Blackhawk in Town

A U.S. Navy Blackhawk visited one of my local airports the other day. Take a look.

You may have heard about these helicopters recently, and the crew they delivered to a select spot in Pakistan. Anyway, this one was decked out in a nice paint job for an official affair. The crew took special care of it, wiping it down as soon as they parked.

Small, fixed wing pilots are wise to keep well clear of such beasts. Those rotors throw a tremendous downwash that can create interesting effects near a small plane, especially taking off or landing. Plus, these guys have important work to do. I’d rather not be in the way.

Published in: on May 28, 2011 at 1:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Sasha, Avionics Supervisor

When visiting my local avionics shop the other day, I met Sasha, the shop cat. During the winter months, it seems she prefers the office. Take a look.

She’s settled into her perch there, probably atop the accounts receivable. It’s good to know there’s a cat around to calm the nerves and keep any potential trespassing vermin under control. Special thanks to the good people at Penn Avionics for doing a great job with the instruments in the airplane I fly, and for having such a pleasant cat.

Published in: on January 8, 2011 at 12:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Skylane

The Cessna 182 is sometimes referred to as the Skylane, and for good reason. It’s a slightly larger and much more powerful aircraft than the 172. It has the power to get up and go and keep going for quite a while. I was doing some writing at my local airport today and snapped this picture of a prime example of the machine:

It was a beautiful day for flying, crystal blue sky, light westerly breeze, and this 182 headed out to enjoy it. Stop by your local airport and watch the planes. It’s fun!

Published in: on April 11, 2010 at 5:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Breatrix Airport Improvements, Aruba

There have been a number of improvements to the Queen Beatrix Airport in Aruba. The new terminal has been open for years now. However they continue to expand the shops and duty free area. Now they’re adding a restaurant and minimarket at the the check-in area. Here’s a photo:

Just behind the sign, it was possible to see the framework of the buildings, much of which was already completed. I would guess that time of completion during the first quarter of 2010 is fairly realistic. These amenities may serve to tamp down some of the hunger of departing passengers, which is a good thing now that the airlines don’t offer much in the way of comestibles on the plane. At any rate, be patient during your waits in the security lines and at the gates. It’s just the way it is.

Bon dia.

Published in: on December 10, 2009 at 9:32 pm  Leave a Comment  
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