wasn't sure 100% totality was worth the effort. I was 100% WRONG. It was absolutely incredible. Very glad we made the trip."

I was insistent about getting as close as we could. She was apprehensive about the crowds and number of planes. Ends up both were non-issues like I thought they would be and it was a home run family outing. What a great way to end the summer!

Warm Springs


Camp at WS



The kids enjoying the hot springs.





Our pre-eclipse pancake breakfast.


Binoculars with filters. Cool to see spots on the sun!




Totality!


Staci got this pic of their 180 during totality.


It got smoky later in the morning. Leaving Warm Springs.


Thick traffic on the way home in northern Utah. From what I heard on the news, it only got worse as the night went on. It was bad enough getting home from the airport! Glad we missed the mess on the ground!




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My friend Paul and I left GXY on an IFR plan for Alliance, knowing that Alliance was low IFR at the time--1/4 mile and 200' in fog--with a filed alternate of Torrington. Our assigned route was direct Scottsbluff, then Alliance, but well before we got to Scottsbluff, ATC sent us to Sidney VOR to hold--and I've never held so long in my life! In fact, until then, I'd only had one hold in actual IFR in my life, and in that case I was cleared onward after only one run around the race track. Sidney, the airport and town, was clear, but the weather was barely lifting in Alliance. So we held and held and held and held. Finally we were cleared out of holding, then some more vectoring for a straight in on the ILS to Alliance. The holding and some vectoring turned what should have been a 1+20 flight into a 2+45 flight!

Alliance had a temporary FAA "tower", and it's a good thing. It's not that there were so many arrivals, but that they all came in during a very short time. They did a super job, working out of the back of a pickup truck! Very old school, having IFR pilots announce their positions more than usual in today's radar environment.

By the time we were on the ground, the weather was lifting enough that VFR traffic was coming in, too. I don't know how many airplanes were there--should have counted, but I'd guess something in the neighborhood of 100-125, wingtip to wingtip along 8-26, which was closed. There were several early arrivers who had camped overnight at different places on the airport, and a number of jets and twins that were on the ramp. And in addition to the fly-ins, there were many others there, because the airport was right on the center of the totality track.

Heartland Aviation really outdid itself, though, and were so very accommodating to all of us. Of course, they had T-shirts and eclipse glasses for sale, but they weren't in the gouging business. I didn't need fuel, but the fuel prices weren't raised, either, and they were delivering fuel to those who needed it. They provided transportation from the parking via golf cart "limos" and some utility trailers with what I'd call "camp couches" in them--innovative. All of their volunteers were so very friendly!

And then the eclipse! OH MY! I have never seen something quite so spectacular. Because the clouds were scattered, the pre-eclipse was often being covered, but from maybe 85% totality on, it started to clear, and just before totality, the sky cleared. Then it got dark, the automatic runway lights all turned on, the stars were out, and then, the corona! WOW!!! Cheers went up from the crowd, glasses came off, and it was fascinating! Then all of a sudden, the "diamond ring" appeared, and that caused more oohs and ahs--and it was beautiful!

Afterwards we had lunch and then flew home VFR. There were so many airplanes flying south that Centennial Airport became closed to IFR arrivals. My iPad with ADS-B In showed all sorts of folks, on either side of us, above us, and a couple below us.

It was most definitely one of those things I'm so glad I did--and if I get the chance to see one again, I'll certainly do it.

Cary

whee wrote:

NevadaBill wrote:Left Carson City in the Cub on Sunday morning with my oldest daughter (who isn't really fond of flying). Elko for breakfast, Jerome ID for fuel and ended up in Mackay, ID after 6 hours of flying time. 7 planes there when we arrived. Set up camp, had a nice dinner and a beer and then wandered into town for another that evening. Met Dustin (member here) from So Cal and got some info on the Sept. Kern Valley fly in when they stopped by that afternoon. More arrivals on Monday morning (including a King Air). I read earlier that there were 40 some planes there. Parking got a little tight but the only thing annoying I saw was a 182 pilot try a tail wheel type turn to fit into a tight space and prop blast an RV pretty good in the process. Watched Courierguy make his pass over the airport on the way north. As far as the eclipse goes, it was awesome. I've seen a lot of things, but the difference between 99% and 100% is not 1%, it's more like 100%. Very cool to see and the shared experience with my daughter is something that we will never forget. We left Mackay about 45 minutes after totality and after 2 rest and fuel stops got back home just before sunset.

You were in the Carbon Cub? When my wife and I road by on our bikes she was like, " Hey, what's that one? I like it." That's a huge compliment come from her. I really wanted to wander around the ramp and talk to folks be never got the chance. I enjoyed your intersection departure.

That was us. Thanks for the compliment. My daughter kept asking why everyone was stopping at our plane to look at it. I didn't see a reason to back taxi for departure when there was 700 feet of runway in front of me. I think I was past the approach end of the runway on a downwind departure before the Cessna who turned right to back taxi in front of me reached the end of the runway .

Gump - next time I'll wave.

The eclipse was pretty cool, but I think I was even more amazed when the Sun turned into Saturn at sunset. The whole day was kind of surreal!

Wish I could have gotten a better picture...

I'll echo everything Cory said. That was one of the coolest experiences of my life. The pictures don't do it justice. It's something you have to see, feel, and experience for your self. I'm already planning on going to see the 2024 eclipse!

robw56 wrote:I'll echo everything Cory said. That was one of the coolest experiences of my life. The pictures don't do it justice. It's something you have to see, feel, and experience for your self. I'm already planning on going to see the 2024 eclipse!

X3

The traffic wasn't as bad as the government cubicle workers predicted. The airport was super busy. One fatal crash.



Cheers Rob

Went for a bit lower key place than Madras.

Video is a bit longer than it should be but the views were spectacular. And yes I am a bit to the left but the camera is well outside my left main so it is not as bad as it looks. The mowed strip is not that wide.

I also stayed at lands Inn (49OR) - an absolutely great spot to stay for the eclipse. Our hosts Tom and Carol made this a magical event for all of us there. The food, the comaraderie and the eclipse itself were sublime. Here's our story of getting there and enjoying the event.

I was at Lands Inn also. It is a great place to fly into and camp, we plan on stopping in another time. Sure enjoyed seeing Tom D and Flyhound there!
I saw a total eclipse in 1991 at the south tip of Baja and the approaching shadow was so incredible that I wanted to make sure my wife got a chance to experience that with this Eclipse. And this one did not disappoint! The shadow was truly breathtaking to watch approaching from the horizon as you can see on the YouTube.

On a side note, I found a smoke forecast that Noaa does that was extremely helpful in navigating around the thickest smoke plumes. Just click on the time you want in the "vertical smoke integration" section. Also it can be zoomed in to any part of the country you are interested in.

http://airquality.weather.gov/sectors/pacnorthwest.php?period=4#tabs

Awesome videos both of you!


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Dustin from SmarterEveryDay has a REALLY cool video. Before totality, as the moon start's cover the sun, the ISS crossed in front of the sun.