Just decide to go fly at midnight?

455 Bravo Uniform

455 Bravo Uniform

Final Approach
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455 Bravo Uniform
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Does anyone ever just decide late in the evening at the spur of the moment to go for a flight?
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
Does anyone ever just decide late in the evening at the spur of the moment to go for a flight?
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I have. Why not?

Flew plenty at the regional I flew at, and flew checks to MEM late at night, taking off around 10pm and getting back some nights at 2-3am.
 
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Yep. Never at midnight however, I'm in bed by then.:)
 
"Nothing good happens past midnight"....unless you are in Vegas!
 
Unfortunately I cannot do that without waking someone up and incurring an after hours charge.... or planning ahead and having it towed out onto the ramp.
 
Fly at midnight? Hummm, let me think. Yep, do it almost every night and have for the last thirty years. Leaving the hotel in a few minutes and hopefully in bed by 7 AM.

In GA planes, yep, used to just for fun...especially on full mooon nights.
 
FloridaPilot said:
"Nothing good happens past midnight"....unless you are in Vegas!
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Growing up one of my buddies dad always used to say that. I have never just decided to go flying at mid night but I don't see why not?? I have however been flying after midnight before, had a great conversation with a bored out of his mind Columbia approach controller at about 1 am once...nice guy
 
TRocket said:
Growing up one of my buddies dad always used to say that. I have never just decided to go flying at mid night but I don't see why not?? I have however been flying after midnight before, had a great conversation with a bored out of his mind Columbia approach controller at about 1 am once...nice guy
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Oh yeah, you definitely hear some great stuff late at night. Always LOL and I was flying by myself.
 
Hmm...its Friday night and I get off work at 11. From work it takes about 40 minutes to get to the hangar...20 minutes to preflight and its midnight...I just may give it a go.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
Does anyone ever just decide late in the evening at the spur of the moment to go for a flight?
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Flying at night is great. Sometimes I'll do my night currency landings at three different airports. My night flights as a student rarely started before 10 pm. Now, all that matters is that I'm not really tired.

I also take trips after work. Sunset at altitude is beautiful, but it goes very quick when you're flying east . . . .
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
Does anyone ever just decide late in the evening at the spur of the moment to go for a flight?
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As a noob I used to fly from the valley up to Tahoe with buddies and/or chickies, usually both, for a few hours after my bartending shift ended. What a dumbass I was....
 
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down.
After midnight, we're gonna chug-a-lug and shout.
We're gonna stimulate some action;
We're gonna get some satisfaction.
We're gonna find out what it is all about.
 
The short answer is yes. I've flown friends to get above the marine layer in California and to watch the fireworks in Orlando. Years ago, I'd fly late at night to get actual IFR experience.
 
Zeldman said:
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down.
After midnight, we're gonna chug-a-lug and shout.
We're gonna stimulate some action;
We're gonna get some satisfaction.
We're gonna find out what it is all about.
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That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
 
Not lately
But many years ago when I was new owner of an Arrow I lived not too far from lake Michigan. more than few times I took off at or after midnight with full moon and flew over lake michigan circling over at 1000 AGL for 30 minutes or so watching beautiful lake water shining in moon light like liquid silver . My most cherished memories of flying
 
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Night flights are very tranquil, with the calm air and what not. I like flying to a nearby airport and do a few landings to stay night-current (French Valley has amazing runway lights, BTW). Typically, I have the pattern all to myself.
 
ircphoenix said:
No takeoffs after 10pm due to noise abatement at the home drome... so... =\
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So no students can finish their PPL between mid-May and late September, huh? Must go over really well with the CFIs: well, you're done with everything but the Night XC. Looks like we'll be good to go in October. Better keep flying occasionally while we wait for darkness to arrive before 9:00, so that our departure an hour after civil twilight can occur before 10:00. Let's check your solo endorsement, yeah, you'll need two more between now and then . . . . .
 
Hank S said:
So no students can finish their PPL between mid-May and late September, huh? Must go over really well with the CFIs: well, you're done with everything but the Night XC. Looks like we'll be good to go in October. Better keep flying occasionally while we wait for darkness to arrive before 9:00, so that our departure an hour after civil twilight can occur before 10:00. Let's check your solo endorsement, yeah, you'll need two more between now and then . . . . .
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Winter was made for night currency. Summer was made for waiting till 2030 to start your preflight. 10pm is departure curfew. You can land at any time.
 
ircphoenix said:
No takeoffs after 10pm due to noise abatement at the home drome... so... =\
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So how often do you taxi around and do multiple run ups after 2200? :devil: :stirpot:

Tell anyone who complains that you really want to fly, but can't because it's after 10, so you're just trying to get your fix while not taking off . . . . .
 
ircphoenix said:
Winter was made for night currency. Summer was made for waiting till 2030 to start your preflight. 10pm is departure curfew. You can land at any time.
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What time does it get dark in summer? Specifically, when is Civil Twilight? Because it doesn't count as Night Flight until an hour after Civil Twilight, and you can't complete a flight after then if you aren't night current. Or take off, either.
 
Hank S said:
What time does it get dark in summer? Specifically, when is Civil Twilight? Because it doesn't count as Night Flight until an hour after Civil Twilight, and you can't complete a flight after then if you aren't night current. Or take off, either.
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Summer is three months long. The sunset times change. :)
 
ircphoenix said:
Summer is three months long. The sunset times change. :)
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But 10:00 doesn't. Just curious how much of the year your airport prevents you from being night current and effectively prevented from going places, or coming home from places, at the end of the day. Sure, you can land after 10, but you gotta be night current to be in the air . . .
 
Yes Yes Yes :)

I was working a rotating shift up until retirement. Get off swing shift--go fly. Graveyard---fly till 11 PM then go to work. For a bit I had more night time than day.

Alas now I'm an old fart, I haven't flown night for 12-13 years.
 
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