So a friend took me out on his boat...

StinkBug

StinkBug

Cleared for Takeoff
Joined
Jun 27, 2014
Messages
1,440
Location
San Diego
Display Name
Display name:
Dallas
And suddenly it turned into a fly-in.



Sunday I flew my Mooney up to Petaluma on a Pilots N Paws mission to bring this guy to his new home
12038398_10207830138661564_5870403216451177203_n.jpg


I have some friends up there so I stayed the night and yesterday one of them offered to take the day off and put his boat in the water so we could have some fun. Little did we know what fun it'd turn out to be!

As we're blasting across this big empty lake we both notice a couple planes flying very low over the water. As we got closer I recognized them as a pair of Icon A5s! They were buzzing around and doing touch and goes, but never got close enough for me to get a better shot than this with my phone.

12115419_10207834867099772_6686402165672782670_n.jpg


I was pretty surprised to say the least, but it got even more surprising when I saw a high wing, and a helicopter and a couple more planes show up. There was more aircraft around this lake than boats! After eating our lunch one of the seaplanes landed quite near us and started to slowly taxi back into one of the little fingers of the lake and we just had to follow and see what was going on. When we got to the end we found a nice gathering of people and planes!

Apparently they had all just come from an airshow that had been going on near sacramento, and among the crowd were several of the pilots from the Canadian Snowbirds show team.

12122455_10207839663419677_8729815293109197602_n.jpg


12079539_10207839663659683_4601194891973494708_n.jpg


12105737_10207834997703037_2441237042763971241_n.jpg


12074768_10207834997943043_5634356846761015937_n.jpg
 
The plane we followed in was simply gorgeous, so gorgeous in fact that it had won some little award ;)

12118862_10207839664299699_2958274720504523959_n.jpg


12143151_10207839664099694_7901735655769118690_n.jpg


The one that really had me crawling all over it was this little bushplane though. It was brand new with about 75 hours on it, and it was impressive to say the least. The guy fired it up and did a few very short take-offs and landings on the little beach we were on. I was just loving all the fancy flaps and slats and other STOL goodies.

12074897_10207839665459728_8215130657607019495_n.jpg


12112373_10207839664899714_1874335457175874939_n.jpg


12141642_10207839664739710_2522073916299997048_n.jpg
 
Nice! What lake were you at?
And that would have been the California Capital Airshow at Mather Field.
 
Everyone there was super friendly and nice to talk to, especially once they figured out that we were both aviation nuts and not some ****ed off boaters. We walked around and chatted with all of them for a while. It was a great time, and a total surprise. Eventually they decided it was time to find another spot to play so we helped them shove off and watched as they all took to the skies again.

12112506_10207839665099719_8991552758735602704_n.jpg


12118800_10207839666059743_8803468624190879064_n.jpg


12096441_10207839665699734_7855424315135426576_n.jpg
 
What.... no pictures of the boat..?? :lol::lol::lol:

Actually cool pictures, looks like it was a fun afternoon..!!
 
Aeric said:
Nice! What lake were you at?
And that would have been the California Capital Airshow at Mather Field.
Click to expand...

Honestly I'm not even sure. I'm not familiar with the area and was just along for the ride. We actually got lost trying to find the boat ramp on the way back :lol:
 
With the A5's it was probably Berryessa.
 
If this " new" 75 hour plane is really new, those tiny N numbers are in violation.
 
The bush plane is till registered to the manufacturer. I doubt if anyone would call the pilot on the N numbers size. They are very common in taildraggers especially older ones. Also illegal are polished props other than Hamilton standard but there's many being used, again, on older taildraggers. Great pictures, great aircraft. Thanks.
 
That actually looks a lot like Folsom lake.
 
What an awesome day! Hope you enjoyed your stay in Petaluma and took advantage of our $3.95 fuel!
 
So for us boaters ,no picture of the boat?
 
Unit74 said:
If this " new" 75 hour plane is really new, those tiny N numbers are in violation.
Click to expand...

What are the rules for experimentals?


As for the boat, this is the best I got. I was manning the wheel most of the time.

12144791_10207834698055546_8119193811161679317_n.jpg
 
Very cool pictures. Petaluma is one of my favorite airports!
 
Sac Arrow said:
That actually looks a lot like Folsom lake.
Click to expand...

Has to be Berryessa. Nobody is going to drive from Petaluma to Folsom to go boating. Folsom is all but dry now. Berryessa is actually in much better shape. As another pointed out, Berryessa is now home base for the Icons.

Looks like a fun day for sure!
 
It's Berryessa. In another life, my first wife and I would take our jetskis there (yes, the ones you stand up on). More weekends than not a beautiful white PBY Catalina would set down there, put out a swim raft under the wing, and about 8 HOT chicks in string bikinis would frolic in the waves. As legend has it, the owner of the plane also owned some strip clubs. Don't know if that was true, but I always looked forward to the PBY's visit at Berryessa!
 
Dav8or said:
Has to be Berryessa. Nobody is going to drive from Petaluma to Folsom to go boating. Folsom is all but dry now. Berryessa is actually in much better shape. As another pointed out, Berryessa is now home base for the Icons.

Looks like a fun day for sure!
Click to expand...

Good point. Last time I was in Folsom it appeared to be impossible to launch a trailered boat. I did not know Berryessa was home base for Icons.
 
StinkBug said:
What are the rules for experimentals?


As for the boat, this is the best I got. I was manning the wheel most of the time.

12144791_10207834698055546_8119193811161679317_n.jpg
Click to expand...

My best guess is a Stingray or Regal. Something that has the bow rails on the inside and possibly the anchor cleat (could be added aftermarket).
 
Sac Arrow said:
Good point. Last time I was in Folsom it appeared to be impossible to launch a trailered boat. I did not know Berryessa was home base for Icons.
Click to expand...

Well, technically, the company is now based at Vacaville/Nut Tree. They do all their testing and training at very near by Berryessa.
 
awesome pictures!! Ill actually be going to petaluma in a couple of weeks to go visit some friends. glad to hear its a nice airport!
 
Jimmy cooper said:
The bush plane is till registered to the manufacturer. I doubt if anyone would call the pilot on the N numbers size. They are very common in taildraggers especially older ones. Also illegal are polished props other than Hamilton standard but there's many being used, again, on older taildraggers. Great pictures, great aircraft. Thanks.
Click to expand...

It's an experimental and those are 4" numbers that are perfectly legal. My Supercub that I finished in 2011 has a 50's military paint scheme and my 2" numbers are legal on it. Great pics and I have run into the guy that flies the Seabee several times. It has a Chevy LS1 V8 in it and is just a beautiful airplane. Don
 
ollopa said:
Just out of curiosity, what makes it stand out to you?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what makes it his favorite, but it is a nice little local field. The fuel is cheap, the airport manager is very friendly and the food at the restaurant is good. It's also easy to get in and out of and the runway/taxiway/ramp are all in good shape. It is a very nice place to land.
 
StinkBug said:
I'm not sure what makes it his favorite, but it is a nice little local field. The fuel is cheap, the airport manager is very friendly and the food at the restaurant is good. It's also easy to get in and out of and the runway/taxiway/ramp are all in good shape. It is a very nice place to land.
Click to expand...

I feel so proud! :)

We have a really good pilot group that stewards the airport formally and informally. Airport manager is a great guy. The city basically leaves us to our own devices as long as things are running well. And a good pilots association -- Oktoberfest dinner next Wednesday is anyone's interested.

But its probably mostly because two airport commissioners are POA members! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top