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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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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Just Cruising Along

Flying in the trusty Cessna 172 as I frequently do, I pass by Pottstown-Limerick Airport (now Heritage, or for pilots out there KPTW). Anyway, this airport is one of my regular checkpoints on my way cruising to another locale. It’s easy to find because of the huge cooling towers at the nearby power plant. Here’s a shot of the field.

The runway itself is in good condition with ample width for those challenged by the centerline. You have to be mindful of the medevac helicopter that comes and goes. He’s known to depart in a hurry, and rightly so. Always do you checklist.

Published in: on July 12, 2010 at 6:40 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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