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Got Dark ? - August 21, 2017

You know, there are some really experienced characters here on BackCountryPilot.org who have seen and done just about everything aviation related.

I don’t want to embarrass any folks like Cary, MTV, Gump, Courierguy and others so I won’t mention any names.

But here is an event that I think would be a first for a LOT of people, namely to fly PIC during a total solar eclipse.

I have been on the ground behind a telescope for one, but never PIC in a small plane. Seeing all the stars pop out for a brief moment at altitude I bet would be a hoot. Here are some links that may be helpful. Astronomy is another one of my hobbies so kindly indulge me if I happen to find this little celestial anomaly combined with my interest in flying more than just a little interesting. Looking at the paths through some of the states, KitFox (ID) , Husky (WY), BackCountryCubs (WY), Zenith (Mo), Just Aircraft (SC) and a few other aircraft manufacturers will be right next to the action. I'm sure a lot of BCP folks here will be able to see it as well. Any chance anyone here is from Oregon ?




Oregon


Idaho:


Wyoming


Missouri


Tennessee


South Carolina




It is now on my Bucket List

D,
two other items on my list:
Fly the Lake Clark Pass in winter during a full moon...

Fly a significant aurora event at night up in Talkeetna or Fairbanks ...


Rocket

Rocket, did you see that unbelievable aurora we had winter of 2001 or 2002 (I'm guessing the year)?

Reddest, most vibrant one I'd ever seen. I was lucky enough to have just taken off from Point Hope headed to Kotz fairly late at night when it started. I shut off all the aircraft lights, inside and out, and was bathed in blood red light for the 90 minute trip home. It was huge, hanging curtains of light slowly twisting around. I have never seen anything like that one before. Plenty of greens, and a few reddish, but none had ever come close to this one for sheer spectacle.

When I landed, all the townfolk were outside going ooooh-ahhhh, and NOTHING ever got that bunch outside going ooooh-ahhhh. But in town with the light pollution, it was nothing like it was from the airplane.

Gump

Used to do the same Gumb......flying from FAI to BTT at night...with all the lights off was like being at a drive in movie with all the lights. Had a lot of Japanese newly married couples fly into Bettles in winter to see the lites suppose to have an affect on something

Over my head in Casper at 10:30MT; heck yeah. Might even get airborne, out of town, and head east along the path to see if I can extend it.

GumpAir wrote:Rocket, did you see that unbelievable aurora we had winter of 2001 or 2002 (I'm guessing the year)?

Reddest, most vibrant one I'd ever seen. I was lucky enough to have just taken off from Point Hope headed to Kotz fairly late at night when it started. I shut off all the aircraft lights, inside and out, and was bathed in blood red light for the 90 minute trip home. It was huge, hanging curtains of light slowly twisting around. I have never seen anything like that one before. Plenty of greens, and a few reddish, but none had ever come close to this one for sheer spectacle.

When I landed, all the townfolk were outside going ooooh-ahhhh, and NOTHING ever got that bunch outside going ooooh-ahhhh. But in town with the light pollution, it was nothing like it was from the airplane.

Gump

I remember that night Gump. I was a younger pup back then, and down in Alberta, but I've never seen red aurora like that ever before and ever after. Like blood pouring out of a hole in the sky and swirling around. Almost eerie.
No light pollution out on the farm, but to be in the air at the time must have been incredible. Although, the way you say sleds fly, I may have been at a higher ASL then you!

Well just this past week there was a total solar eclipse that passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight were able to see. There is a pretty cool video here in the link that was shot by a passenger ( an astronomer no less) on the flight. One thing I never realized is that from the air you can see the approaching shadow. It's weird, like a giant dark foot print .


Link: Tuesday's solar eclipse as seen from Alaska Airlines Flight 870 over the Pacific Ocean

http://www.space.com/32214-total-solar-eclipse-airline-flight-video.html

Maybe some of these maps will be helpful .

Is anyone planning to experience the eclipse by actually flying into it?

That's what I was thinking..

A few of us are planning to fly up to Stanley - and then see how long we can stay in the shadow coming southeast.

DonC wrote:Used to do the same Gumb......flying from FAI to BTT at night...with all the lights off was like being at a drive in movie with all the lights. Had a lot of Japanese newly married couples fly into Bettles in winter to see the lites suppose to have an affect on something

Not for nothing, but we conceived twins under the Northern Lights, AND a number of years later went to a friends wedding where there was a great display of them. My wife warned them about being careful that night, but apparently the warning went unheeded and they also conceived twins that very evening. Incidentally, one of our twins will be in Stanley this summer guiding river trips so she should get a great view of the eclipse.

Pete

How dark does it really get?

Tim

GumpAir wrote:Rocket, did you see that unbelievable aurora we had winter of 2001 or 2002 (I'm guessing the year)?

Reddest, most vibrant one I'd ever seen. I was lucky enough to have just taken off from Point Hope headed to Kotz fairly late at night when it started. I shut off all the aircraft lights, inside and out, and was bathed in blood red light for the 90 minute trip home. It was huge, hanging curtains of light slowly twisting around. I have never seen anything like that one before. Plenty of greens, and a few reddish, but none had ever come close to this one for sheer spectacle.

When I landed, all the townfolk were outside going ooooh-ahhhh, and NOTHING ever got that bunch outside going ooooh-ahhhh. But in town with the light pollution, it was nothing like it was from the airplane.

Gump

That sounds like quite the experience Gump!

very cool!!!!

Well youse guys and gals, believe it or don't, the eclipse totality may be variable. I was privileged to see the 1991 in Oaxaca Mexico. It went for four minutes. It was awesome, but it didn't really get as dark as one might imagine.
Let us know how it went. For me, it's a backcountry strip in Idaho, lying on the ground, using speshul eclipse glasses. Not saying where...

I just hope it is not smoky. I have been in Idaho when you could not see the sky.


Tim

For folks in the US....in case you are busy on August 21, 2017 and can't catch the eclipse...

There will be a repeat: April 8, 2024 — Total Solar Eclipse

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8

I have had some thoughts about going to one of the airports along the way to see the eclipse from the ground, but I hadn't thought of being in the air during the eclipse. That would be different.

Cary

@ Cary :

Here is a link to a video of a total eclipse shot from an airliner probably at 35k feet.



I'd love to see some videos shot from smaller GA planes at say 3000 feet.

Maybe watch the eclipse as it approaches, fly into the eclipse's shadow, and then do a 180 turn and fly along for as long as you can. Obviously the shadow will move much faster, but still. Just seeing all the stars pop out would be cool as well.

Maybe experiencing it in a silent glider would be the ultimate aeronautical zen experience.

I hope folks will be posting some aerial videos.