Civil Air Patrol

While at my local small airport doing some writing, I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of pilots who work with the Civil Air Patrol. Here in the United States, the Civil Air Patrol is given the task of inland search and rescue. If a small plane goes down these volunteers head out to find it. They also patrol for other purposes such as firewatches and the like. Here’s a look at one of their planes, a Cessna 182.

Many of these volunteers are former military and commercial pilots, that is people with many years of experience and plenty of training. The guys that I met were among the most competent pilots I had the pleasure of speaking with in recent months. They were also friendly and willing to explain the details of their tasks, equipment, and approach to both. I learned a few good tips this day, all for the price of a handshake. A great deal if ever there was one.

Published in: on May 23, 2011 at 1:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , ,

Cruising in the Cirrus

Recently, I had the privilege of getting checked out in a different aircraft, namely the Cirrus G20. This is not your grandfather’s Cessna, but rather a completely different machine. In the first place, it is a composite airplane, made of fiberglass-like materials as opposed to aluminum. Secondly, this one is equipped with a “glass” avionics panel, meaning the instrumentation is presented on display screens as opposed to individual “gauges.” Take a look at the panel during my recent flight.

There’s plenty of eye candy there. The panel on the left is the primary flight display and gives the pilot all the essentials such as airspeed, altitude, heading, and so forth. On the right, is the multi-function display, through which can be accessed engine operational info, a moving map, and much, much more. It takes some practice to make the most of these panels, but once you are familiar, they prove invaluable in terms of situational awareness, ease of navigation, and generally enhance the flying experience. So, let’s take a look out the window.

You can see this is a low-wing aircraft. Beyond the leading edge, looking generally north, are the rolling green hills of Pennsylvania, which are quite nice to fly over during much of the year, especially in autumn. Naturally, I’m looking forward to continued improvement in my flying skills and stretching out my cross-country trips to new and farther destinations. The Cirrus makes that a more comfortable and enjoyable proposition.

Published in: on May 22, 2011 at 11:20 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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  
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Creature Comforts, Flying

No doubt about it, commercial air travel can be uncomfortable these days. You’re packed into an aluminum tube with a couple hundred other souls, anxious to get somewhere, hoping to avoid delays. The air gets dry. Your stomach rumbles. Maybe you’re nervous about flying in the first place. Let’s take a look a few small things that can make the trip just a little better. After all, there’s always room for improvement. American Airlines hands out the following kit to their business and first class passengers. However, there’s no reason why you can’t make up a crafty unit like this for yourself. It starts with a neat pouch to contain your amenities.

Not bad, but the one shown above is a little large. I’d scale it down if I was putting my own together, perhaps to about half that size. Opening up, take a look at how neatly things are packed.

Things are pretty well stowed inside there. I give them an A for packability, if that’s a term. Removing the items you can take stock of what’s all in this unit.

Check that out. You have socks to keep your feet warm and comfortable. Eyeshades if you’d like to sleep while the lights are on. Lip balm and moisturizing cream to protect you skin form the dry air. Ear plugs in the small blue box and some tissues. A pen to work the crossword puzzle in the magazine (I needed the part from this one, which is why its missing). A toothbrush and some mints because fresh breath is a gift to yourself and everyone around you. A moist towelette to get that funk off your hands and face.

I’d add a few things. How about some snacks, like dried fruit and nuts in small packs. A couple 1 oz. bottles of Jack Daniel’s to mix with my free club soda. A device to play my favorite music or audio book. Keep the liquids below the federal limits for security. What else? Let me know.

Flying doesn’t have to be hades at the edge of the stratosphere. Prior preparation prevents poor performance. Take a moment to think about your trip, how you’re going to get there via airplane, and what measures could easily be taken to make it more enjoyable. You’ll be glad you did. The poor guy next to you will be jealous.

Published in: on June 6, 2010 at 1:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »