EminiTrader
Cleared for Takeoff
I've been so damn busy the past few weeks I hadn't any flying time. I have a trip planned with family tomorrow so I figured I'd grab a couple hours and practice turns, short field landing, stalls, the whole 9.
I go down to Palatka (28J) and it's slammed with planes doing pattern work. It's going along pretty well. Now generally I find that in a SR22 I'm typically the fastest in the pattern. So I am very aware of where everyone is, and try to slow down if needed as not to cut anyone off or interfere with anyone. Typically I'll extend downwind to add spacing.
So I turn downwind and I hear another guy calling "45 to downwind",. I see him and tell him I've got him and I'm going to extend downwind to give him some space. He turns base, I go another 30 seconds and I turn base.
He's on short final, I make two radio calls "turning final #2" then "1 mile final".. Then over on a base leg I can see in front on me (cause I extended a bit) another airplane - I call out to him- nothing... guy cuts me right off- They had parachute ops going on so all I could really do is climb out above or I risked hitting parachutes.
Damn..
Ok so I leave for Cedar Key to do some short field work. And there is a TON of GA traffic today. I generally stay with approach at least to listen and tune in 121.5 or the CTAF of where I'm going. I did NOT get a squak code as I was planning on doing steep turns and such.
I see traffic on the G1000 and on foreflight - 4 or 5 planes pretty close. Too close for my comfort. My head is on a damn swivel.
So then I spot a plane that was probably a little higher than I - but basically coming straight at me. Close as I'd ever been to any other aircraft in the air.... I had my eye on him and I waited a few seconds to see what he was going to do. I'm convinced he never saw me. I did a hard right turn/dive to get away from him then said to hell with this and climbed up to 7500 to do my stalls and turns.
So two somewhat close calls in 15 minutes.... Keep your eyes outside guys! I love the G1000, foreflight, and all that too - but outside is where it is!
Sorry - just had to vent.
I go down to Palatka (28J) and it's slammed with planes doing pattern work. It's going along pretty well. Now generally I find that in a SR22 I'm typically the fastest in the pattern. So I am very aware of where everyone is, and try to slow down if needed as not to cut anyone off or interfere with anyone. Typically I'll extend downwind to add spacing.
So I turn downwind and I hear another guy calling "45 to downwind",. I see him and tell him I've got him and I'm going to extend downwind to give him some space. He turns base, I go another 30 seconds and I turn base.
He's on short final, I make two radio calls "turning final #2" then "1 mile final".. Then over on a base leg I can see in front on me (cause I extended a bit) another airplane - I call out to him- nothing... guy cuts me right off- They had parachute ops going on so all I could really do is climb out above or I risked hitting parachutes.
Damn..
Ok so I leave for Cedar Key to do some short field work. And there is a TON of GA traffic today. I generally stay with approach at least to listen and tune in 121.5 or the CTAF of where I'm going. I did NOT get a squak code as I was planning on doing steep turns and such.
I see traffic on the G1000 and on foreflight - 4 or 5 planes pretty close. Too close for my comfort. My head is on a damn swivel.
So then I spot a plane that was probably a little higher than I - but basically coming straight at me. Close as I'd ever been to any other aircraft in the air.... I had my eye on him and I waited a few seconds to see what he was going to do. I'm convinced he never saw me. I did a hard right turn/dive to get away from him then said to hell with this and climbed up to 7500 to do my stalls and turns.
So two somewhat close calls in 15 minutes.... Keep your eyes outside guys! I love the G1000, foreflight, and all that too - but outside is where it is!
Sorry - just had to vent.