On route to Packwood, Part 3/3
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:13 pmThe bad feeling took just one mountain to become a bad surprise. When I finally got in sight the Packwood valley, a cloud wall was preventing me from seeing the ground. I had no GPS, finding the airport looked impossible.
The only idea that came to my mind was to get under the clouds to check if anything was visible. I was running low on fuel, and that place would not even let me find a piece of clear terrain for an emergency landing. This sounded bad...very bad...
I was now under the cloud layer, the visibility was good enough to let me follow the river and the main road. I could remember that both of these were passing near the Packwood airstrip, so following them looked like the one and only solution to find my destination. But finally, at the last moment, a good surprise !
The cloud layer was smaller than expected! I could see the blue sky again (that hurts, by the way, do not forget your sunglasses) and knowing that I was very close to Packwood, I decided to get immediatelly higher, to increase my view range and to loose some forward speed. Packwood was there, closer than I thought. A quick look around to spot any other aircraft, and I announced my very short approach with the radio, while lining up with the runway.
No time to check the wind direction, it was too late already, and I didn't want to take the risk of going around and discovering that the runway was covered by the nearby clouds in the meanwhile. Fortunately (well...) the fuel was very low, the airplane very light, and the forward speed seemed quite reasonnable. I started the descend over that little hill, I could almost ear the frightened birds...
The runway was here, I pulled gently the stick to raise my nose, and the airplane began to level-flight at some feet above the ground. Due to my catastrophic approach, my airspeed was a little too high, but nothing critical. Ok the touchdown was a little far from the runway threshold, but anyway I still had enough distance to brake and stop.
Without loosing any time, I made a half-turn and headed to the parking. When te airplane was finally parked, I turned off the engines and took a breath of fresh air. I had my dose of emotions for today.
That's all folks.
The only idea that came to my mind was to get under the clouds to check if anything was visible. I was running low on fuel, and that place would not even let me find a piece of clear terrain for an emergency landing. This sounded bad...very bad...
I was now under the cloud layer, the visibility was good enough to let me follow the river and the main road. I could remember that both of these were passing near the Packwood airstrip, so following them looked like the one and only solution to find my destination. But finally, at the last moment, a good surprise !
The cloud layer was smaller than expected! I could see the blue sky again (that hurts, by the way, do not forget your sunglasses) and knowing that I was very close to Packwood, I decided to get immediatelly higher, to increase my view range and to loose some forward speed. Packwood was there, closer than I thought. A quick look around to spot any other aircraft, and I announced my very short approach with the radio, while lining up with the runway.
No time to check the wind direction, it was too late already, and I didn't want to take the risk of going around and discovering that the runway was covered by the nearby clouds in the meanwhile. Fortunately (well...) the fuel was very low, the airplane very light, and the forward speed seemed quite reasonnable. I started the descend over that little hill, I could almost ear the frightened birds...
The runway was here, I pulled gently the stick to raise my nose, and the airplane began to level-flight at some feet above the ground. Due to my catastrophic approach, my airspeed was a little too high, but nothing critical. Ok the touchdown was a little far from the runway threshold, but anyway I still had enough distance to brake and stop.
Without loosing any time, I made a half-turn and headed to the parking. When te airplane was finally parked, I turned off the engines and took a breath of fresh air. I had my dose of emotions for today.
That's all folks.
