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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Jerte Valley, Spain

Driving from the west, we entered the Jerte valley without realizing how steep and winding it’s path was. However, exiting to the east, you must climb a road of multiple switchbacks that will require the use of all the gears. Here’s a look from the top of the eastern edge, looking to the west.

The valley is well known for its cherry trees and small towns. We stayed at a marvelous place with a fine restaurant. More on them both in future posts. In the mean time, enjoy the beauty of this place.

Published in: on September 24, 2010 at 11:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Church of the Vera Cruz (again)

This is the second time I’ve visited the Church of the Vera Cruz in Segovia, Spain, and I was frustrated to find it closed… again!

In fact, I missed the opening hours by mere minutes. This is a Templar church and therefore mandatory on the itinerary. Nonetheless, I checked out some of the exterior detail such as theses capitals:

My understanding is that the interior is quite basic. Still, it’s worth a visit considering it’s place in history. Seeing sights like this goes a long way to contextualizing historical references and it is well worth the time seeking out the smaller, out of the way places as they were on the route followed by people in days gone by. It is a method of seeing what they saw, doing what they did. Enjoy the journey.

Published in: on September 21, 2010 at 5:28 pm  Leave a Comment  
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