Bill
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2005
- Messages
- 15,105
- Location
- Southeast Tennessee
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Wednesday was the first time since I've been flying (140hrs) that I've been truly concerned for my life. It went like this:
I had a quick business trip to Tucson, and flew the metal tubes out there Wednesday morning. Landed 10am local, went to the hotel, and called my colleague from a sister company, "Change in plans, we won't meet until 2:30pm and won't be at the customer site until 3:30pm."
Ok, what to do for a few hours? I remembered seeing a good number of GA planes while taxiing in, so I hopped in the rental car and began driving the side roads near the airport. I found a couple of FBO's who catered to the bizjet set, but no joy on finding a plane. Then I find Sonoran Wings, and out front they have the old familiar green "Learn to fly here sign." I run in, and sure enough they have a Skyhawk and instructor available, so we head out for a sightseeing flight.
We depart, and first fly over "A" Mountain, a locally known peak near the city. After that, we head north, and then fly east along the southern edge of the mountains in Coronado National Forest. Nice easy flying, and great views of the mountians and fabulous luxury homes nestled against them as we fly at 6500ft.
We get the first call from departure, "Cessna 387 sierra papa, traffic 9 oclock, 4 miles, maneuvering at 6500, type and altitude unverified." I look briefly, and my instructor continues to look while I take in the views. Then, "Cessna 387sierra papa, traffic is now 9 o'lock, 2 miles, northbound, 6500ft, still unverified." OK, red alert, we both now have heads on swivels, but neither of us see anything.
Then the chilling urgent call, and I hear the stress in the controllers voice: "7 sierra pop, the traffic is right on top of you, the blips have merged, I only see one blip, use extreme caution." Holy crap, where is he? We both keep looking, and I see the look in the CFI's face and he sees the look in mine. "I don't like this," I mutter, "neither do I."
We had planned to turn south about now, so I lift the right wing, we both look closely, and then I start a standard rate turn to the south. About mid way thru the turn, I thought I heard GA engine sounds from the rear, and I spin my head around to look, but find nothing. Neither does the CFI.
We roll out southbound, and I ask if traffic is still a factor. Approach replies, "I don't know, once the blips merged, I've only seen one blip on the screen." What the hell?
We continue south, then ask for and get permission to circle just south of the Air Force bone yard, thousands of planes mothballed in the desert. After several circles, we ask for vectors and go land back at TUS.
For a few minutes, I was very much in fear, and can't really explain the situation. I know there is an Air Force base in Tucson, and I know they were flying training missions all during the day, think they were doing something?
Space aliens?
An aircraft that two pilots couldn't find?
Truly weird.
I had a quick business trip to Tucson, and flew the metal tubes out there Wednesday morning. Landed 10am local, went to the hotel, and called my colleague from a sister company, "Change in plans, we won't meet until 2:30pm and won't be at the customer site until 3:30pm."
Ok, what to do for a few hours? I remembered seeing a good number of GA planes while taxiing in, so I hopped in the rental car and began driving the side roads near the airport. I found a couple of FBO's who catered to the bizjet set, but no joy on finding a plane. Then I find Sonoran Wings, and out front they have the old familiar green "Learn to fly here sign." I run in, and sure enough they have a Skyhawk and instructor available, so we head out for a sightseeing flight.
We depart, and first fly over "A" Mountain, a locally known peak near the city. After that, we head north, and then fly east along the southern edge of the mountains in Coronado National Forest. Nice easy flying, and great views of the mountians and fabulous luxury homes nestled against them as we fly at 6500ft.
We get the first call from departure, "Cessna 387 sierra papa, traffic 9 oclock, 4 miles, maneuvering at 6500, type and altitude unverified." I look briefly, and my instructor continues to look while I take in the views. Then, "Cessna 387sierra papa, traffic is now 9 o'lock, 2 miles, northbound, 6500ft, still unverified." OK, red alert, we both now have heads on swivels, but neither of us see anything.
Then the chilling urgent call, and I hear the stress in the controllers voice: "7 sierra pop, the traffic is right on top of you, the blips have merged, I only see one blip, use extreme caution." Holy crap, where is he? We both keep looking, and I see the look in the CFI's face and he sees the look in mine. "I don't like this," I mutter, "neither do I."
We had planned to turn south about now, so I lift the right wing, we both look closely, and then I start a standard rate turn to the south. About mid way thru the turn, I thought I heard GA engine sounds from the rear, and I spin my head around to look, but find nothing. Neither does the CFI.
We roll out southbound, and I ask if traffic is still a factor. Approach replies, "I don't know, once the blips merged, I've only seen one blip on the screen." What the hell?
We continue south, then ask for and get permission to circle just south of the Air Force bone yard, thousands of planes mothballed in the desert. After several circles, we ask for vectors and go land back at TUS.
For a few minutes, I was very much in fear, and can't really explain the situation. I know there is an Air Force base in Tucson, and I know they were flying training missions all during the day, think they were doing something?
Space aliens?
An aircraft that two pilots couldn't find?
Truly weird.