DesertNomad
Pattern Altitude
We had planned a trip from Reno to Seattle this week in the Dakota to see the Tigers (my wife is from Detroit) play the Mariners.
Two years ago we did the same trip and, without an IFR rating, had to fly into Yakima and drive over the Cascades because of IFR conditions in the Seattle area. I had hoped that this year, with my now year-old IFR rating, we'd be able to fly directly into the actual destination.
Unfortunately, we've had very unusual weather here in Nevada with lingering rain and lots of embedded thunderstorms. With an MEA of 11,000, we would be well into the freezing level. Tomorrow is more of the same. Given the weather today as seen from my house, I would never even open my hangar door - hail is no fun.
So tomorrow, instead of a 3:50 flight, we are setting out for a 12-14 hour drive.
Sigh.
Two years ago we did the same trip and, without an IFR rating, had to fly into Yakima and drive over the Cascades because of IFR conditions in the Seattle area. I had hoped that this year, with my now year-old IFR rating, we'd be able to fly directly into the actual destination.
Unfortunately, we've had very unusual weather here in Nevada with lingering rain and lots of embedded thunderstorms. With an MEA of 11,000, we would be well into the freezing level. Tomorrow is more of the same. Given the weather today as seen from my house, I would never even open my hangar door - hail is no fun.
So tomorrow, instead of a 3:50 flight, we are setting out for a 12-14 hour drive.
Sigh.