inav8r
Line Up and Wait
Well it was so beautiful in central Indiana on Saturday afternoon I just had to go flying. So I took the club 172 out for a couple of trips around the pattern and then down to OXD (Miami, OH) for the fun of it. On the way down, I went up to 5500 and got above the haze. I had a bizjet pass below and in front of me at 5000 - it sure caught me off guard but was cool to see one up close. As I got close to CVG's class B I went down to 3000 for the rest of the way in and landed. It's a nice airport and town was about 3 miles away - too far to walk I decided, so I emptied the water tank, stood around and talked to a Navajo owner for a little bit and then headed for home.
On the way back I only went up to 3500 ft and was in the haze the whole way home. Looking to the west (into the sun) visibility was only about 7-10 miles - looking anywhere else but into the sun it was 15-20 miles! There was some excitement as I got to New Castle (UWL) as I was listening in to their CTAF there was a plane on the ground doing a radio check and a plane in the pattern who thought the plane on the ground was also in the pattern. By the time they got done figuring out where each other was I was long past the airport.
When I got back to Anderson the sun was setting. It was a great flight - about 1.7 total down and back with the touch and go's and the lolligagging I did.
I stopped and talked with the lineman for about an hour and then decided that since it was dark I'd get my night currency again. I went back out and did a quick pre-flight and then three trips around the pattern w/ full stop landings. About .6 total time due to all of the taxiing. My landings were much better than the night I went up at night, that's for sure. It sure did help raise the confidence level - but also reinforces that I need a lot more night time before I decide to do any serious night cross countries.
On the way back I only went up to 3500 ft and was in the haze the whole way home. Looking to the west (into the sun) visibility was only about 7-10 miles - looking anywhere else but into the sun it was 15-20 miles! There was some excitement as I got to New Castle (UWL) as I was listening in to their CTAF there was a plane on the ground doing a radio check and a plane in the pattern who thought the plane on the ground was also in the pattern. By the time they got done figuring out where each other was I was long past the airport.
When I got back to Anderson the sun was setting. It was a great flight - about 1.7 total down and back with the touch and go's and the lolligagging I did.
I stopped and talked with the lineman for about an hour and then decided that since it was dark I'd get my night currency again. I went back out and did a quick pre-flight and then three trips around the pattern w/ full stop landings. About .6 total time due to all of the taxiing. My landings were much better than the night I went up at night, that's for sure. It sure did help raise the confidence level - but also reinforces that I need a lot more night time before I decide to do any serious night cross countries.
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