Dave Siciliano
Final Approach
The flight out from Dallas (Addison) to San Diego was sure a long one Thursday.
We had 50 knot winds almost off the nose for the entire trip and turbulance: what fun!!
I had decided to take the Baron to build my twin time (because I'm making offers on another Baron) which limited my flight envelope quite a bit (as far as altitude alternatives and range).
We tried to stay low leaving Addison (filed at 8,000), but that soon became very bumpy. Actually, departing Addison was a bit tricky as high winds created a lot of chop from rotation up to 2,500 feet. The plane had two adults and three teens in it and lots of stuff. I was taking a friend to Palm Springs: his father was giving his daughtere a car; so, I was flyinging him, his son and daughter out so they could pick up the car and drive it back. I have another friend with family in PSP and dropped their son off for the weekend.
We had ground speeds as slow as 125 knots for part of the trip, and seldom saw over 150. This is with the plane trueing over 180. The headwind wasn't as hard on us as the constant chop. From Dallas to El Paso wasn't too bad except for the climb and decent. From El Paso to Palm Springs got pretty bumpy. One of our young pacs got sick in the back around Tucson. Before she could find an airsick bag or other convenience in which she could deposit her lunch, it came up. The good part was it was chicken ceasar salad (could have been much worse). The bad part was it had a distinctive odor we all got to share until we landed.
At 10,000 between Phoenix and Vicko intersection, we were at 0 c in visible moisture. Began getting a little ice on the front of the wings. We watched it carefully to see if we should climb or decend, but it stayed very small. When we turned left to PSP, we broke out and it became a non-event.
Gas is sure a deal at PSP. Signature was just over 4.10 per gallon and had a fuel tax charge on top. They did waive the $23 ramp fee--my lucky day I guess!!
PSP to SEE was easy except it was IFR in clouds at freeze level again. The Localizer D approach was working fine, but So Cal can really turn you late and drop you down quickly. I was prepared for that and had the power back early. Putting the gear down is a great speed brake in the B-55. Four miles out we couldn't see the runway because the sun was right in out eyes, but we soon got low enough to have clouds block it and we got in fine. It was late, over eight hours of flying by hand (the auto pilot is out on this baron) and was just a little uncomfortable shooting the approach with equipment I wasn't taking care of myself. It all worked, but I was double checking everything. Ceilings we 1,000 over the MDA, but still a challenge coming down throught the buildups, over the mountains in chop with a plane I don't maintain.
Please wish for us to get tail winds on Monday. This flying into 50 knot plus headwinds that are bumpy is for the birds!!
Best,
Dave
We had 50 knot winds almost off the nose for the entire trip and turbulance: what fun!!
I had decided to take the Baron to build my twin time (because I'm making offers on another Baron) which limited my flight envelope quite a bit (as far as altitude alternatives and range).
We tried to stay low leaving Addison (filed at 8,000), but that soon became very bumpy. Actually, departing Addison was a bit tricky as high winds created a lot of chop from rotation up to 2,500 feet. The plane had two adults and three teens in it and lots of stuff. I was taking a friend to Palm Springs: his father was giving his daughtere a car; so, I was flyinging him, his son and daughter out so they could pick up the car and drive it back. I have another friend with family in PSP and dropped their son off for the weekend.
We had ground speeds as slow as 125 knots for part of the trip, and seldom saw over 150. This is with the plane trueing over 180. The headwind wasn't as hard on us as the constant chop. From Dallas to El Paso wasn't too bad except for the climb and decent. From El Paso to Palm Springs got pretty bumpy. One of our young pacs got sick in the back around Tucson. Before she could find an airsick bag or other convenience in which she could deposit her lunch, it came up. The good part was it was chicken ceasar salad (could have been much worse). The bad part was it had a distinctive odor we all got to share until we landed.
At 10,000 between Phoenix and Vicko intersection, we were at 0 c in visible moisture. Began getting a little ice on the front of the wings. We watched it carefully to see if we should climb or decend, but it stayed very small. When we turned left to PSP, we broke out and it became a non-event.
Gas is sure a deal at PSP. Signature was just over 4.10 per gallon and had a fuel tax charge on top. They did waive the $23 ramp fee--my lucky day I guess!!
PSP to SEE was easy except it was IFR in clouds at freeze level again. The Localizer D approach was working fine, but So Cal can really turn you late and drop you down quickly. I was prepared for that and had the power back early. Putting the gear down is a great speed brake in the B-55. Four miles out we couldn't see the runway because the sun was right in out eyes, but we soon got low enough to have clouds block it and we got in fine. It was late, over eight hours of flying by hand (the auto pilot is out on this baron) and was just a little uncomfortable shooting the approach with equipment I wasn't taking care of myself. It all worked, but I was double checking everything. Ceilings we 1,000 over the MDA, but still a challenge coming down throught the buildups, over the mountains in chop with a plane I don't maintain.
Please wish for us to get tail winds on Monday. This flying into 50 knot plus headwinds that are bumpy is for the birds!!
Best,
Dave