Rob Schaffer
Cleared for Takeoff
MISSON --> Operation NY Dog Extraction
OBJECTIVE --> Locate Dog, Codename, COLBY, extract from trainer, Return to base
STATUS --> COMPLETE SUCESS
Yesterday I had the opportunity to put my Private Pilot license to use for a true general aviation mission, and I accepted it whole heartedly. Bob Ciotti (rmciottijr) invited me to join him in a flight to Elmira NY in order to pickup his dog, Colby, from the hunting trainer she has been with traveling to various training locations and trials. After a few days of talking and planning the trip, we decided yesterday would be the day, and did we luck out or what with the weather! Great visibility all day, nice weather, and high clouds! Very Smooth ride up and back.
We met in the morning at KLOM and prepared N2609L for the ride. There were a few little things to store, tidy up, and inflate
and then we were on our way. We departed RY 24 for a gradual climbout into the wild blue yonder and turned our course North towards Allentown. After a few minutes of climbing, we were approaching Allentown and called them up for Flight Following. I had all the frequencies for the trip up and back noted on my lap, along with the VOR's and radials. As we would move farther up the chart, I would prepare the radio for the swap, and track our position by crossing VOR's. My instructor told me about those post-it arrows for following your position on the chart, so I had them stringing there way up our route. Allentown handed us off to NY Center, and then we went to Elmira TRSA before going into 7N1, Painted Post NY.
Along the route, we chatted about a lot of things, but also got a chance to play with my "new" Airmap 500. I was jumping VOR's in my GPS, while Bob's 2000C was on a direct plan. After about 3/4 of the trip, we realized my distance was not in NM, but Statute miles
. We had headwinds on the way up, so our groundspeed only achieved 90-92 most of the trip, but it was smooth and enjoyable.
Upon arrival at 7N1,... and an "arrival" it was, we taxied over to a tiedown and parked for the day. After getting ready to leave the airplane, I noticed the nav-light was on at the tail! Bob,.. master! Don't want to repeat the dead-battery senario that occured to me a few weeks ago with my parents fall folliage flight (which happened to be a weak battery for the record). The staff at Painted Post was very nice, and the have a variety of aircraft there too. We borrowed the courtesy van and headed off on the next adventure, finding Colby and the Trainers.
Of course, the Van was on empty,... so we found a local gas station and payed something around 2.59/gal for gas, and I saw a pizza shop. Quick ran over while Bob was filling the van, and grabbed two slices. Well,... they tasted ok,.. but they were in the warmer for a while,... last two slices they had.
Drove around to a few places, and finally ended up at the trial grounds where they were still competing. The trainer was still out with the dogs, so we waited around a little. Scenery was nice in these rolling hills of southern NY, with a little snow here and there. After a little bit, the trainer came in and we made our way to pick up Colby. Let's just say, Bob and Colby were excited to see one another, and there's a reason a dog is a man's best friend. You can tell in their smiles!
Back at the airport, we saddled up and topped off fuel. I called flight service and looks like we would have an 8-12 knot headwind (our course was 160*, wind at 180*) for the return leg at 5500 feet. We departed RY 14 at 7N1, and headed towards KELM. Called them up, recieved flight following. They had a Cessna Skymaster (if I recall,.. single engine, twin boom tail) departing and doing a "rapid accent" to altitude. He reported that he saw us,... we were looking. Found him,.. and wait,... we are moving up at nearly the same rate,... "Bob,.. you see him",.... "Yea",... "Bob,... pull the power,.. pull the power!
" We pulled the power,.. pushed down a little, and watched as the Skymaster flew most likely <250 feet over us,.. only 50-75' off our nose! Case where flight following and understanding traffic flow were way to Close,.... Do you think this needs an ASRS Report? I thought about it, but haven't decided yet. Nothing was said by any party (tower, us, or the other plane) over the radio.
We then continued our climb back up to 5500' and continued on our way. It was about 4 pm now,.. so we new the sun was going to be gone when we got back. The "Schaffer Autopilot" was enabled, so I flew the way back, as Bob pushed his seat back and gave Colby some treats. The plane handles nice, and it was my first time flying from the right seat. Did really well, and managed to adjust quickly to where things were and using the power with the left hand. Elmira handed us to Wilkes-Barre, then we went to Allentown, then Philadelphia, before decending into Wings about 5:20 pm. I took us over the field at 2500,.. then turned as we decended to pattern just south of the field. Entered the 45* downwind for RY 24, and handed the controls back to Bob. At 5:30, we were shut down and tied down,.... calling our wives
hoping for the best.
Overall, a great trip, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Very cool to use the license to get someplace for a reason other than lunch or just to go to an airport. I have a nice video I'll compile and post here soon (maybe this weekend) of our trip. Thanks to all for the emails, PM's, and Tips for this flight, worked out Great!
OBJECTIVE --> Locate Dog, Codename, COLBY, extract from trainer, Return to base
STATUS --> COMPLETE SUCESS
Yesterday I had the opportunity to put my Private Pilot license to use for a true general aviation mission, and I accepted it whole heartedly. Bob Ciotti (rmciottijr) invited me to join him in a flight to Elmira NY in order to pickup his dog, Colby, from the hunting trainer she has been with traveling to various training locations and trials. After a few days of talking and planning the trip, we decided yesterday would be the day, and did we luck out or what with the weather! Great visibility all day, nice weather, and high clouds! Very Smooth ride up and back.
We met in the morning at KLOM and prepared N2609L for the ride. There were a few little things to store, tidy up, and inflate
and then we were on our way. We departed RY 24 for a gradual climbout into the wild blue yonder and turned our course North towards Allentown. After a few minutes of climbing, we were approaching Allentown and called them up for Flight Following. I had all the frequencies for the trip up and back noted on my lap, along with the VOR's and radials. As we would move farther up the chart, I would prepare the radio for the swap, and track our position by crossing VOR's. My instructor told me about those post-it arrows for following your position on the chart, so I had them stringing there way up our route. Allentown handed us off to NY Center, and then we went to Elmira TRSA before going into 7N1, Painted Post NY.Along the route, we chatted about a lot of things, but also got a chance to play with my "new" Airmap 500. I was jumping VOR's in my GPS, while Bob's 2000C was on a direct plan. After about 3/4 of the trip, we realized my distance was not in NM, but Statute miles
. We had headwinds on the way up, so our groundspeed only achieved 90-92 most of the trip, but it was smooth and enjoyable.Upon arrival at 7N1,... and an "arrival" it was, we taxied over to a tiedown and parked for the day. After getting ready to leave the airplane, I noticed the nav-light was on at the tail! Bob,.. master! Don't want to repeat the dead-battery senario that occured to me a few weeks ago with my parents fall folliage flight (which happened to be a weak battery for the record). The staff at Painted Post was very nice, and the have a variety of aircraft there too. We borrowed the courtesy van and headed off on the next adventure, finding Colby and the Trainers.
Of course, the Van was on empty,... so we found a local gas station and payed something around 2.59/gal for gas, and I saw a pizza shop. Quick ran over while Bob was filling the van, and grabbed two slices. Well,... they tasted ok,.. but they were in the warmer for a while,... last two slices they had.
Drove around to a few places, and finally ended up at the trial grounds where they were still competing. The trainer was still out with the dogs, so we waited around a little. Scenery was nice in these rolling hills of southern NY, with a little snow here and there. After a little bit, the trainer came in and we made our way to pick up Colby. Let's just say, Bob and Colby were excited to see one another, and there's a reason a dog is a man's best friend. You can tell in their smiles!
Back at the airport, we saddled up and topped off fuel. I called flight service and looks like we would have an 8-12 knot headwind (our course was 160*, wind at 180*) for the return leg at 5500 feet. We departed RY 14 at 7N1, and headed towards KELM. Called them up, recieved flight following. They had a Cessna Skymaster (if I recall,.. single engine, twin boom tail) departing and doing a "rapid accent" to altitude. He reported that he saw us,... we were looking. Found him,.. and wait,... we are moving up at nearly the same rate,... "Bob,.. you see him",.... "Yea",... "Bob,... pull the power,.. pull the power!
" We pulled the power,.. pushed down a little, and watched as the Skymaster flew most likely <250 feet over us,.. only 50-75' off our nose! Case where flight following and understanding traffic flow were way to Close,.... Do you think this needs an ASRS Report? I thought about it, but haven't decided yet. Nothing was said by any party (tower, us, or the other plane) over the radio.We then continued our climb back up to 5500' and continued on our way. It was about 4 pm now,.. so we new the sun was going to be gone when we got back. The "Schaffer Autopilot" was enabled, so I flew the way back, as Bob pushed his seat back and gave Colby some treats. The plane handles nice, and it was my first time flying from the right seat. Did really well, and managed to adjust quickly to where things were and using the power with the left hand. Elmira handed us to Wilkes-Barre, then we went to Allentown, then Philadelphia, before decending into Wings about 5:20 pm. I took us over the field at 2500,.. then turned as we decended to pattern just south of the field. Entered the 45* downwind for RY 24, and handed the controls back to Bob. At 5:30, we were shut down and tied down,.... calling our wives
hoping for the best.Overall, a great trip, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Very cool to use the license to get someplace for a reason other than lunch or just to go to an airport. I have a nice video I'll compile and post here soon (maybe this weekend) of our trip. Thanks to all for the emails, PM's, and Tips for this flight, worked out Great!
,... admittingly, it was dark, and Bob was guiding me from pushing on the wing strut while I followed the line,... nosewheel is on the line, but it's crooked 
This way I can practice parking it Straight too !