dmccormack
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- May 11, 2007
- Messages
- 10,945
- Location
- Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- Display Name
Display name:
Dan Mc
Today I had to fly out and back for some transponder work. ON the way up I stayed low to stay out of Class B. It was typical summer day with scattered CU and bumpiness. I was tempted to fly even lower but the nice lady at PIT was providing traffic advisories.
After lunch -- and finding out the part hadn't arrived -- I launched VFR to return home. The XM showed some scattered activity along the route of flight, and the Stormscope looked like a firefly convention.
It was still a beautiful summer VFR day, so I headed south and bumped along at 3500, listening to approach chatter and enjoying the view.
Cleared through the Bravo airspace, I took up the assigned heading to stay away from the approach into PIT. I could see that I'd eventually end up between two cells, each about 10 miles apart.
I waited a bit and then as I was about to key the mike, PIT App said, "Fly heading 230 for weather avoidance."
I had a front row seat to quite a display. The precip was intense as far as I could see, and based on the shades of red displayed on the XM. I hit CLR on the Stormscope every few minutes and the tale was told -- I was flying in the midst of several cells. The closest was about 10 miles away, and despite some light showers, the ride was smooth. To the west about 20 miles away I saw lightning, but nothing close enough for worry.
I usually file IFR, but it was a VFR day and the transponder was shot, so I enjoyed the VFR freedom, informing ATC of my intentions, and watching the tremendous show.
Every so often I could look straight up and see the enormous CB lofting high into the clear blue sky above.
Soon I popped out of the precip into scattered CU, and announced airport in sight.
The downwind and landing were automatic. I slowed it down to short field approach speed and dropped all 40 degrees of flaps.
In the 7 knot wind I was down and stopped long before the first taxiway -- always a good feeling.
Thunderstorms are scary and should be avoided, but they sure are neat to watch -- at a respectful distance, of course.
After lunch -- and finding out the part hadn't arrived -- I launched VFR to return home. The XM showed some scattered activity along the route of flight, and the Stormscope looked like a firefly convention.
It was still a beautiful summer VFR day, so I headed south and bumped along at 3500, listening to approach chatter and enjoying the view.
Cleared through the Bravo airspace, I took up the assigned heading to stay away from the approach into PIT. I could see that I'd eventually end up between two cells, each about 10 miles apart.
I waited a bit and then as I was about to key the mike, PIT App said, "Fly heading 230 for weather avoidance."
I had a front row seat to quite a display. The precip was intense as far as I could see, and based on the shades of red displayed on the XM. I hit CLR on the Stormscope every few minutes and the tale was told -- I was flying in the midst of several cells. The closest was about 10 miles away, and despite some light showers, the ride was smooth. To the west about 20 miles away I saw lightning, but nothing close enough for worry.
I usually file IFR, but it was a VFR day and the transponder was shot, so I enjoyed the VFR freedom, informing ATC of my intentions, and watching the tremendous show.
Every so often I could look straight up and see the enormous CB lofting high into the clear blue sky above.
Soon I popped out of the precip into scattered CU, and announced airport in sight.
The downwind and landing were automatic. I slowed it down to short field approach speed and dropped all 40 degrees of flaps.
In the 7 knot wind I was down and stopped long before the first taxiway -- always a good feeling.
Thunderstorms are scary and should be avoided, but they sure are neat to watch -- at a respectful distance, of course.
Last edited: