For flight journal entries in my logbook, I'll be including the remarks from the book, verbatim.
12-18-06
C-172SP
47N-N70-47N
1.8 solo
5 landings
"Norm, short t.o/lndg, pattern ops, VOR nav, dead reckoning, unfam airport, dusk ops"
Been two months since my last flight... at the last minute, got the SP from 3PM on, which meant I had to be parked by 5, when the sun officially sets this time of year. I'm legal to fly without pax after dark, but it's been a long time, and there was a cold front moving in from the west, close enough to be of some concern.
Had a vague plan to do N05 to N70 then home, then decided while driving to the airport to play it safe and allow for any delay by just going to N70 and back... or even keeping it local. I really wanted to do some maneuvering, so just staying in the pattern wouldn't do...but I was undecided on leaving the immediate vicinity.
Arrived a bit early, but the airplane wasn't back yet. Got it ready to go at exactly 1500; even started it properly on the first try. Decided to do 3 circuits for legal currency before going anywhere, and while taxiing after the second (fairly good) landing, I spied the "Silver Bullet" taxiing out.
On base for 25, just before my second landing
I keyed the mic for a quick howdy:
"Hey, Gus, where you going?"
"I dunno; you tell me- where are we going?"
"I'm thinking... west."
""West sounds good..."
"I wanna do one more, then we go west"
"OK."
Here's the RV-4 on a takeoff roll... whoops, busy taxiing
So we each did a circuit, then I started out first.
-another blind shot... that's not the runway back there, it's the RR tracks-
We switched to 123.45, and in a few minutes Gus was at my 4 o'clock, well-spaced. It was hardly a formation flight at all, as neither of us has done much of that.
not much of a shot, but my first air-to-air at the controls. Whoop-dee-doo...
"How about Pennridge?" I asked. I had already followed the RR tracks a bit SW, intending to go do maneuvers nearby, but decided that with Gus to lead the way, the hop to Penn ridge would be simple.
"Sounds good."
The vis was about 10 miles; the sun was low, right in my face, and hidden by clouds. When he pulled ahead of me to lead the way, I could only make out the RV by its strobes. I knew the way roughly, but it was nice to have a seasoned local leading.
must've been between flashes here... can you see it?
About halfway there, near 3000 feet we realized we had about a 30-knot headwind. I hadn't topped off, but had about 22 gallons. Two hours, plus. But I was getting nervous. I couldn't recall the last time I'd left the pattern without full tanks... and there was a slightly lower cloud deck ahead. It was getting quite dark.
"I think I"m gonna stick the tanks again when we get there..." I told Gus.
Finally, Lake Noxamixon and the airport hove into view, and I almost pranged the 172 on landing, flaring way too high because the runway at N70 is twice as wide as at 47N... fortunately, I realized my mistake at once and checked my flare just enough to not let her drop too hard. I chuckled at myself... ...back in my student days, that would've been a real thumper. Got to get out of the TP more, though...
Parked near the pumps, sticked the tanks... burned only about 10 gallons...plenty left to return to 47N, especially with the strong west wind. But maybe I should top off, so I'm certain... no... but as I looked at the pump, I realized it was not a self-serve setup.
"Well", said Gus", your mind is made up for you".
I shrugged and again started the fuel-injected bird perfectly... twice in a rwo; a new record for me!
Next: pt. 2 (last)
