The Oregon Coast is absolutely fantastic right now. Clear skies and light semi-onshore trade winds. Spring season is slowly fading into the Summer solstice Fri, Jun 20, 2025, 7:41 PM

The solstice(s) marks a significant change. Especially hurricane season in the Northern Eastern Pacific Ocean: May 15th to November 30th.

The beginnings and beauty of Summer will be here in about T -25 days! My cabin configuration and safety equipment will be updated to semi-warm weather flying…

Question: Do you change your aircraft safety configuration due to climate conditions and location? Please share your ideas.

If you operate over water consider routine training for egress etc. The USCG had an aircraft mockup (AKA “The sweat machine”) for inverted underwater egress at Kalaeloa Naval housing swimming pool (Barbers Point NAS). I’m not sure if it’s still there or crews go to Pensacola, FL now.

Flights in Hawaii that are inter island are 95% over water. The Molokai and Alenuihaha Channel can get really rough. I remember searching/locating a 60’ yacht off the big island and watching waves completely covering the decks! We communicated on CH16, and the captain said he lost steering. The yacht made it to Maui. Turns out the steering was fine, the boat (mid channel) was surfing down 20’ waves and broaching!

The following video demonstrates an expired mil-spec issued life raft. The valise is supposed to be a sea anchor (doesn’t work at all). Note how fast the wind moves the raft! We had a SAR in which a guy drifted 31NM in 48 hours, trade winds were 25knots with higher gusts. He was rescued, sent to the hospital and was back at the harbor the next day (completely recovered). Tough dude.

Storm Alvin —

The first cyclone of the 2025 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season off the southern coast of Baja California, Mexico:

Note: graphic and text for entertainment only.

WTF Batman! Look at “tornado alley” and the CAPE index! The gulf of America (AKA Gulf of Mexico) looks like it’s asking for a Hurricane?

I almost bought the farm in “Tornado Alley” delivering a seaplane to L.A. from Wip’s many many years ago!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convective_available_potential_energy

The summer months usually equate to better offshore pelagic fishing in the tropics. I have fresh bottom paint and a few good trolling lures ready to go.

REO Speed Wagon
Ridin' the Storm Out, 1973

“…It’s a hard life to live but it gives back what you give..”

Aloha!

(11) days until Summer. The surf pros are heading to Tahiti and Fiji (not to mention the other 10,000 islands in the South Pacific). Note: there is zero cyclone activity in any ocean right now? But, the lows in the southern hemisphere are pretty gnarly and sending long period swells to Hawaii.

Following video shows what my front yard looks like in Summer:

One of my first Heli solos. Barbers Point NAS (South Shore, Oahu). Soloing is a major accomplishment in a helicopter! Don’t try unless you have a really good instructor!

GARMIN VIRB
Music:
Frankie Valli, Grease 1971

GoPro
Music
Rare Earth (band)
1971, I just want to celebrate

The CAPE Index illustrates the thunderstorms over Texas this morning! “Danger Will Robinson!”



Two more cyclones:

Barbara — CAT (1)
Cosme — Storm force

Juneau, Alaska is known for a stable air lapses rate. Hundreds of seaplane and helicopter operations each summer enjoy the local area. It’s definitely a backcountry aviation wonderland.

But, there can be un-forecasted dangers… First thunderstorm in 6 years ripped a cruise ship from its moorings (please see below video)

The CAPE index shows ZERO chance of thunderstorms today in SW AK. One thing I have learned is never trust the weather forecast in Alaska, Washington and Oregon especially on the coast. Use the FAA cameras, PIREPs, and personal forecasting. Consider alternatives.





Video of same day DHC-3T Turbine Otter aircraft, operated by Promech Air killed 9 people in Ketchikan:

Year 2025 Summer is ten days old and presents a fantastic opportunity to get out on the ocean.

I’m freaking stoked! Mary and I are planning to sail from Los Angeles to the Northern Channel Islands, California. Using a “Hydrovane” for the majority of travel to steer my little ship. With a well trimmed sailboat, all that is needed is wind to steer. No electric motors, solar panels, hydraulics, diesels etc.. I totally love it!

Video #1: Anchored in Willow Cove next to Toyon Bay, Catalina Is. The “ Hydrovane” is the red vane on the stern.


Video#2: Windvane steering under reduced sail area passing Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, CA.



The four main Northern Islands are a national park with easy access. Many years ago it was permit only and we had to be escorted by a park ranger who flew out to greet us. They were very protective back then. The sectional shows: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands.




The little ship on the hard:

Equinox-2025.September.20 @ 18:20Z

(23) days until summer is “all Pau”.

Will you too miss summer or perhaps relish the arrival of Fall and Winter? Personally, Winter refreshes my appreciation of this beautiful world we live in. The celestial universe is so incredibly interesting if you take a little time and look at the sky once in a while. One significant WX event over the eastern Pacific (as the earth tilts away from the sun) is the Jet Stream starts to speed up. This can create EXTREMELY hazardous turbulence and wind shears in Oregon (and other places along the route). I have witnessed the extreme effects of microbursts, literally uprooting Douglas-fir and ejecting the trees 25 yards. And we all know the WX forecasts on the coast are not accurate generally.

Might be a good idea to start thinking about modifying your safety equipment (oil viscosity, engine preheat procedures) for colder days. In Hawaii seasonal temps are generally negligible at sea level (we run W100 all year generally), but The PNW is a totally different seasonal transition! Good idea to wash your engine thermo blanket before hand so it does not smell up the cabin after sitting around in the hanger all summer.

Fun question: you are standing on the equator during the equinox. What is the declination of the Sun?

A) 23.5 degrees tropics

B) 25.00” 00.00’

C) 90’00”

D) There is no declination due to the ambiguity

Below video is a summary of local PNW in Summer (from archives). Note the atmospheric inversion = smooth air:

Title: Love in an Elevator:

The previous post “Fun fact question” is in error. The correct answer was not listed. Correct answer: 00’00” degrees My apologies, please carry on men…

8GCBC wrote:
Wrong dude!

you are standing on the equator during the equinox. What is the declination of the Sun?

A) 23.5 degrees tropics

B) 25.00” 00.00’

C) 90’00”

D) There is no declination due to the ambiguity

. Google.com

On an equinox, the Sun's declination is 0° because the Sun is positioned directly above the Earth's equator. Declination is the angular distance of the Sun north or south of the celestial equator, so 0° declination means the Sun is on the equator itself. This alignment occurs twice a year, during the Vernal (Spring) Equinox and the Autumnal (Fall) Equinox, when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun.

(9) days until Fall season. Equinox-2025.September.20 @ 18:20Z

Footnotes: Remembering 9-11, the day that changed my entire life (unexpectedly) forever. May God help us!

Fast forward….

Today however I am super stoked to start some late summer fishing trips. Probably Oahu Westside (at least until the trades slow down to cross over to MKK).

It’s been a typical summer with no real threatening storms, tsunamis or shark attacks. There were several large tigers swimming at the Hilton! But, left peacefully!

Below video is a typical Summer day at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor. I was returning from the ocean and Mary grabbed the camera..

Oregon has many helicopter friendly areas. California and Hawaii has lots of rich folks who don’t want to see or hear a helicopter every (5) minutes!

The below video depicts a typical (PNW) Summer day in the forest miles away from any inhabitants.

Title: Power of Love

Summer “All Pau Brah” (Finished). Fall season is here!

Note:

The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE index) is rather low so far (year 2025). I remember reading main stream media and other sources were predicting that cyclonic storms were going to envelop the world if we didn’t purchase electric cars. Frankly, I was a bit worried. But, empirical data is disproving the prognostication. Even if the ACE index is normal this doesn’t preclude that the atmosphere is in healthy condition! Carpooling, walking, biking and turning your thermostats down still may have a small impact on air quality.

Disclaimer: I’m not against electric vehicles. However, the environment I’m in generally requires carbon fuels. But, let’s say Honolulu, Oahu for example would be a good place for an EV if you can get the charging situation worked out.

Carry on everyone … and please prepare for shorter days…and lower ambient temperatures…