Birthday flight for Braman

July 1st, 2008

Well, my time away from flying paid off. I had the opportunity to give a ride to a young man who was celebrating his 13th today. His name is Braman, and he has always loved airplanes and flying. I had the chance to give Braman a ride when he was about 8 years old, and at that time, his dad was suffering from a brain tumor. We went flying to try and cheer him up a bit, and his dad wanted him to fly…he was a pilot as well, and owned a Cessna 337 Skymaster. His dad passed away not long after that, and Braman never lost his passion for flying. He “flew” on Microsoft Flight Simulator every day after that. Fast forward five years, and his mom contacted me about getting Bramen in an airplane for his 13th birthday. You can bet I was more than happy to oblige.

When Braman and his mom showed up at the airport today, he had no idea that he was going to fly. He said “Mom, we’ve been here before, and I just want to go home.” I said, “You sure you don’t want to go fly?” His eyes sorta lit up, and his mom said “Surprise!”

With his spirits lifted (he had just been to the orthodontist), we walked out the ramp door to the waiting Diamond DA20. Braman and I did a full preflight of the airplane, and I explained things to him as we walked around, and answered his questions. After preflight, I had Braman hop in the left seat, and I strapped in to the right seat. We went over everything in the cockpit, and walked thru the engine start.

Engine running, ATIS in hand, and a taxi clearance from ground control, and we were on our way to runway 29. The winds were 260 at 8, and the skies were clear. We taxied out behind a CRJ, which I think Braman thought was pretty cool. Out at the runway, we did a runup, and called the tower for a takeoff clearance. “Diamond 409AM, runway 29, you’re cleared for takeoff, left turnout to the southwest is approved.” Here we go!

I did the takeoff, and maneuvered us to the southwest side of town where I handed the airplane over to Braman. He has no prior training, other than Flight Sim, but I wanted to see if he could hold altitude at 2,500′ to start. To my surprise (perhaps I shouldn’t have been), he was able to keep the airplane within +200, -50 of our target altitude, and he did that for the entire flight!! Set up at 2,500′ we loitered around the area about 15-18 miles from Bloomington, and then flew on over to Clinton Lake to fly around that were he and his mom still go to take the boat out, just like they did when dad was still alive. He knew exactly where we were over the lake. He pointed out the marina, the launch, the powerplant cooling channel, and the cove they always go to…he’s 13!!! While over the lake, I took a couple pictures of Braman flying the airplane…

After we flew around the lake, I said it was time to head back to Bloomington, but that we could fly over his house first. I told him the general direction to head back to the airport. He made the turn, and flew us to about ten miles out when he said “I see it.” Good eyes. His house is about five miles from the airport, and at that point, I took the airplane back so we could circle over his house, and school.

It was time to head back in, and it all went by WAY to fast for him. I called the tower from five miles out to let them know we were done with our circle, and were inbound. They told us to report a two mile left base for runway 29. At 2 miles, I was about to call when they called us to tell us we were in sight, and were cleared to land runway 29. Winds were the same as when we departed, and I made a not-so-sensational landing, but two very soft touchdowns. :o)

As we taxied in, we talked a little more about learning to fly. While I am not an instructor, and this time can’t be logged for him, I told him I feel he will make an excellent pilot very soon, and he got a big smile on his face. After we shut down, we met back up with mom, and we talked a little about lessons. She agreed, and we’ll have a new student pilot very soon!

This was one of those very special flights for me, and while I’m positive it made his day, it made mine as well.

Happy 13th Birthday Braman!!

0.8 logged

Another month of desk flying…

Yep.  It has now been one month, AGAIN, since I last flew.  Amazing how time slips away these days.  I have been able to watch a bunch of people go flying from my new desk location at work, however.  I have a beautiful view right over the top of our general aviation ramp from my desk on the second floor of our FBO building.  While the view is nice, and it does keep my mind on the sky, it’d be nice if I could take an hour or so in the next few days, and just shoot some touch and go’s or something…and I am not a fan of shooting touch and go’s.  Never have been for some reason.  It’s good practice I guess, but it seems like a waste of time to me.  I want to GO somewhere!  “So, you went flying?”  “Yep.”  “Where’d ya go?”  “Nowhere.”  I don’t like the thought of saying that.  Spend $150, and go nowhere.

The main reason I don’t fly very often, is because the price of fuel, and the price of rentals have both gone up, as well as selling the King Air that I used to fly.  When it’s not my airplane that I’m spending money on flying, it’s hard to let that money go.  When I get my airplane finished, the price of fuel may well be $10/gal., so the cost of flying it will double…again.  Oh well.  That’s the price one has to pay to enjoy the passions in our lives.  My wife’s passion is dog training, obedience trials, and hunt tests.  Those cost money too, and are getting more expensive all the time as well.  Pay for the passions, or quite complaining I guess, huh?

I probably should go shoot some touch and go’s…

Frasca pick up

Posted at 10:23pm central time on the 16th, not on the 17th as the stamp says…

I got a quick trip in today in the Comanche. This was one of those from my boss where he says…”Are you doing anything?:” Nope. “I need to run that Aztec over to Frasca.” (Yes, as in Frasca Simulators) “Can you run over to pick me up?” Yep. Today was one of those days that no one need to ask twice about flying. Hazy, but perfect in every other way. Friday, 72 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and light winds. My boss, Ken, has been friends with the Frasca family for a long time. I’ve known them for a few years, and I jump at each chance to go visit their airport because you never know what you’re going to see over there. They have a real Spitfire, a P-40, a Yak something or other under reconstruction, and the list goes on. The collection is very impressive, and today, I got a first hand look at their newest addition. I’ll get to that in a moment.

First, the flying…Ken walked out first and had the engines running when I got out to the Comanche. When I got started, they had made it down to the runway, and I was pulling out on to the taxiway when they departed. As I said, the winds were light, 240 at 6, and runway 20 was in use. Flying solo in the Comanche is quite nice. They have a bunch of room in them, and with all those ponies up front, it climbs very well, even on a warm day. I only went to 3500′ since Frasca is only about 40nm away. Got a good shot of the windmill farm…

When I was 7 miles out, Ken called 5 miles out, so I almost caught him! They actually run about the same speed at that altitude. I turned a bit to the north because I didn’t have him in sight, and didn’t want to run him over in my decent. His next call was downwind, and I made a two mile call at that point. I made right downwind entry for runway 27, winds were calm over there. Ken had back-taxied the runway, and was off as I turned final. I made a pretty good landing, but definitely not one of my best.

As I taxied in, I noticed something very small sitting over near the Frasca maintenance hanger. You never know what you’ll at this place. Their newest acquisition, is a 1936 Aeronca C3 “Bathtub”.

The only place I have ever seen one of these, was hanging from a ceiling in the EAA Museum, and in a restaurant at Lunkin Airport in Cincinnati. This one had FLOWN in to the airport, and was about to be run while we were there!

Anyway, what a site to see this little antique taxi around the airport. It really looks like a bathtub with wings! Parked next to the Aeronca was a Stearman being fueled…

We needed to get going back home, however, so after chatting with Rudy and Tom Frasca for a few minutes, we hoped in the Comanche for the 25 minute ride home. I flew, Ken rode shotgun. Runway 27 for departure, and on up to 4500′ back to Bloomington…windmills on the right this time…

I made a short approach to runway 20, winds were now 240 at 12, and made a very nice touchdown with Ken saying “Nice job!” Good to hear.

0.8 hours logged

Flying to ‘Papa’s’

Yesterday (Sunday, the 4th), was my Grandpa’s (Papa) birthday party down in Litchfield, IL, about 86nm southwest of us.  He will be 76 this year…his birthday is the 7th…and my mom puts together a yearly get together for his birthday.  To make the drive down there is 2 hours.  I HATE driving, even riding in the back as we would’ve done going with my parents.  The day was perfect, and with an airplane available, I made the call to fly down there, and if they wanted to, my parents could ride with us.  It took about 2.2 seconds for them to decide they would ride along.  See, it’s 35 minutes of flying vs. 2 hours of driving.  Of course, there is the drive to the airport, getting the airplane ready, taxi…blah, blah, blah.  It was still no more than just over an hour of total time either way from home to Papa’s and back.

We arrived at the airport just after 11am, and were taxiing out at 11:30.  Dad was up front with me, mom and Brit took the back seats.  We departed off of runway 20 in to calm winds, climbed on up to 6500′ to cruise down to 3LF with a 150 knot ground speed.

Here’s the fam at 6500′ in the ‘ol Comanche…

Smooth flying in the cool morning air was very welcoming to Brit and my mom.  Arriving in to the Litchfield area, I flew just to the west of the airport to get a look at the windsock and wind “T”.  They both favored runway 27, guessing the wind was about 250 at 8 or so (half filled wind sock).  I try really hard to make smooth landings all the time, but with mom and Brit on board, my senses are elevated even further.  I got a “great landing” from both of them.  That was nice to hear.

We spent the afternoon at Papa’s house, had a great big lunch, enjoyed the time visiting with everyone.  At about 4:15 in the afternoon, we made our way back out to the airport.  My aunt, her boyfriend, and my cousins helped us get everything back in to the Comanche, and we hopped in, fired up, and taxied out to runway 27.  Winds were calm, and three arrivals were using 27.  We departed, and made a left turn to the southeast to fly over Papa’s house to give him a wing wave.  He was outside waiting for us.  Two passes over the property with a big wave from him, and we were climbing out to head home at 5500′ northeast bound.  It was a little choppy going home from the afternoon heating, but not bad.  Mom hates the bumps, but she said it was tolerable.  Cruising with a slight tailwind gave us 154 knots ground speed (I cruise the Comanche at 65% power for about 150kt true airspeed…and it STILL burns 14gph!!!!)

Arriving back in the Bloomington area at 5:15, my mom got to see a regional jet depart as we were on a downwind for runway 20.  She loves to see other airplanes in the air…I think we all do.  Winds were 220 at 6, and I made another nice touchdown.  They said it was a good landing…I have to say it wasn’t as good as the one in Litchfield, but good enough for them.

This was one of those days that will be remembered for a long time.  Flying with my family, seeing Papa for his birthday, most of the rest of the family, and some old friends, plus some of the best weather available to the Midwest made it a great one!

1.6 hours logged

Barney 2.0

It had to be flown again…to check the airspeed indicator working, and to make sure the voltage regulator was “turned up”…whatevet that means.  Anyway, it flew fine, other than a fouled plug on run up.  Got that cleared up, and we departed runway 29 to the southwest to fly by Jack’s house.  He took a picture of us flying by, but I don’t think it turned out.  He said it was in the bottom corner of the frame.  I’ll see if he can send it to me so I can post it, if it’s any good at all.  Back at Bloomington, we set up for a left downwind to runway 29, with winds 260 at 10.  Archers are so nice to land.  Barney is a purple pig of an airplane, but it flies, so I’m happy!

0.5 logged.