Hayden's Air Tour

Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

I think Diana had ended up with him last winter. When Dawn and Diana and I had supper at Beaumont Dawn got him. Then I got him so I could take him to Wings. He did in fact go through security without prompting a search and even spent the night with me in the terminal at Atlanta. At Wings I put him on the picnic table and ran away.

Yep, when I left from Wings in May 2009 I opened the baggage door of the Sundowner to put our luggage in, and voila, there was Hayden staring me in the face. So he made the trek back to NH with Marisol and I.
I would have taken pictures if I wasn't so boneheaded and left my camera
behind in the hotel room, never to be seen again... DOH!

I know that he was hanging out with Tony for a while and already has had experience with the TSA as carry on luggage.

He then spent some time with AdamB, and was aboard the Aztruck next to the keg on the way to Gastons.

I also gave him some more experience with the TSA, as the first leg of my Gaston's trip was MHT-PHL on SWA. I carried him in my carryon without questions. He then visited with old friends at Wings for a sendoff dinner, before ejoying some lengthy time next to the keg in the Aztec.

Sounds like I did exactly as Tony did at Wings. As soon as I got to Gastons, I set him on the picnic table and walked away to let him watch over and enjoy in the weekends events.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Hayden must be cleaning up his act, going to a seminary and all...

Don't ya know...no one goes to seminary 'cause they've "cleaned up their act." It's just to make others "think" they've cleaned up their act. :eek:
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

My host and his lady friend spent 5 years on the Wartburg campus. He has told me that that was an enjoyable period of his life.


Hayden

Hayden here. Just wanted to say somethin...

I'm not sure why my "host" calls THE owner of the 195 "lady friend." :skeptical: I guess maybe 'cause the PIC of the 195 has taken me "under his wing." I'll keep you posted when more details are available.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

I heard this and I had to post it.
 

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Hayden goes to China

My host took me on one of his trips to China this week. We started off in Operations doing all that pre flight planning stuff pilots do. In the first picture, I am looking at all the computers that they have in that room. Not many people using them at the moment, but when a lot of flights are leaving at the same time, it seems as though most are being used.

In the next picture, I was introduced to the lady in the background. She puts out the paperwork the pilots need to operate their flights. The pilot in the picture is picking up his paperwork. He will take it to a table like the one shown in the third picture. That picture was taken before the rest of my host's crew showed up to flight plan. There are a lot of tables in that room. I suppose there are times when a lot of flights go out at the same time.

In the last picture, that is me at the gate. It is kind of hard to see, but it shows that the flight will leave at 12:41 PM. Why 12:41? Why not 12:40? These things confuse me.

Next installment shortly.

Hayden.
 

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Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

That is great Greg!!! glad Hayden is keeping us informed. It would be a riot if you got a photo of a Pax after you explained you were taking Hayden into the cockpit so he can fly if you take a nap LOL.
 
Hayden goes to China Part 2

It was my host's turn to do the inside of the cockpit preflight stuff and he didn't really have time to take pictures so we will fast forward to the inflight stuff. The first picture was taken after the Captain and flying First Officer left the cockpit for their break. I am sitting in what they call a "Jump Seat". There are actually two of them and during takeoffs and landings, all of the seats are full of pilots.

The second picture shows me doing some sight seeing. The next two pictures are taken out of the cockpit window. The first is over northern Canada and the second is over the Arctic Ocean. Quite frankly, there are times when the view is pretty boring.

The 5th picture is just a picture of the panel. I really don't know what all that stuff is. I am glad my Host does.

In the last picture, I saw a couple of pretty massive rivers come together somewhere in Russia. I am not sure exactly where that is, but it was pretty desolate there.

Well, that is all for this installment.

Hayden.
 

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Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Great pictures and updates! Looks like Hayden has fully recovered from his surgery.
 
Hayden goes to China Part 3

This is the last installment of my trip to China.

The weather was not real conducive for sight seeing. It was rainy and my host was not willing to take me many places. But I did convince him to take a couple of pictures to prove I was actually in China.

The first picture is of me in front of the JW Marriott sign in Beijing. That is the only real proof I was ever there. The second pic is a shot of the hotel. It is a real nice place. I was told that it is a much better place than where the crews had been staying.

It was my host's turn to do the outside preflight and he took me with him and pointed out a few things. The next pictures are the highlights of that "event". In the third picture, my host is showing me how the crews check air pressure in the tires. The 4th and 5th pictures show me inspecting the tires. Man there are a lot of tires on this thing.

The last two pictures are of me inspecting the engine. Man those things are HUGE.

Well, my trip to China is over. I didn't get to see some of the things I would have liked to see, but hey, at least I got to go. I have no idea what my next adventure might be, but I imagine it will be interesting.

Hayden.
 

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Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Glad to see Hayden survived his trip to China. I guess the TSA allows garden gnomes in the cockpit. Hayden got a view that most of us never will.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

I love reading about Hayden's adventures, and admit to some jealousy! :)
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Dropping the guise of Hayden, I do have to say that I find it very impressive to see in flight shots of a 777 to China. I do believe those are the first ones of that kind I've seen from you, Greg. Excellent.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Hey this is what Hayden is truely about... every host of hayden really needs to take notes!
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Dropping the guise of Hayden, I do have to say that I find it very impressive to see in flight shots of a 777 to China. I do believe those are the first ones of that kind I've seen from you, Greg. Excellent.

I don't normally carry a camera. :nonod::smilewinkgrin:
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Well,

Last last installment. I forgot a very important part of the flight to and from China. That is crew breaks. Picture 1 is me in the bunk room. Picture 2. Nighty night. The pillow is comfortable, but the mattress is kind of hard.

Picture 3. Ahem, can't a Gnome get any privacy around here?

Until later,

Hayden
 

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Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Greg, those pictures are excellent. Thanks for sharing and giving us a view of what you see - very interesting!

I agree - this is what Hayden should be about.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Heyden here...agaaain.

I got so excited about my upcoming trip to China that I didn't get a chance to let you all know that I had a delightful time last weekend helping the host family's "lady" more commonly known as Sharon, make and eat some yummy apple pie. And boy did we have fun making it AND eating it (of course), especially with the help of my host and friend, Felix.

We had so much fun I got all excited and threw some flour up in the air. Oops...Sorrry!...for making a mess after you took all that time cleaning up!
That's why there's flour all over the place...I just can't help myself sometimes!
 

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Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Hayden sure looks like he had a lot of fun visiting the Bockhome. Pie, a trip to China, what more could he want? :)

He's not going to want to leave...
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

For hanging out with someone who doesn't like him very much, Hayden sure is having a good time...
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

I love reading about Hayden's adventures, and admit to some jealousy! :)

This is fun. Hayden needs his own POA username though! Can't we get him a username that he can post his adventures from so it's easier to follow him? The login information could be passed from host to host just in case he forgets it. :yesnod:
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

I'm sure that he will sneak into someone's plane/car at Osh. :yikes:

He won't have to sneak. He already has a volunteer. :yesnod::D

Which is how it is SUPPOSED to work.

If we ever get Narita back, I would like to take him to Japan.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Hayden sure looks like he had a lot of fun visiting the Bockhome. Pie, a trip to China, what more could he want? :)

He's not going to want to leave...

Yeah, the next person who gets him won't possibly be able to top that, but hopefully can give him some fun adventures nonetheless. :)

This is fun. Hayden needs his own POA username though! Can't we get him a username that he can post his adventures from so it's easier to follow him? The login information could be passed from host to host just in case he forgets it. :yesnod:

Lisa, I think that is a great idea! Whoever has Hayden will own that username for that time period. MC, does anyone have an issue with this?
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

He won't have to sneak. He already has a volunteer. :yesnod::D

Which is how it is SUPPOSED to work.

If we ever get Narita back, I would like to take him to Japan.

So when do we find out his next destintion?
 
Re: Hayden goes to China Part 2

It was my host's turn to do the inside of the cockpit preflight stuff and he didn't really have time to take pictures so we will fast forward to the inflight stuff. The first picture was taken after the Captain and flying First Officer left the cockpit for their break. I am sitting in what they call a "Jump Seat". There are actually two of them and during takeoffs and landings, all of the seats are full of pilots.

Why is it I keep thinking of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5yCwN7wymc

When I see pictures of Hayden in an airplane?
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Missa's right this is great Greg!! Its the way its supposed to work with Hayden.
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Greetings fine people of PoA, this is Hayden. I wanted to let all of you know that I am safe and sound, having survived Oshkosh. It was an amazing experience!

I had a wonderful time with Greg and Sharon, who were most gracious hosts. Yet we know all good things must come to an end. I was packed up in the 195 with the camping gear, and we had a nice flight out. I even got a window seat! Much better than sitting in the overhead baggage compartment. We had to hold over the lake for an hour, and when I landed I really needed to find the little gnome's room. Once that was taken care of, it was time to rehydrate and get to the serious business of partying at Oshkosh. We headed to Grant and Leslie's Tuesday night party. The first order of business was getting handed off to my new host. He promised that I would have a fun adventure with him, as he has many travel plans ahead. I've been told that he doesn't like staying in one state for very long, and in the past week and a half has been in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New York, back to Pennsylvania, out to Wisconsin, back to Pennsylvania, and then the adventures we've had since returning from Oshkosh (don't want to spoil that surprise!).

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My new host started me off right by introducing me to Grant's margaritas.

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You might ask yourself, "How could a little gnome drink all that? Well, I managed.

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I ended up spending two full days at Oshkosh, during which I saw a number of sights. Oshkosh is a wonderful experience, and I'd recommend that if you haven't made the trip to the Mecca of airplanes, that you venture forth one of these years. My host says that he only likes spending two full days there, as that's enough time for him to see the sights he wants to see.

More to come soon, including more pictures from my adventures at Oshkosh and from my travels thus far!

-Hayden
 
Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Greetings, PoA! I, Hayden, have another update on my life. I do apologize for the tardiness of this writing, however I've had a very busy past few weeks! Oshkosh itself was a grand time, and then my host took me on a business trip. He then became ill, and I nursed him back to health, being the good gnome that I am. Anyway, let me tell you a bit more about the details...

My host only spent two full days at Osh, and so along with that I only spent two full days with him. He seemed to enjoy spending time over by N34, with another friend of his. What is N34, you might ask? Well, I was curious...

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And decided to find out more.

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It turns out, N34 is the last remaining DC-3 in the FAA's Flight Inspection fleet. While it has long since been retired, now living a life of leisure on travel to air shows, this plane once existed to ensure the navaids we use every day for instrument flight (and frequently for VFR flight as well) were functioning properly. It's these fine people who keep the skies safe for us instrument pilots, and allow us to see without sight. My host says that whenever he does a real instrument approach and descends out of the clouds to have the runway presented before him, he is still amazed. This stuff is just too cool.

Although now replaced by King Airs and Lears, this DC-3 was a working plane that did these routes. As you can see, the equipment it has is a little old, with only basic ADFs and VORs. This was well before GPS became commonplace.

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Where I'm sitting below is the station where someone used to confirm the signals used were, in fact, correct. Today you still have a person sitting in a similar station making this determination, although the equipment has changed since this plane was last in service. I also notice that there's a bucket hat sitting at this station, meaning the last person who operated this equipment must have been a glider goober!

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My host managed to get me some left seat time. Few people know that I'm actually type rated in a DC-3. Unfortunately, I left my type rating in my other cap, so they wouldn't let me solo it. My host says that the manifold pressure gauge in this looks identical to the one in his Aztec, and still can't figure out why Piper put a gauge that goes to 75" of manifold pressure on a naturally aspirated aircraft. Apparently the answer was "Because it was cheap."

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You might wonder where the modern radios are in this airplane. Well, that radar display (the yellow screen in the middle of the panel up top) is actually a fake cover. Under it, I'm told there's a Garmin 430.

Here I am waving hi!

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Closer shot here...

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I really liked N34. Aside from the fact that I have that DC-3 type rating I was talking about, it represents the kinder, gentler side of the FAA. The side that truly is here to help, and reminds us that they, too, are just other people who think old planes are cool. Not only does N34 have a lot of history as a working plane, but it's just cool in general. I learned that more than anything, to keep it flying they need support and money. I encourage you all to write your congressgnomes, and tell them that you want to see N34 keep flying. The price of keeping it flying is pennies in the bucket, and well worth it. There aren't enough of these sorts of planes around anymore, and we need to keep as many of them flying as we can.

While standing around N34, I also got to see this gnome's favorite DC-3 (N34 is my second favorite), Duggy! How can you not smile at a yellow DC-3 with a smiley face on it? I don't think I want to meet the person who doesn't smile at Duggy. That person has no soul.

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My host had to do some work while he was there, but his work is very cool, at least if you ask me. He had to sit in this airplane that looks really fast and grab some data off of the computer to examine. I got to sit in it with him. He sure is serious about his work!

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He then told me that if I could sweet talk the owner into throwing him the keys, that he'd take me flying. My gnomish charms were unsuccessful, however, so instead we just sat in it and made airplane noises.

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There were, of course, more things to see at Oshkosh. There were parties (that I didn't attend, I had too much to drink at Grant and Leslie's), airplanes, more airplanes, things for sale, all kinds of fun stuff. It is worth going and seeing, at least for a day or two.

Unfortunately, my host didn't take any pictures of the flight home. On the way, he made a short hop down to Milwaukee to have lunch with one PoAer and one babe, and then filed direct back home to Williamsport at 11,000 ft. About 3.5 hours later, he got us home safely. I am promised that we'll be making some more flights in the Aztec and will take more pictures then.

More to come! I still have a trip to New York and to Boston to talk about!

-Hayden
 
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Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007

Looks familiar. I think I rode with a crew on that plane doing a flight check at ISP. I know I rode with the crew on one of the old Saberliners. That was back in the early 80s...

It's a lot of fun....
 
Greetings again! Hayden here once again. I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update, but a lot has happened since then! Also, my host has been extremely busy and not had a tremendous amount of free time to help me write my entries. His keyboard isn't very good for my gnomish hands.

After returning from Oshkosh, we had only a short few days in Williamsport before we had to head up to Boston. While on the way, we stopped in New York. Here I am, on our way to New York.

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My host has told me that flying into New York doesn't end up saving any time vs. driving from Williamsport, so he ends up driving on these trips. Plus he has to drive on business trips unless he can fly commercial, so he ends up driving. Here we are approaching New York City. My first trip, I'm so excited!

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As you approach New York on I-80, you can see the city skyline. My host says it never looks right to him since the World Trade Center was hit close to eight years ago.

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The George Washington Bridge is a wonderful piece of engineering. From the upper level, you get a beautiful view of the Hudson.

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This was a brief visit to New York, mostly to stop and take care of some business, so he forgot to take any pictures. Then we were back in the truck heading up to Boston.

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While in Boston, my host was on top secret business that I wasn't allowed to see, so I spent a lot of time in the hotel room, mostly ordering Pay-Per-View movies on the TV. I don't think he paid any attention when he signed the bill, though, so I think I got away with it. Whew! While we were in Boston, though, my host had the opportunity to go flying with AdamB in his Trinidad. I really liked the Trinidad. It's a nice "go places" plane, has good performance, a turbo, and feels like a more modern plane compared to most of the other planes that I fly in with its interior. Here I am, helping on the pre-flight.

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Aren't the gullwing doors cool?

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I figured after the great job I did on the pre-flight, I figured I'd be getting my appropriate position in right seat, so I got in and was all ready to go.

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I was kicked out, though. How rude! At least, at first I thought it was rather rude, but then I met the flight attendant.

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She and I hit it off well! She was cute, I liked her.

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But what happens in New Hampshire, stays in New Hampshire, so I'm not one to gnome and tell!

After our trip to Boston, we returned to Williamsport for a week. That weekend we went to a small fly-in at KVAY for ARF in preparation for the Georgia Puppy Caravan flight the following weekend, so I got to spend some quality time in the Aztec.

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I really enjoyed the view I got from up here!

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This was somewhat of a staging fly-in. The Georgia Puppy Caravan had five months worth of planning going into it, and we wanted to make sure that everything went off without a hitch.

That following week, my host was off work, but was even busier than when he was normally working. We made another brief trip to New York, and this time got some pictures of where my host grew up. As he puts it, he was "born and raised 150 feet in the air", having spent all of his upbringing in this Manhattan apartment on the 16th floor.

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The apartment has been redone a few times, but is still the same place he lived in. The view is quite nice overall for New York. It's hard to get much better unless you have an apartment either right on Central Park, or else right on the water. The cost of such apartments go from ridiculous to ludicrous.

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My host's dog also came over to enjoy the view.

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Following this brief trip, my host flew down to Georgia for the Georgia Puppy Caravan. This event, which had five months of planning going into it, aimed to provide tons of supplies (literally) to local animal shelters down there, and move animals from down there to new shelters up north, where they won't be put down and have a far better chance of finding their forever homes. Over 22 tons of dog food were delivered, and a shelter of close to 200 dogs was emptied. My host says that another trip down to Georgia in the near future is highly likely to continue the work started last weekend.

That brings us about up to current on my adventures! More will surely come soon, though. I am a gnome that gets around!

-Hayden
 
Well... When Ted said I wouldn't be making the trip to 6Y9 with him, I was absolutely beside myself. (Perhaps Missa can fill in the gaps here; I was too grief stricken to remember exactly how it all went down.)

Luckily, Missa said she'd take me. (Yipee!) So, off we went. Sadly, despite my joy over the 6Y9 trip, I was still in a funk.

Clark said, "Pull yourself together man!"
And, so, here I am. Heading down a new path. Trying to find myself. (Kind of crazy at this point in my life. But, I'm hopeful.)

Feeling grounded, even though I'm flying about in the Super Yankee. I know my boots were made for walkin' (or flyin' or wanderin') and we'll get this all sorted out.

-Hayden

Current Mood: Optimistic
 

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OK, what happened to poor Hayden????? Did he fall out of an airplane???? :eek:
 
Actually, it was my fault. While under my care, Hayden suffered an acute fracture at his hip area.

But I still haven't finished telling his story from my end - will try to get to that soon!
 
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