At long last! Solo flight, and more.

[Fozzer]

Hi Rotty...!

I love the first photo, where you are at the height when you feel that if you raise your hand outside, you can touch the bottom of the clouds....and with a slight pull back on the yoke you are up amongst them, diving in and out of the holes... ...!

Fantastic feeling... ...!

Cheers...!

Paul... ...!

[beefhole]

Yeah, what Paul said-the weather was like that on my first solo, shooting past the clouds just a couple hundred feet above me.

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle!

[beaky]

Don't know how I missed this. It's a tad late but a very interesting thread. Nice shots too. Great stuff.

PS. If I ever visit the US again (which seems unlikely) don't be surprised if I look you up.

That'd be terrific- hope you decide to come back someday. It's possible I'll visit England before then, but no definite plans yet.

[beaky]

Hi Rotty...!

I love the first photo, where you are at the height when you feel that if you raise your hand outside, you can touch the bottom of the clouds....and with a slight pull back on the yoke you are up amongst them, diving in and out of the holes... ...!

Fantastic feeling... ...!

Y'know, normally I enjoy that, but I was a little taken aback by it that time- the clouds were lower than reported, and since they had pretty much just started forming, it was pretty bumpy underneath. My route was taking me into slightly higher terrain, also- had I not had to abort the second leg of my flight due to time, I probably would've had to do so anyway, rather than find a way up top and risk getting caught as the clouds grew taller and more numerous.
 But oddly enough, I found that at 2500, the ride was too rough (not fun getting "tipped over" when you're out of practice!), but at 2900 it was very smooth for the most part, although occasionally I'd still "hit a bump" and lose some altitude. A little higher, and I'll bet it was bumpier again... and higher still it'd have been: "where'd everything go, and which way is up?!"
But of course, I was no less than 500 feet from the bases of the clouds at all times, as per FAR 91.155...

[beaky]

Rotty

That would be great to get together for a week-end.

Perhaps we can take in an airshow or meet at a fly in breakfast some place.

Well I am going to Great Britain next year as the old girl and one of our daughters just got back again this summer.  

Well, then, you should definitely look up the many UK SimVers while you're there... you have my permission to just show up at their doorstep anytime. No, really, it's fine, they won't mind...

Fall is a busy time for us as we do a lot of canning and preserves.  It is hard to get away in the fall and the winter.

We did a five hour sail this morning into the Bay of Quinte and through some of the 1000 islands.  Will be taking the boat out 2nd lift around Thanksgiving week-end October 10th...it is usually the week-end after so this is a busy time for us.

June, July and August are the months we get away as we are busy getting the gardens going in the spring.  The airstrip needs rolling and there are so many things to do.

Would love to come down sometime during those months for a quick visit so we will keep that in mind.

Bay of Quinte? Hmmm, why was I thinking you're in BC?  ???
Heck, Ontario's practically next door!

 This gives me an idea for a long X-C... not sure how the FBO feels about international flights with their rentals, but who knows? We could, of course, meet up near the border, on the US side... that is, if  you're allowed in .  ;) Just don't start telling any of those stories to the Customs people... At any rate, I would like to make a flight up that way one of these days; now I know who to ask about where to find the best $100 hamburger...
 Here's a good idea if you feel like making a longer trip: come down to Dutchess County and we could meet at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. I think you'd enjoy that...
or maybe meeting up at Elmira would be more equitable- I think they still have an air show there every year.
But, whatever- give me a "hollah" if you're headed this way anytime, and I'll let you know if and when I might be in your neck of the woods...
And as for my earlier comment about showing up on people's doorsteps, I've made it known here that any SimVer needing a place to flop in the NYC area for a few days is more than welcome here at the loft in Newark.  It's a little "ghetto", but there's lots of room and we're very close to KEWR. Just call first, so I can brush the dog and get my dirty laundry off the floor...

[MarcoAviator]

At any rate, I would like to make a flight up that way one of these days; now I know who to ask about where to find the best $100 hamburger...

Flying W or Lancaster are pretty good for food ...  ;D

About your bounces ... if it makes you feel any better, i have about 600 something landings and 180 hours and all of them in less than 2 years so I am in pretty decent shape.

And yet, no matter what the wind, whenever I land at flying W I drop it like a sack of potatos.

I just can't get landings at Flying W straight.

Sometimes I can grease landings in pretty hefty x-winds but when it comes to flying W, especially landing on Runway 1 I do some of my most horrible, teeth-jarring landings I can remember.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Hi Rotty...now you got me smiling

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome...I/we have been going to go there for years and still have not made it.

You and I should try to get together sometime in June for a trip like that.

Don't worry about Customs on either side of the border, I have landed in every State in your lovely country and never a problem.

We have flown into Oshkosh seven times but have not gone the past five years.  I remember when they gave so much stuff away....great stuff...ball caps, walking sticks, ashtrays, coolers etc that you had to mail it all home. LOL
Now I hear you pay for everything.
It was so hot the last year I was there you could fry an egg on the pavement.

Oh and yes before I leave for Great Britain I shall be calling Doug, Paul and a few more members to try and get together.

Have fun for now

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug