Fall Foliage Flight

The leaves have started to turn here in Pennsylvania. That means it was time for a flight to check them out from a higher perspective. First things first, and that means a solid flight plan. Of course, Mr. Vernon Fletcher offered his help. Here he is in action.

Note the seriousness of Mr. Fletcher’s countenance. He doesn’t fool around when it comes to chart stabilization or Coca-Cola sipping. Anyway, flight plan properly made, it was off to the skies. I headed west to the Allegheny Mountains and was not disappointed. Take a look.

And check out this winding lake between the hills.

I’m sure there will be another couple of weeks of fall colors to be seen. I’ll be up there, crisscrossing the area in search of nature’s glory. It’s worth every cent. Here’s a look at Altoona Airport from about 3000 feet.

Another couple of hours in the log book. Don’t forget to watch your airspeed, look out for other traffic, and always do your checklist.

Published in: on October 13, 2010 at 11:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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Tilt Rotor Incoming

The V-22 Osprey is an impressive hybrid machine. It’s part helicopter, part airplane. I had the good fortune to see one come in for a landing at my local airport as photographed here.

It truly is an amazing machine. Surprisingly, it’s not as noisy as a helicopter, but the downdraft is wicked. The pilot brought it in along the runway then set down in the field beyond the trees seen above. It must take a steady hand on the controls because the craft is floating in the air and susceptible to any breeze or disturbance. That’s why pilot training, and continued training, is critical. I only wish the same was done for people who drive cars. More and better training would lower the number of collisions and generally improve road safety.

Published in: on October 2, 2010 at 9:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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In A Big Country…

…you can fly forever. Well, almost. I took a nice flight to Sullivan County International Airport in Monticello, NY. The sky was mostly clear along the way, with a thin layer of clouds at 3,500 and 5,500. On the way north, I stopped at Mount Pocono (KMPO). Here’s a look at the first airport.

Runway 31-13 has just been repaved making for a smooth touchdown and rollout. After resetting the instruments I took off for Sullivan County (KMSV) which can be seen below.

That’s a long runway for a little plane like the Cessna 172 that I’m flying. And check out the trees. The leaves have just started to turn. On the way south, I passed by this big reservoir.

Yeah, in a big country you can fly a long while in small plane. Sure beats driving, too. The view is better, there’s less traffic, and it’s just plane fun. Don’t forget to watch your airspeed and always do your checklist.

Published in: on October 1, 2010 at 10:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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Hula Girl Co-Pilot

Remember that penguin from the movie Madagascar? You know, Skipper, the one who was in charge. He fell in love with the hula girl on the console of his airplane. I happened to be on a flight from Miami to Aruba the other day and spotted this.

You’re looking into the cockpit of a 757 there. A close examination reveals…

That’s right, the hula girl is ready to assist the co-pilot. By the way, these pilots were a gregarious pair. They walked the aisle before takeoff, chatted with passengers, and led a round of applause for military servicemen and their families. Little touches like that, make a fine trip even better.

“Don’t look doll. This might get hairy!”

Published in: on July 16, 2010 at 1:05 am  Leave a Comment  
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