Category: Aviation

Articles related to aviation

Hangar therapy

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Faith2 Comments

What a week this has been. There were family problems, work problems, thank God there were no church problems. In fact my church has been a great help this week. For the first time in recent memory a church has helped us. Bless them. It was kind of a bell curve, the week started out good, got worse as it went on, then ended as good as it started. My wife and I got to go out to dinner alone for our wedding anniversary, which was very good. I feel I cheated her though, because my mind was still racing a mile a minute from this week.

But today my mind was freed and returned to normal. The best therapy besides prayer for me is aviation. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t get to fly today. It doesn’t matter that I spent the last two months building elevators that I can’t use. What matters is that I was able to spend a few quiet hours at the airport in my hangar working on my plane. It’s dirty and dangerous work. Dangerous to your eyes and fingers anyway. But the cares melted away with my vixen file, my bolts and bearings, my tin snips and clecoes. There is almost a poetry to drilling, deburring, dimpling, priming, and riveting. It somehow restores me. When I do it, I feel normal again. Though it is not normal for most men to build airplanes. But to me it is liberating.

Dreaming is almost as fun as doing. I have almost as much fun planning my flights as I do executing them. Even now I am trying to decide where to go after I have flight tested my elevators. Someplace close like Los Banos, or farther away like Oceano where I can walk onto the beach and watch the waves for a while. In the end it doesn’t really matter because it’s the journey I have come to enjoy much more than the destination.

Here’s to the journey.

Flight safety

On By The Flying DutchmanIn AviationLeave a comment

I recently completed my Biennial Flight Review or BFR as it’s known in aviation circles. You see, when you get your driver’s license, you take a driving test and that’s it. You may have to go back to take a written test from time to time but you probably won’t have to take the driving test again as long as you live. In aviation it’s different. You don’t get a pilot’s license per se, it’s a certificate of demonstrated ability. You must periodically demonstrate that ability, in fact, every two years.

A BFR consists of recurrent training with a Certified Flight Instructor or CFI. The CFI must spend one hour with you in ground instruction where regulations, aeronautical knowledge, weather, charts, and the like are covered. Then you must spend one hour in the air doing… well whatever the CFI senses your weak areas are… that’s what you do.

I got through the ground portion easily enough. It’s always the flight test that gets me. It’s not that the manuvers are that hard, it’s just that I don’t fly a Cessna 172 that often. After flying an RV-4 for two years, a 172 handles like a big truck with manual steering. I plunked it on the runway twice and then made one good landing. I think the CFI signed me off just to get me out of there.

🙂

I hate doing it but I know it is all about flight safety. I really enjoy this hobby but I always have to remember that aviation is “terribly unforgiving of any carelessness or neglect.”

Beware, dear son of my heart,
lest in thy newfound power thou seekest
even the gates of Olympus….
These wings may bring thy freedom
but may also come thy death.

— Daedalus to Icarus,
after teaching his son to use
his new wings of wax and feathers

Fresno, CA (KFCH)

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, RV-4Leave a comment
kfch.jpg

Flew into Fresno Chandler Downtown Airport today. I had some work to do down at the Fresno Bee. The work was okay but the commute was great!

The air was cool and still this morning when I took off from Oakdale, CA (O27) at 9am this morning. I levelled off at 3000 MSL to enjoy the sights. The trip took about 35 minutes from take-off to landing, 45 minutes from engine start to engine shutdown. Considering it would normally take me about an hour and a half to drive there, that’s not bad.

One of my counterparts down at The Fresno Bee came out to the airport to pick me up and was very understanding about me being a little late. He hung around and waited even though they were having system problems back at work. Whatta’ guy!

He also related seeing a gyrocopter accident just before I landed. I heard Unicom announce that 30R was closed when I was on downwind. Not a big deal since I was headed in to 30L. Thank goodness they didn’t close the whole airport down like some communities would! My co-worker related that the gyrocopter was starting his take-off run but wasn’t getting into the air very well. He set back down on the runway a couple of times. The last time he set down it appeared like he had drifted off the runway because as soon as he touched down he started cartwheeling. The pilot got out and was walking around so we assumed he was okay. But probably very unhappy.

We drove down to the Bee where I spent most of the day down in the basement working on the server I was assigned to rebuild and eventually got it working well enough so that they could limp along through to the next day. After some mandatory visiting and shop talk I was driven back to Fresno Chandler Airport.

I packed my laptop and my CD collection up in the back seat and strapped in. It took about 45 minutes in the air to get back to Oakdale because of the afternoon Delta Breezes. Usually about 10 – 15 mph from the northwest. Just the direction I had to go, great. I climbed up to 4500 MSL for the trip home and found calm air again. There was very little headwind at this altitude so I levelled off and headed for home.

I got back to Oakdale and it felt hotter there than in Fresno! That is just wierd. But I made a decent landing, not great but good. I was glad no one was around. 🙂 When I got back to my hangar I shut the plane down, opened the canopy, and just sat and listened to the ticking of the engine cooling. I always pause for a few minutes after flying to just sit in the plane and express my gratitude to the Lord as He has seen fit to allow me to engage in such a wonderful passtime!

What a great commute I had!

If your interested in the trip I just took, here is the TripTick I created on AeroPlanner: Fresno 2-Aug-06 0929.pdf

Paso Robles, CA (KPRB)

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, RV-4Leave a comment

 

KPRB

 

 

Lunch at Paso Robles

A few weeks ago some friends and I decided to fly to Paso Robles for lunch.  Dennis and his son Chris flew in Dennis’ RV-6A and I flew along in my RV-4.  The trip of about 145 miles took us just under an hour from wheels up to wheels down on the ground.

We taxied up to the transient parking that was just in font of Matthew’s at the Airport and secured our aircraft.  We could have parked closer except for the two ANG C-130’s parked directly in front of the restaraunt.  They were loading a bunch of young men who looked as though they were going camping or something; lots of back packs and boxes.  They had parachutes too.  I wonder what they were going to do with them?

Dennis, Chris, and I enjoyed watching the military display in front of us while we waited for our food.  Soon the C-130’s were gone and we were left to a peaceful lunch.  The food there is definately as good as other patrons of Matthew’s have stated.  After a leisurely lunch we hopped back in our planes and started to head back toward Oakdale.  We had to wait for the returning C-130’s to taxi past us.  I wonder where all the guys in the back went?

It was late afternoon and getting a little bumpy over the hills so I took the short route to the valley via Coalinga while Dennis flew directly back so he could stop for fuel at Gustine.   I headed toward the Sierra Nevada foothills and did a little sight seeing on the way back.  Dennis and I arrived back at Oakdale at almost the same time.

If you ever find yourself hungry and you’re near Paso Robles, be sure to stop in at Matthews!  Great place!

Aloft upon the Breath of God

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, FaithLeave a comment

There is a certain peace I feel as I stride through the early morning air toward the hangar. There air is cool with just the faintest hint of sage and honeysuckle.  I can hear the sounds of early country morning all around me. A horse snorts through the grass just on the other side of the fence. Farther out in the pasture the cattle call to one another. The birds sing their joy in the sunrise of a new day. Maybe they, like I, look forward to a day when all will be new.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;”
Isaiah 65:17-18

The hangar doors yawn widely and allow the sun to reflect off the tiny aircraft waiting inside. I look at it and temper my pride with comparison to God’s handiwork.  Aircraft are only a cartoonish reflection of the creatures God created for flight. Their sleek lines and perfect symmetry have yet to be aptly duplicated by man. Nor do I suppose they ever will be. However, I am glad God has gifted man with flight and further blessed me with His generosity. I don’t even deserve to live much less enjoy such a wonderful gift as flight! Thank God for His mercy and generosity!

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalms 53:1-3

My plane is ready and roars to life. I make my way to the end of the runway to perform my pre-flight checks. I radio my intention to leave the earth if only breifly. I hesitate for only a moment as I pull out onto the runway. I stare into an azure blue sky. The white clouds strewn about give this blue canvas texture and majesty. I gaze at the clouds hoping to see a sight I long for.
 
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”
Mark 13:26

I advance my throttle and my plane races forward to my skyward goal. As I am lifted into the air I enjoy a small taste of that joy that is to come. A small joy that only a chosen few enjoy in this day. A joy that all who are chosen will one day enjoy.

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17

And then I find myself suspended upon the breath of God. All around my pathetic little craft I hear the roaring wind…

And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:2

Is it only the relative wind careening past me or is the Spirit of God surrounding me, holding me aloft by His very breath? The invisible holding up the visible.  Around me the clouds testify to the glory and majesty of God. Painted in hues of fire by the rising sun.

Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning. So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
Numbers 9:15-16

The light laden clouds are only shadowy portals to my glorious future, chosen by God to gorify and enjoy Him forever. One day to pass through the clouds never again to set foot on earth until all things have been made new by our creator.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

BFR time again

On By The Flying DutchmanIn AviationLeave a comment

Seems like I just took my BFR (Biennial Flight Review) but it’s already that time again.  Pilots are certificated to fly for as long as they are physically capable.  A pilot’s license isn’t a license at all but a certificate of “demonstrated ability.”  As such, we are required to demonstrate our ability to safely pilot an aircraft on an on-going basis.  For a pleasure flyer like myself it’s every two years.

Since I’m a cheap pleasure flyer I’m heading down to Fresno Chandler Airport (KFCH) for a free Wings seminar and free flight instruction both of which will satisfy my BFR requirement.  The Wings program is a series of free safety seminars sponsored by the FAA.  It promises to be a fun day that will help make me a safer pilot all around.

Here’s some information on Wings Weekend 2006.

*** UPDATE ***

The flight was a no-go because of weather.  Guess I’ll have to pay for my BFR like everyone else.

McMinville, OR (KMMV)

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, TravelLeave a comment

 

kmmv

  

I stopped at McMinville a few years ago on my way to Arlington.  This is a flat out great airport!  There is camping on the field with showers.  There is a nice FBO there with pilot food (snacks, candy, microwave stuff, and soda).  But must of all there is the Evergreen Museum across the highway which hosues the Spruce Goose.  The museum folks will even drive over to the airport to pick you up and drop you off.  This is just a great destination if you’ve never been.

Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Faith, PoetryLeave a comment

Lord guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with them traversing the air
In darkening storms or sunshine fair.

Thou who dost keep with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight,
Thou of the tempered winds, be near,
That, having thee, they know no fear.

Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold them with thy saving grace.
O God, protect the men who fly
Thro’ lonely ways beneath the sky.

Amen

By Mary C.D. Hamilton

Shelter Cove, CA (0Q5)

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Travel2 Comments

 

 

Shelter Cove (0Q5) is a beautiful trip.  Flying along the rugged sheer cliffs of California’s Lost Cost is breath-taking.  I took a trip here with a few friends last year.  We ate at The Chart Room which is a 2 minute walk from the tie-down area at the north end of the field.  Right across the street was the Inn of the Lost Cost which is situated on the edge of a low cliff.

The airport is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on 3 sides which makes for a beautiful approach.  The day we landed there were moderate breakers crashing on the rocks just off the approach end of the runway.  It was hard to focus on the numbers with those beautiful waves crashing in front of me.  I’ll go back with a video camera one of these days to capture that approach.  Just gorgeous!

Hollister Municipal Airport – Hollister, CA (3O7)

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Travel2 Comments

 

 

Hollister is a neat place to visit.  It’s a WWII era training base that was handed over to the City of Hollister.  Most of the buildings have been kept in tact so you still have that old military feel to the field.  There is also a cafe on the field called the Dingaling which serves pretty good eats.  Hollister is also home to several Reno racers and some gorgeous P51’s.  You’re almost certain to find some hangar doors open on the weekend.  Drop by and take a peek.